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"Cool State of Mind"

Kani Makou
(Big Blue Ocean)

Kani Makou's first album introduced the group early in 2004 as a generic young Jawaiian trio. Celebrity guests provided the star power, and studio musicians did most of the work, but hints of originality were evident despite the faux-Jamaican accents and bland remakes. A change of members, and some tweaking of the formula, make their second album more interesting.

With lead vocalist Jenni Panoncial replacing guitarist Shane Mahiai, the trio loses an instrument but gains a female vocalist/songwriter. Panoncial gives the act some sex appeal and a woman's perspective on three originals. Shaun Reyes, the only one of the trio who played on these sessions, adds crisp work on ukulele to the musical foundation provided by producer/arranger/studio musician Dave Tucciarone and the other hired guns. It's a winning combination for getting play on Hawaii's self-styled island music radio stations.

Panoncial, Reyes and "Mr. Chad" Kim also show promise as writers. They include two of their favorite songs by other writers, but the nine originals make for a strong package coming from such a young band.

www.booklineshawaii.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Cool State of Mind" "I'm Not Sorry" "Feel Good Love" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Melveen Leed With
the Best of Slack Key"

Melveen Leed
(Lehua)

How did Leed get four of the islands' top slack-key guitarists to be her sidemen back in 1980? The answer isn't revealed in the skimpy annotation for this reissue, but slack-key fans who want every known recording by Gabby Pahinui, Sonny Chillingworth, Atta Isaacs and Ledward Kaapana will want a copy of this for their collections.

Be warned, however, that the guitarists play second fiddle to the singer.

Leed pours her heart and soul into 12 Hawaiian standards, and does a beautiful job with all of them. The guitarists play on three songs apiece. On some their artistry can be appreciated. Synthesized string overdubs and other unnecessary add-ons obscures their work elsewhere.

This would have been one of the great all-time slack-key albums if both the label and musical director/arranger Douglas Palmer had seen the project as being about slack key. It could have been our version of Sam Phillips' legendary "million-dollar quartet" sessions that brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. But, they didn't, and it isn't.

While this reissue is an excellent showcase for Leed and a must-buy for her fans, slack-key aficionados on a budget can pass on it.

Lehua Records
P.O. Box 1207
Honolulu, HI 96807-1207

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Pau Alani" "None Hula" "Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Hawaiian Style 4"

Various artists
(Neos Productions)

If truth in advertising laws applied to album titles, this one would be titled "JAWAIIAN Style 4" since almost all of the 18 selections on this low-budget recycling project utilize variations of the catchy and ubiquitous rhythms of Jamaica. There are no new songs here, so would-be buyers have more reason than ever to weigh the option of buying the CD versus downloading (legally, please!) whatever individual tunes they like.

Devoid of lyrics and liner notes, we'll mention, for the record, that Fiji's early hit "La'ie Boy," plus Baba B's "Iz I Want to Be Like You" and "Pi'i Mai Ka Nalu" from Robi Kahakalau and Bu La'ia, are noteworthy hits. Songs by Kalaeloa, Justin, Kekoa and Norm might also tempt buyers who don't have those artists' albums.

And there are, unfortunately, several basic Jawaiian remakes here as well.

www.neosproductions.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Everything I Own" "Poor Boy From Maui" "La'ie Boy" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info