Can anyone recommend some good recent Hawaiian music?
(Preferably with links to samples, if that wouldn’t run afoul of copyright restrictions. I know Amazon does it - can we post those links?)
How Hawaiian? How recent?
I’m not a fan (I prefer rock 60s-70s) but I thought Wanting Memories by Keali’i Reichel was stunning. It’s 8 years old. And I’m out.
Wow, that took 6 previews to get right!
Look for anything by the Pahinui Brothers. Everything they do is outstanding!
I just have a minute, so sorry, I can’t hunt for samples links.
On my Hawaiian music mp3 CD:
Ten Feet
Three Plus
Keali’i Reichel
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Hawaiian Style Band
Na Leo Pilemehana
The Mana’o Company
Ho’onua
Ale’a
Koa Uka
Pure Heart
plus a couple more artists. Those are my favorites, though.
Hawaiian Swing by Big Kahuna & the Copa Cat Pack.
Anything by the mighty ** Israel Kamakawiwo’ole ** gets almost universal recommendation. His best album was (he died a few years ago – and received a state funeral)** Facing Future**. Here’s an Amazon link
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JFG3/
You can click on each of the tune samples.
If you want to get funky, ** Jockey Ryder ** is a Hawaiian rapper. Another Amazon link. Check out the samples. “Everybody Loves the Ryder” was a big hit a few years ago.
I bought Facing Future, it’s a great album.
Also check out Henry Kopono and Lono.
Thanks to all who responded. If you think of any more, please post.
Not a recent album, but Chicken Skin Music by Ry Cooder was a damn fine album.
I feel obligated to second Pure Heart since I’m friends with the head ukulele guy.
It’s been a while since I listened to them, but IIRC they’re a little more “mainstream” than most Hawaiian music. Actually, that’s probably not doing them justice. They’re not “traditional” Hawaiian music as their songs have, IMHO, a more upbeat tempo than is generally attributed to Hawaiian music.
This probably means that some regard them as the Backstreet Boys of Hawaiian music, but they have won a number of Hoku awards (the Hawaiian music Grammies), so it’s not as if they’re totally without artistic merit.
Disclaimer: KKB doesn’t know crap about music. He simply knows what he likes and what he doesn’t.