CAN HE MAKE IT ON HIS OWN?

By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

Generally, one of three things happens when a member of a megasuccessful musical group decides to go solo: 1) the performer demonstrates that he is, like Sting, a brilliant individual talent; 2) he turns out, like David Byrne, to be good but not great on his own and is constantly asked when he's going to get back with his old band; or 3) he is revealed to be so profoundly inept that his fans wonder just what they saw in this clown to begin with. Think David Lee Roth.

Wyclef Jean of the Fugees has just released a solo album, The Carnival, and fortunately he fits the first scenario. The Fugees reached the top of the charts by mixing reggae, rap and positive messages. Wyclef, as he is known, has not broken with his bandmates, Prakazrel ("Pras") Michel and Lauryn Hill--the trio are already planning their next record together. But The Carnival is a fine showcase for Wyclef's particular talents and wide-ranging tastes.

The album reflects an eclectic, global vision. Wyclef grew up in Haiti, and he fills The Carnival with Caribbean rhythms and references; in fact, some of the songs are sung in Haitian Creole. In other songs, like We Trying to Stay Alive, Wyclef samples the Bee Gees, while in Gunpowder, he makes a powerful plea against violence. He even manages a skillful hip-hop version of Guantanamera. Like the Fugees' cover of Killing Me Softly, Guantanamera refashions an old song that is almost too familiar and makes it contemporary and vital. Altogether, the variety and reach of the album are extraordinary.

It does have flaws. First off, there are just too many tracks. Like many rappers these days, Wyclef should think hard about recording less and editing himself more. Most of the 24 songs on The Carnival are excellent, but it's a pain to have to skip past the weaker ones; it's the musical equivalent of having to throw out all those superfluous sections of the Sunday paper. The album also contains some nonmusical skits, concerned with subjects like being falsely accused of rape by groupies, that are supposed to be funny. They're not.

Nevertheless, The Carnival puts Wyclef up there with Billy Corgan, Trent Reznor and Tricky as one of the most creative people working in pop music. Too often, hip-hop has only a street-level view of reality. On The Carnival, Wyclef is out to conquer the world.

--By Christopher John Farley