Customer Reviews

Alone in IZ World

5 star:		(117)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

My guess is that many of those with a newfound interest in Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole's music were exposed to his "Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World" on the Mark Green death episode of ER. But whatever the reason, it's wonderful to see American listeners tuning in to the well-kept secret that is IZ...at long last.

Yes, this is one of the best CDs you'll buy this year, and its crossover appeal will be a timeless, treasured addition to your music collection. But I want to say early in this review: this CD is not the one with which you should start your IZ collection. First, get your hands on "Facing Future" (which fortunately also contains "Rainbow/Wonderful World"). "Facing Future" is the most popular and best-selling Hawaiian music album of all time, and anyone who is even remotely interested in IZ will want to own it. Get it, you'll be glad you did. The haunting "Hawai'i 78" is the feature song of the album, and it's better even than "Over the Rainbow." Trust me on this.

"Alone in IZ World" is a well-done compilation by IZ's Mountain Apple record company. While the songs are familiar, there are very few cuts that have already appeared on previous IZ CDs, at least not in the form we get here. Besides "Over the Rainbow", there are plenty of other highlights. "In Dis Life" is a beautiful, meaningful love song. "Hi'ilawe" is the staple song made famous by Gabby Pahinui, the father of slack-key guitar...and IZ's version is simple, but lovely and touching. And "Starting All Over Again" is a particularly timely message to Americans in these troubling times.

Having been blessed to live in Hawaii for three glorious years (IZ died the week of my arrival, in 1997) this music has a profound meaning for me and my family. I honestly believe, though, that ANYONE who listens to IZ's music will be able to feel the warm ocean breeze on your face; feel the white sand between your toes; and smell the intoxicating scent of plumeria blossoms. Discover or re-discover IZ, and let your mind relax and go on vacation to the Hawaiian islands...the most beautiful place in the world.

I am a hawaiian and hawaii born and bred islander, I am blessed by the fact that my parents brought me up with hawaiian music but most of all the late great Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole. The day that shocked hawaii I was out and about with my family when my father stoppped at a gas station as he came out of the gas station a newpaper in his hand and a heartbroken look on his face..." what's the matter daddy" he handed me the paper and i started to cry there it was "Braddah Iz passed away at the age of 38 in his sleep last night" I couldn't beileve it such a beautiful voice silenced he will never make another record.But just to have had Braddah Iz on this earth for just this short time to hear the music with and without the makaha sons of Niihau is truly magical..so his music lives on. I've read all these amazing reviews of Braddah IZ...I am happy and touched that so many people have been touched by his music. Unforunately i didn't know braddah iz but in a way all us hawaii born islanders always seem to truly know braddah Iz, his music touched us all. to understand how huge Braddah Iz was he is still mourned and celebrated in hawaii and his music is still played constantly on the radio.The day of his birth and passing is celebrated like a national holiday. When you listen to any of the LATE and GREAT Israel Kamakwiwo'Ole's cds..you will hear one the most beauitful voices god ever put on this earth. But when you look at this man ,this giant man with this amazing angel like voice you will be blown away. god gave this late singer the voice of angel. a voice that must have been blessed and touched by god himself and it was...the songs , music and lyrics will leave you speechless and breathless ..his voice and the way he delivers the songs with that teardrop in his vocal chord...will send chills up and down your spine..any of this mans cds is excellent and it is a must of anyone who wants to get a cd that reflects the spirit of islands this man , this legend was the spirit of hawaii, BRADDAH IS WAS AND STILL IS HAWAII. even thou IZ passed away some time ago his voice his music his legend still lives is the islands thru his voice and music.his voice alone will leave you with a tear in your eyes... buy any one of his cds..trust me it's worth it...also braddah iz was with a hawaiian group called Makaha sons of Niihau pick up those cs as well, and let the memory of Braddah IZ and his music live on for the future generations to hear and love

