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Island Mele
Friday, January 7, 2000
Fine mix for
‘Stardom’ anthologyBrownbags To Stardom 2000: Stars Of The Millennium
Various artists (Cinnamon Red - CRR0016)
I-94 greets the millennium with this grandiosely titled anthology based on the station's successful Brownbags To Stardom talent contest. Some of the acts are Brownbags winners. Others are also-rans. Several have no connection at all but perpetuate the tradition of using Brownbags albums to promote well-connected outside acts.
I-94 breaks with tradition in that this is the first album in the series not produced by Matt Young. Young's ties to I-94 go back more than a decade to when station executive Alan "Da Cruzah" Oda was one of his artists. Oda is no longer at I-94 and this album was produced by Darryl Hill. It's a huge break for Hill but odd that Forte, the one notable local pop act on his label, isn't included.
Also missing from this celebration of Brownbags tradition is Glenn Medeiros, the 1986 winner, whose string of national hits and Billboard No. 1 single, "She's Not Worth It," makes him by far the biggest teen pop sensation to come out of Hawaii or the Brownbags program.
The good news is there are some noteworthy acts here. Hawaiian falsetto artist Erland Pahukoa distinguishes himself with "E Na Opio O Maui." He'd already released the old-style original on his own label by the time I-94 staged the Brownbags XIX finals last June.
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Lauren Farve combined singing with rap as the 1999 winner. She makes a promising debut with "Come Speak To Me," a new song produced and arranged by Carlos Villalobos in the same modern urban style.
Two acts are veterans of national deals Young put together. Brownskin contains alumnae of TNG, the group Young signed with Reprise in 1992; "Whatever It Takes" is original soft pop with national chart potential. Devotion was known as Tenderoni when he got them their deal with Yab Yam. "Say It Ain't So" is smooth urban pop by writers Chris Asman and Laiku Soares.
Angel Teves of I-94's sister station 98.5 stands out on "Why Do I Believe." It is one of the best pop tracks and the one I-94 is featuring.
Villalobos produces "Turn To You" as a fine comeback for 1995 winner Lorie Salvatera. Damon Williams (1996 winner), Kim Shimamoto, Crystal Mateo & Kawehi Tom, and Brook Lee & Justin maintain a light local pop sound elsewhere. Several other acts sink into enervation.
The most problematic selection is Tani Lynn Fujimoto doing "Eternal Flame." The seductive Bangles song is not appropriate for an 11 year old.
Two acts add local reggae. Natural Vibrations, a Cinnamon Red act with no Brownbags ties, is nicely showcased with "Crazy." Hawaiian Time, with Lanai-Boy Records, adds a vapid rehash of "Pay The Man."
Credit Lanai (cover design) and Mark Ching (graphics) with a striking visual presentation. Performance credits and brief artist bios complete this landmark anthology.
http://www.olindroad.com
See Record Reviews for some 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 Today
section on Fridays for the latest reviews.
