Hawaiian standards sung in English, island takes on country & western, plus a reggoid cover of a
John Lennon song, would seem to forecast a tropical depression; but this disc is brilliant, its boundary-busting all enhancement and no dilution. The cowboy version of the Fijian classic "Isa Lei" is a natural-born transformation, "Do You Love Me," a duet with
Dwight Yoakam, is even stronger, and if
Youssou N'Dour can diddle with mainstream rock, why shouldn't these Hawaiian jalis -- sons of slack key guitar pioneer
Gabby "Pops" Pahinui -- spread their toes in the grass a little by laying a heartfelt reggae consciousness on a poignant version of
Lennon's "Jealous Guy"? ~ Bob Tarte