Israel Iz Kamakawiwo'ole - Wonderful World
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Free Music Notes for Wonderful World
Free Music Review: Kinda nice...only because of Bruddah IZ
Hit: 2 Stars
When I first heard this album was coming out, I didn't know what to expect. I love IZ's music; it's so intimate and personal. However I love what an orchestra can do. It can also be intimate...or it can be big and bold.
Okay, where do I start?
This album has some nice music. There are a couple interesting takes on some songs which I grew up with. However I think it's mostly because of Bruddah IZ's own charm. The "orchestra" just doesn't live up to its hype:
1) First of all (and worst of all), it's obviously synthesized. The samples are of varying quality. The strings, for example, sound very much like synth pads while the harp sounds a little more like a harp. And don't even get me started on the brasses. Gross. (I am a brass player.) I was really expecting some real instruments. After all, we have a lot of excellent musicians around here.
2) One thing that troubled me was related to Jon de Mello's comment that IZ could be "singing with a full orchestra -- a rich sound, with depth". But the synthesized instruments, particularly the strings, fail to have this "rich sound." Additionally, everything seems to be mixed as if each instrument was individually close mic'd with very little reverb added. This makes it sound even more dead and synthetic...not like it's in a concert hall at all. Even the editing done with IZ's voice and ukulele falls victim to this same problem. The music just doesn't sound rich and spacious like it would be if recorded by a real orchestra, even in a studio with competent engineers.
3) There are also musical elements that seem to be sloppily or lazily done. One in particular is that the orchestra has not been tuned to the original recording. Thus there are intonation issues between the "orchestra" and Bruddah IZ and his ukulele. Also there are some chords clashing in some parts around. It sounds like lazy editing when they put a Bb-major chord in some instruments but a Bb-minor in others.
4) Finally, most of the orchestrations sound like something you'd hear at a pops concert or in an elevator...relatively simple orchestrations for music that is obviously not orchestral. Strings only play long chords (unless they're plucked); the brasses are only for hits or the weird-sounding entrance in "Ka Alo O Iesu"; the harp is relegated to stereotypical arpeggios and glissandi. The orchestra doesn't have enough contrast. I don't care about these as much as the other three points because I know it's a difficult task to do this without taking too many liberties and destroying the character of the music. But some have already noted that the addition of an orchestra already changes the character.
The album has many shortcomings. If Bruddah IZ were still alive, I'm sure he'd do stuff much differently. If you really want to be touched by his voice and his beautiful music, I recommend other albums like "Facing Future" or "N Dis Life."
Free Music Review: This is a train wreck.
Hit: 2 Stars
I just finished listening to the complete CD and did not notice it had ended. Over produced is one term that comes to mind. Orchestrated in bizarre parts throughout. The reviewer who called it "The Little Mermaid" type of music was correct. It just doesn't sound right. The simplicity of Iz and a ukulele on a white sandy beach was tied to the Disneyland Monorail and Goofy was the pilot. A disaster on the scale of Ishtar. Sometimes, shoes are not required.
Iz is beautiful, but nothing new here. Don't waste your money. The two stars are for Iz, otherwise zero stars.
Free Music Review: Very disappointing!
Hit: 2 Stars
I love Iz's music - if you do too - skip this CD. The orchestral arrangements are formulaic, weak and hokey. I was hoping there would be some innovative takes on the music - but it left a lot to be desired.
If you like Yanni, John Tesh, or Muzak - by all means get this one.
Otherwise - stick to the original cuts of these songs.
Free Music Review: orchestra
Hit: 2 Stars
This album is too sugary. It is not authentic. It is like the orchestra repressed his soul and truth meaning of the songs.Free Music Review: Misses the Point, Barrel Scrapings
Hit: 1 Stars
I am kind of a total fan of Iz, I have pictures of him, t shirts, bone hook necklaces, and I have every CD, plus all the Sons of N, so I know the songs by heart..... and that is what is missing with all this smooth orchestra varnish. Heart. I think the reason so many of us are so deeply connected with his music is that it showed his heart and spirit, even in the silly songs. So I bought this, and listened to it once, but I just can't stand it. It's like they dipped it in plastic. It's like twisting the truth. I can see why people would like it if they had never heard the others, because you can still hear his voice over all the orchestra traffic, but I hope that you 5 star reviewers try listening to the originals.
Sigh. I wish that there were more of his recordings, but I guess this shows that they have scraped the bottom of the barrel.