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Island Mele
Friday, January 28, 2000
Cookie’s debut full
of sweet treatsCookie:
By Cookie (Makaku)THE tastiest song is in the center of Cookie's debut album. "Higher Love" is an expertly arranged pop anthem that should already be getting local radio play. It is her strongest entry as both writer and vocalist.
Two other originals are also promising. "Right On The Money" is danceable retro funk. "Hold On To A Brighter Day" is an appealing number that adds Caribbean rhythms to the collection without lapsing into a generic Jawaiian sound. A disco arrangement of "Smile" shows Cookie's ability to rework pop standards.
The opening songs suggest that her production team tried to cover too many musical styles and lost focus in the mix but, overall, this is a fine debut.
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http://www.olindaroad.com
By various, (MGC MGC-1030)IF the name and cover art evoke deja vu it's because this album was originally released by another label in 1991. Producers Todd Adamski and Dave Tucciarone changed the order of the songs and added six more for this version. They changed the theme and message of the album in doing so.
The songs on the original 1991 album were mostly light rock and collectively conveyed an all-inclusive call for peace and social justice. Richard Natto's "Talk About Peace" and Franz Kahale's "Peace By Peace" opened and closed the album on a strong, positive note.
The expanded version is more somber. The additional songs define "peace" as something that comes only through belief in Jesus Christ and therefore only for Christians. Perhaps the upside-down peace sign on the cover should have been replaced by a Christian cross this time.
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Phone (808) 671-1771
By George Naope (MDL MDLCD 6435)THE small print reveals that this album dates from 1985. It was recorded "live" at the Kona Lagoon, and Naope's narration suffices to explain the significance and basic meaning of the Hawaiian-language songs. It's a shame executive producer Marcelo Vendiola fails to give CD buyers any information on information on Naope or the traditional Hawaiian music he helps perpetuate.
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MDL Records - P.O. Box 970426 - Waipahu, HI 96797
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.
