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"Our Fire"

Round & Round
(Stick Boy Productions)

Hawaii has missed Pure Heart ever since Jon Yamasato abruptly quit the group on Thanksgiving Day 1999, but Round & Round sounds like the next best thing to a reunion.

With Yamasato as their producer and Pure Heart percussionist Lopaka Colon as a de facto fourth member, the young trio even offers improvements over Pure Heart in several areas. This is an excellent debut in almost all respects.

Guitarist Kekoa Young is the primary vocalist, but bassist AJ Kumukoa adds harmonies that Pure Heart lacked. And where Pure Heart had a weakness for simple pop-chart remakes, these guys are songwriters with a knack for catchy rhyme patterns, word games and interesting lyric images.

The composer of the only song they didn't write isn't identified, but the originals are every bit as good. "Rain" borrows from Bob Marley, "The Wave Song" has intriguing hints of double meanings, and "Nainoa" gives R&R's Nate Mata room to jam on ukulele.

Write to: Stickboy Productions
2449 Waialae Avenue #249
Honolulu, HI 96816

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Lucky You Get" "The Wave Song" "Round and Round" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"One of Those Days"

Kawao
(Jus-Us Kawao)

Kawao is China Boy Hinoi and Walt "Walt G" Grilho. Grilho is the duo's resident songwriter and also plays ukulele. If they'd recorded using only their voices and Grilho's uke they'd have a unique sound -- and, alas, be too far beyond contemporary "island music" to get radio play. With uncredited studio musicians backing them, Kawao comes out with all the generic riffs and faux-Jamaican affectations it takes to get on the radio.

But give Grilho credit as a promising lyricist. "Only Me" is a basic bit of sexual braggadocio, but the title song has a bit more sensitivity in expressing the feeling of missing a loved one. "Kawao Style" should already be in play as a Heineken ad jingle. On the other hand, "Red Light Special," the TLC hit, doesn't make much sense when a male sings it.

www.kawaomusic.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Malama Kulala Ohana" "One of Those Days" "Kawao Stylee" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Fond Memories"

Five by 5
(Sugarcane On The Rock)

Five by 5 introduced itself in 2002 as a soft pop vocal quintet formed around singer/songwriter Jalen Garcia's languid androgynous falsetto. The group is now a quartet, and into Hawaiian and hapa-haole standards rather than Top 40 remakes and Garcia's originals.

The quartet's fond memories and "favorite Hawaiian songs" include Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" as well as "Waika," "Green Lantern Hula" and "Far Too Wide." Jerry Santos' "Ku'u Home O Kahalu'u" provides the unacknowledged lyric hook for "I Will Remember," a tribute to Loyal Garner, but linking "Hale'iwa Hula" and "North Shore Serenade" is a good idea and well done.

Garcia's soft falsetto and the airy arrangements are a perfect match, and the other guys are nicely showcased as well. Robi Kahakalau adds a female presence as their celebrity guest.

Call: (808) 394-2708

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Pua Ahihi" "Green Lantern Hula" "Wonderful Tonight" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info