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Island Mele
Friday, April 21, 2000
Tube brings new
sound to local sceneSha La La/Remember Me:
By Tube with Friends (Paradise PRP-50012)JAPANESE supergroup Tube debuts as a local recording act with this CD-single recorded in Hawaii Kai with Malani Bilyeu, Robi Kahakalau, Robert Kekaula, Natural Vibrations, Jennifer Perri and Jeff Rasmussen.
The song was released here Monday with local sales benefiting Easter Seals Hawaii. It came out in Japan last week as the B side of Tube's Sony Music (Japan) single "Truth of Time."
"Sha La La" is a bouncy feel-good song that epitomizes Tube's popular "summer band" sound. "Remember Me" is a dramatic power-rock ballad. Both blend American and English rock with modern and traditional Japanese music in imaginative ways unlike anything done here.
Tube is bringing fresh ideas to the Hawaii music scene.
Email: ninja_doll@yahoo.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Quicktime | MPEG-3 info
By various artists (Quiet Storm QS 1008)IS the contemporary music of Hawaii so thoroughly rooted in Jamaica? Half these songs reflect the insatiable appetite for Jamaican rhythms that drives the local "island music" scene. Beyond that, this anthology is a hodgepodge.
Mana'o Company's "Drop Baby Drop/Who Loves You" medley has stood the test of time as a precursor of dozens of Jawaiian remakes. The originals by John Cruz and Ka'au Crater Boys seem certain to become island standards, but several of the other "roots" songs here are too new to even rate "bud" status yet.
Fiji reaffirms his soulful appeal with "Anyway You Want It." Ho'onu'a and Sean Na'auao show what's best and brightest in mainstream Jawaiian music.
Robi Kahakalau and Bu La'ia deftly balance Hawaiian lyrics and local comedy in "Pi'i Mai Ka Nalu." Kapena shows its multi-cultural versatility with "Masese."
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's 1990 recording, "Men Who Ride Mountains," is notable as a preview of the music he later explored as a solo artist.
Sudden Rush ("Polynesian Party") elevated local rap by adding Hawaiian lyrics to the African-American genre. "Aloha Friday" is almost 20 years old and has no real ties to the other songs but Kimo Kahoano's hit is still appealing.
The remakes are filler. B.E.T. adds the only freshness to Minaoka's vapid take on Miriam Makeba ("Pata Pata").
Na Waiho'olu'u O Ke Anuenue's generic remake of "Tahiti Tahiti" adds nothing to the original version; the reformed trio and producer "Radical Rob" Onekea have better material than this.
Kolea's doleful "Love, Ten Feet Away" lacks the soul and craftsmanship of true country music.
http://www.quietstormrecords.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Quicktime | MPEG-3 info
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.
