‘Feel Good’ aptly
named debut albumFeel Good Island Music: Ho'onu'a (Island Style Records)
THE title perfectly describes the contents in this high-impact debut album by Christian Yrizarry and Jared Keo. Producer Sean Na'auao leads the all-star studio band laying down the popular Na'auao Sound -- Hawaiian reggae rhythms, early '60s-style Top 40 chord progressions, and straight singing. There's no faux Jamaican posing here!
Every song is an original. Several ("Surf Session," "Island Style Cruisin'") celebrate popular local pastimes. The title song lists musicians who inspired the duo. "Koa Tree" honors IZ. One or two are quite close to older songs, but Ha'onu''a is an act to watch.
Kuulei: Bill Rezentes (Aalii)
TRADITIONALISTS fluent in Hawaiian will appreciate Bill Rezentes' second album. Most of the songs are sung in Hawaiian, several are originals. Rezentes and musicians Harry Koizumi, Greg Sardinha and Kahalepuna Richardson-Naki play beautiful synthetic-free Hawaiian music. Their imaginative rendition of "Hi'ilawe" is nicely done and doesn't clone the Pahinuis'.
No translations and few synopses of the Hawaiian-language lyrics are provided, although Rezentes explains that several selections express his love for his daughter, Kuulei. Others honor Queen Kapiolani, Queen Liliuokalani, and IZ. "E Huli Makou" may be a family favorite. The elements of the cover art may be significant, but the kaona (hidden meaning) is evidently either too personal or complicated to share with outsiders.
A World Of Love: Sly Dog (no label)
GUITARIST Solomon "Sly Dog" Namauu and vocalist Shane Kahalehau are the creative core of this Maui-based reggae/rock band. The easy rocking title track is one of nine originals that cover the spectrum from love ("Promise To Be") to greedy developers who desecrate the 'aina ("Black Top"). A female trio -- Dondi, Hela and Kai -- adds seductive harmonies.
Kahalehau shows commendable restraint in avoiding pseudo rasta affections. There's a bit of sham dialect thrown in but these guys basically sing and play straight.
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.
