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After catching heat for 2002's disappointing Masquerade, Wyclef Jean jiggered his "ecleftic" formula a bit; this time he's come closer to hitting the mark. Listeners will be pretty hard-pressed to find much actual rapping on The Preacher's Son, but the former Fugee does a good job showcasing a wide variety of musical genres, all crafted with the highest of production values. Tracks like "Baby Daddy" (an ode to step-fatherhood featuring Redman) and "Next Generation" (featuring Rah Digga and the always tight Scarface) give a brief nod to Clef's MC status while "Party to Damascus" (a duet with the ubiquitous Missy Elliott) helps bridge the gap between traditional and next-wave hip-hop. But the eclectic roster of non-MC guests proves that Wyclef's musical vision is bigger than hip-hop. Where else would you be able to hear Patti LaBelle, Carlos Santana, and Haitian kompa kings T-Vice all do their thing? --Rebecca Levine