Ogata offers original
twist to comedyMental Oriental: By Paul Ogata (Tropical Jam Productions)
PAUL Ogata takes local comedy albums to a new level with his debut project. The liner notes, credits and other annotation contain at least another track's worth of material. He includes instructions on using the disc to recreate a climactic scene from a popular movie, and explains how you can appear on the album.
Patient searchers will also discover euphemisms for a popular activity arranged in a list that is certain to enliven any conversation.
The biggest surprise of the album is the contents. Ogata is well known as a quick quipping stand-up comic. The album is a collection of skits in the familiar style of Booga Booga and Booga alumnus Rap Reiplinger.
Most of the character-types have been staples for Booga/Reiplinger acolytes for two decades. Ogata does these familiar local types better than many of his colleagues.
Two sketches match Reiplinger's best work in concept, comic energy, dramatic effect and attention to detail. "We Go Fish" parodies a popular local television show in a tale of fishing for "pakes" with char siu duck, a wallet and a live cat. "Monday Night Sumo" is an elaborate look at sumotori in action.
Praising Him Island Style Volume 2: By various (Quiet Storm)
IT was just last year that record producer John Iervolino irked the audience with a tedious four-minute acceptance speech after "Praising Him Island Style Vol. 1" won a Hoku Award. Here's a warning for whoever produces the 1999 Hoku Awards show: "Volume 2" is stronger than its Hoku-winning predecessor!
The star of the collection is Malani Bilyeu. No local artist sings contemporary Christian music with more style and feeling. The album's two Bilyeu songs, "Wish You Were Here" and "Jesus Wept," are highlights.
"E Mililani 'O Iehova" is a beautiful grass roots Hawaiian song recorded by G-Girl Keli'iho'omalu in 1991. "Oli I Ke Akua (Sing to the Lord)," a newly recorded original by John Tilton & Ku'ualoha Ho'omanawanui, adds to the Christian theme. Two songs by the defunct Mana'o Company are also good choices.
Fijian singer Daniel Rae Costello contributes a catchy up-tempo original, "Rock Me Jesus," but several other songs have no apparent Christian content. The Anguay Sisters' remake of Dan Fogelberg's "Along The Way" simply doesn't fit the "praising him" theme.
Iervolino includes English lyrics for three of the Hawaiian songs but provides no information on the artists. Bilyeu is a major name in local music. Some of the others are unknowns and deserve a line or two of introduction.
See Record Reviews for some of John Berger's past reviews.
See Aloha Worldwide for locals living away.
John Berger, who has covered the local
entertainment scene since 1972, writes reviews of recordings
produced by Hawaii artists. See the Star-Bulletin's Home Zone
section on Fridays for the latest reviews.
