City Wise 10-17-2007
A Hawaiian Christmas
Tiki Man Records, $16.99
The falsetto goddess does her first Christmas album. And how. Her voice just keeps getting better and there’s no better way hear it than when she sings ‘Po Hemolele’ (’O Holy Night’).
Slack Key Circus
Barefoot Natives, LLC, $16.99
Uncle Willie K and Eric Gilliom, the duo of good times, release their second album as The Barefoot Natives. And like their debut, Slack Key Circus is a long list of feel-good music that’s the perfect soundtrack to life on these islands. From the first upbeat track (’E Komo Mai’) that welcomes you the party, to the final track that says that they, well, ‘Only Wanna Party,’ it’s obvious what this album is about.
One of These Days
Liliko’i Records, $16.99
The return of John Cruz was a highly anticipated event, and fans won’t be disappointed. He’s back, his soulful voice in good form and delivering his mix of rock, blues and folk pop–all with an island touch.
Back to Romance
Mountain Apple Company, $13.99
The hanai local boy–and musical genius–Matt Catingub is back, orchestra in tow, with this second release. Back To Romance (not to be confused the orchestra’s first album, Return To Romance) is a men-only album of love song covers. Henry Kapono and Catingub sing ‘Oh, Pretty Woman,’ Robert Cazimero sings ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’ and Bruce Hamada sings ‘Till There Was You.’
Mahina O Wai’ala
‘Aumakua Records, to be released 10/30
Stephen Inglis’ love letter to his homeland is song after song of tranquil slack key compositions–most of them traditional, some of them original–that belong on the shelf with the best of them. The title track, ‘Mahina O Wai’alae’ is gentle and moving–a chicken-skin homage that sets the tone for the album.
–K. H.
BOOK REVIEW
Miraculous Cures
Vincent Lam
Weinstein Books, 350pp, $23.95
If television is to be believed, all doctors are telegenic, saintly stress-cases with dynamic sex lives (which are often scored with an indie-rock soundtrack). Vincent Lam’s new story collection puts the lie to this television myth. Through a series of linked stories, Lam details the careers of four doctors from medical school through residency–and, it must be stated, these doctors are not glamorous. They are most often tired, anxious, frustrated and utterly human. Lam’s characters begin the book as innocents, secure in their idealism and dedicated to providing compassionate service as doctors. But this idealism is slowly chipped away by long hours, difficult (sometimes violent) patients, and persistent self-doubt, leaving these characters shaken and disillusioned. They cling to what compassion remains to them, but this too is often compromised by having to choose between what is right and what is easy. This provides a constant motif for the book, as the characters’ sympathy is tested again and again each time with diminishing returns, Lam seems to be asking, what are the limits of empathy and once those limits are exceeded what remains?
There is a pervasive feeling of exhaustion throughout the book, as the characters attempt to find meaning in their profession, and by extension their own lives, but instead come away only with the persistent routine of another day. Despite this, the book never wholly lapses into despair. There are hints of hope and wit throughout. Credit this to Lam’s clear, unaffected prose, which strikes the right balance between an almost dispassionate objectivity and a subtle sympathy. –Matthew Martin
Off the rack
Revolution Books
While you won’t find many berets or much fist-pumping these days at Revolution Books in Mo’li’ili, the oldest bookstore on O’ahu has been stoking the embers of the fire for 30 years.
As the name implies, Revolution Books carries books (new and used), T-shirts, stickers, pins, DVDs, pamphlets and fliers perpetuating Marxist-Leninist schools of thought and criticizing the status quo. Pick up classic Noam Chomsky or Marx’s Communist Manifesto or sport the newest T-shirts ($15) and totes with an image of a wanted poster of the ‘Bush Regime’ for ‘mass murder’ and ‘crimes against humanity.’
Carolyn Hadfield, the general manager-like figure (they try to avoid hierarchy, of course) has been volunteering with the store for 25 years (the store is all volunteer-run–you know, by the people, for the people.) and has gone on world tour with the legendary Yuri Kochiyama. Hadfield says that the more recent store literature covers the Jena 6, war in Iraq, rise of theocracy, evolution debate and pro-choice issues, in addition to omnipresent material by Bob Avakian, father of the United States Revolutionary Communist Party. Since each community has its own particular issues related to oppression and revolution, Honolulu’s Revolution Books has a large section dedicated to native Hawaiian issues, local militarization, and the ubiquitous Superferry.
Whether you were born in a commune with a bandolier across your torso, or you participate in what the New York Times recently called ‘tyrant-chic’ (for example, sporting Che Guevara’s image on a bikini), Revolution Books has got what you need to feed your mind and soul for revolutionary knowledge.
The store celebrates its 30th anniversary on Nov. 18 with readings, music performances and some revolutionary food.
Down with the man.
–Margot Seeto
$10 Well Spent
At $1 a pop, you can afford to buy a few of them and hand them out to your favorite bartenders to lure in their customers, because nothing lights up a smoke as charmingly as this little guy.
The downside: The golf-ball-sized object isn’t really conducive to pockets.n
if you only have…
Four minutes and 19 seconds, listen to David Vandervelde’s ‘Nothin’ No,’ from his album, The Moonstation House Band.
David Vandervelde
Secretly Canadian, $14.98
nTwo hours, watch Mabuhay with Aloha on PBS (Mon. 10/22, 7:30-9:30pm), a documentary about the Filipino experience in Hawai’i..
nFour hours, eat at Chef Keith Endo’s table at Vino (Sat. 10/20, 5:30pm, $45). Enjoy a four-course meal with wine pairings.
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