Alone in Iz World (CD - 2001)

Contains an untitled hidden track after "In This Life."

Personnel includes: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (vocals, ukulele); Mel Amina, Barry Flanagan (guitar).

Recorded in Hawaii. Includes liner notes by Jon De Mello.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

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

While the name Israel Kamakawiwo'ole falls trippingly off few tongues, the Hawaiian singer better known as "Iz" was one of the biggest stars in his home state. Iz first came to public attention as a member of the popular Hawaiian group known as the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau. His subsequent solo career brought even greater fame, and countless fans were saddened at his untimely death in 1997. Those who mourn his passing will be gladdened by the posthumous release of ALONE IN IZ WORLD, compiled from various recording session outtakes.

While one might expect a big, deep sound to emanate from a gargantuan-sized body like that of Iz, the hefty singer actually possessed a gorgeous, fragile tenor voice full of tenderness and delicacy. That voice is put to use here on tunes that alternate between voice-and-ukelele solo performances (Iz was no slouch on the uke) and more fully arranged tunes enhanced after the singer's death. Whether crooning in his native tongue or in English, Iz cuts right through to the heart of the listener with his pure, emotive tone. minimize