I happen to see a part of a documentary about IZ while sitting in a restaurant in Maui about six months ago. It never said if he as alive or if he had died. There was just this beautiful grace about him that was amazing. A couple of days later before getting ready to leave I was in a cheesy gift shop and this CD happen to be on the counter. I bought it out of curiosity. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised in a big way. The Maui radio stations played "Over the Rainbow" quite often, but I never heard who the artist was. The entire album is incredible and peaceful....with a little humor thrown in for good measure. His rendition of "Over the Rainbow" still brings me to tears, so to speak (in a good way).....kind of like...."What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. It was very fitting when they played in the last ER episode...a gentle peaceful passing with hope over the horizon. I think IZ got what this adventure called life is all about. If you want spend about 45 minutes in a world of Joy, Hope and Peacefulness..........Buy the album!!!

i first came to hear of iz on a commercial for a childrens hospital here in my area of northeast ohio.my step-daughter had spent a considerable amount of time there and while showing scenes of various children all races,all types of defects,overcoming and smiling;there was this outstanding version of "somewhere over the rainbow" i cried while listening to this 60 second commercial!!!i called the hospital to see just who this was singing and they said iz blah blah blah.anyways,i found this cd,"alone in iz world" and heard the rest of the medley(what a wonderful world) along the with the other songs and still was crying!!! so sorry to hear of his passing and had it not been for my wife and my step-daughters' illnesses,i'd have found iz sooner.i find this cd so soothing as i deal with the stresses of caring for my wife and daughter. thank you IZ!!! and may you rest in the same peace that you have given me. A MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE WITH A HEART!!!!!
(looking forward to getting all of iz's catalog of music and video!)

My Mama is of Hawaiian descent and met my Dad while he was stationed in Hawaii during WWII. Growing up in the NorthEast did not allow me the exposure to Hawaiian music that I would have liked. We listened to my Mama's Hawaiian music on 78's, but we never understood the language. The melodies were often pretty, but we were clueless as to what was being said. (Remember--our language was taken away and the elders discouraged using the Hawaiian language.)

I was growing tired of Hawaiian music always being stereotyped and associated with Don Ho. So, I hit the music stores and stumbled across "IZ" by accident. I listened to the whole CD (Face the Future) in the store and bought it immediately.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (say that 3 times fast!) is an angel with a beautiful voice who should be honored and remembered by the Hawaiian natives.

On his new CD, "Alone in IZ world", the song "Starting all over again" couldn't be more appropriate in light of the bombings at the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Listen to it, absorb it, buy it. It's worth it!

Mahaloaloha...J.G. Merola

It was when I heard IZ's version of 'Over the Rainbow' that I went looking for his music. But it was only when I listened to the entire CD 'Alone in IZ World', that I realised just how gifted he is. Through this music, you come to understand the inspiration behind it and the man himself. This CD has the ability to touch your heart and soul. It is the most beautiful and calming selection of music I have ever purchased. Be prepared to be amazed!!

As producer Jon de Mello explains in his liner notes, he made sure "there was always a live microphone recording IZ" when he was in a recording studio; what you hear on this CD are "in the moment" recordings, some that had been forgotten, many that were unplanned, and all beautiful. Most of them were vocals just accompanied by his ukulele, but many have been enhanced with background arrangements, and "Hi'ilawe" has Barry Flanagan on guitar, and "Opae E" has Mel Amina on guitar, both wonderful and lovely additions to the recordings; in "Ahi Wela" / "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", we have the rare pleasure of hearing Israel sing harmony with himself. It happened while he listened to a playback, and thankfully, it was caught on tape.

In "Starting All Over Again", we hear him talking about the passing of his parents, and his philosophy on the subject in an intro to the song. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was a signature piece for IZ; the song that meant so much to his fans, and still does. It is ideally suited to his voice and his interpretation is heavenly. "La 'Elima" is an enchanting traditional melody which just soars with his high notes, and is about his favorite fishing village in Hawai'i.
There is an extra track that comes after a few seconds of silence at the end, and it is Iz speaking of his size, and the need for oxygen.

The booklet insert contains short explanations of how each piece was recorded, the sound has been engineered to be quite good considering that they are essentially "out-takes" and "lost recordings", and total playing time is 52'25.
This beloved singer may have gone to his island paradise in the sky, but his music lives on to delight and inspire us, and the purity of his voice to warm our hearts.

