• Artist: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
• Flags: Enhanced CD-ROM
• Rating:
• Styles: Hawaiian Pop, Worldbeat

Review

The late Israel Kamakawio'ole, known to his many fans simply as Iz, was a consummate Hawaiian with a wonderful voice and accomplished ukulele technique. This posthumous release of some unplugged performances, enhanced arrangements, and previously unreleased songs is definitely for his legion of admirers. While best known for his native Hawaiian songs, Iz covered a lot of ground, and three of the most affecting tracks here are standards: his take on "Mona Lisa," starting alone, then with a full arrangement behind him; the nursery rhyme "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"; and a most unusual version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" which shouldn't work in his style, but quite stubbornly does. His angelic pipes seem capable of working around any material and doing it justice (although it should be noted "Starting All Over Again" and "In This Life," with full-on synths behind him, definitely go for saccharine overkill). But he's perhaps at his best when he's at his simplest -- just him and his ukulele -- whether on the strummed "Panini Puakea" or the delicate and mysterious "La Elima," which relies on his gentle picking. On the classic Hawaiian song "Opae E," the guitar backing fleshes out his work without overpowering it, a gentle filigree around his voice. To those who love Iz's albums, whether his solo work or as part of the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau, this stands -- certainly for the most part -- as a wonderful, thoughtful addition to his catalog, highlighting most the stunning purity of his voice. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Mona Lisa			Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(2:00)
Kaleohano			Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(3:42)
'Ulili E			Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(2:50)
Hanohano Wale No Na Cowboy and Ka Huila Wai	...		Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(4:16)
Hi'ilawe		Traditional	Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(4:42)
Henehene Kou 'Aka			Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(4:23)
Ahi Wela/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star	...		Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(3:45)
'Opae E		Irmgard Fardon Aluli	Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(4:02)
Starting All Over Again		Phillip Mitchell	Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(5:44)
Over the Rainbow	...	Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg	Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(3:31)
Panini Pua Kea			Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(3:07)
La 'Elima			Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(3:38)
In This Life		Mike Reid	Israel Kamakawiwo'ole	(5:10)

Credits

Milan Bertosa (Mixing), Barry Flanagan (Guitar), John Golden (Mastering), Phil Kaffel (Mixing), Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Ukulele), Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Vocals), Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Main Performer), Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Executive Producer), Melvin Amina (Guitar), Jon De Mello (Producer), Jon De Mello (Design), Jon De Mello (Cover Art Concept)