I know that Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of "Over the Rainbow" pops up at the end of "50 First Dates" and "Finding Forrester," but I still associate it with the episode of "ER" where Mark Greene was dying in Hawaii because that is where I first heard it. But I am sure that it is simply a question of where you heard this song the first time, because you are not going to forget it. However, I had never checked out an entire Israel Kawakawiwo'ole (a.k.a. IZ) album before "Alone In Iz World," and I was prompted to do so because somebody was talking about Katharine McPhee's cover of "Over the Rainbow" on "American Idol" as being the most beautiful cover version of Judy Garland's signature tune from "The Wizard of Oz," and being the devil's advocate that I am I countered with IZ's version for the top spot on that list. "Over the Rainbow" first appeared as part of a medley with "What a Wonderful World" on IZ's 1990 album "Ka 'Ano'i" as a 4:01 version, followed by a 5:08 version on the 193 "Facing Future" album, which in turn ended up on the soundtracks for both "Meet Joe Black" in 1998 and "Finding Forrester" in 2000. What you have here is just "Over the Rainbow" by itself, although it is understandable if you prefer the medley version. Either way you get the same simple arrangement as IZ plays the ukulele and sings the familiar song in his own distinctive way.

The basic argument is that IZ's version of "Over the Rainbow" is something you want to have in your music library. Beyond this being the only source for the non-medley version, "Alone in IZ World" is a posthumous release that mixes together not only unplugged performances with the ukulele with songs offering more backing arrangements, but also some previously unreleased songs. This will mean more to IZ's fans, who would already own all of his albums and be looking for anything left in the vault, than to those of us listening to him for the first time. But knowing that this album was produced after his death in 1997 matters because it explains why we heard IZ listening to a scratchy recording of "Mona Lisa" before he starts singing it. Not everything works here, and taking our cue from "Over the Rainbow" there is a decided preference to my ear for songs simply arranged, such as "La Elima," over those where the synthesizers start getting layered on, such as "Starting All Over Again" and "In This Life." By the same token, the songs sung in Hawai'ian, such as "Panini Puakea" and "Opae E," stand out more than those in English, just as you would expect them to. "Alone In Iz World" might not be the best choice for your first Israel Kamakawiwo'ole album, but then again the odds are better than even that it will not be your last one.

I cannot lie... I have been a IZ fan as long as I can remember. This CD is a must have! But "Facing Future" is a better introduction to IZ... So buy both.

Personally my favorite CD is Ka Anoi. I don't know if there is any of this CD still being sold. This is IZ's first solo album. It is raw and unrefined, but I think it has feeling and a closeness that is because of the raw editing. But the musical virtuosity is the strong point of this CD. If you can find this one... GET IT!

Also if you can find any of the classic Makaha Sons of Niihau, with Iz, and his brother Skippy. I recommend it for anyone who loves old style Hawaiian music... Very classic. The Makaha Sons (of present) are a wonderful band but without IZ there is something missing. Get any Makaha Sons with IZ, Especially live versions, "Live at Hank's Place", "Makaha Bash 3" Great music and you get to laugh at Iz's corny jokes...

Just wanted to share my love of Brudda Iz's music... Hope you find some of these CD's and enjoy them as much as I do.... ALOHA!!!

Here's what it is: IZ!! For those unfamiliar with music from the isles just listen to the soft, melodic "Hi'ilwae" and tell me you aren't thirsting for more! The lovely Mrs. Miller and I picked up this CD on our recent trip to Hawaii and can't stop listening to it. My favorite is the remake of "In This Life", the final cut on the CD. Isarel says that in the last five years of his life, his image and position in the community dramatically changed. Well, in my musical library (that runs the gamut from country to pop to classic rock and oldies) this CD IZ the one to own. That is the image I have of him ... number one. I read about his life and passing, because I wanted to know more. Now, I anxiously await delivery of Israel's other CD's. This CD is great, but how could you not want them all?