Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Facing Future

Artist...............: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Album................: Facing Future
Genre................: Hawaiian
Source...............: CD
Year.................: 1993
Ripper...............: EAC (Secure mode) / LAME 3.92 & Sony CD-RW CRX230E
Codec................: Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)
Version..............: reference libFLAC 1.1.0 20030126
Quality..............: Lossless, (avg. compression: 56 %)
Channels.............: Stereo / 44100 HZ / 16 Bit
Tags.................: VorbisComment
Information..........: Complete CD with Covers

Ripped by............: LoC. Blazer on 2/19/2008

Included Files.......: 25 (10 assorted, 15 tracks)

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Facing Future.nfo
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Facing Future.m3u
Facing Future.cue
tracked_by_h33t_com.txt
GhoulRelease.jpg

IZ Front.bmp

IZ Back.bmp

IZ Inside.bmp

IZ CD.bmp

IZ Front TN.jpg  (Thumbnail)

Tracklisting

1. (00:05:06) Hawai'i '78 Introduction
2. (00:03:21) Ka Huila Wai
3. (00:02:15) 'Ama'ama
4. (00:03:07) Panini Pua Kea
5. (00:04:56) Take Me Home Country Road
6. (00:03:32) Kuhio Bay
7. (00:02:56) Ka Pua U'i
8. (00:02:37) White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i
9. (00:04:22) Henehene Kou 'Aka
10. (00:03:40) La 'Elima
11. (00:02:33) Pili Me Ka'u Manu
12. (00:03:54) Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man
13. (00:04:01) Kaulana Kawaihae
14. (00:05:08) Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World
15. (00:05:16) Hawai'i '78

Playing Time.........: 00:56:44
Total Size...........: 324.09 MB

Though I only lived in Hawaii for 7 short years, Hawaiian music touched me and contributed greatly to my appreciation for a wide variety of music.  I was blessed to have the opportunity to meet "Bruddah IZ" in 1990 when he was playing with "The Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau".  Over the ensuing 6 years, I had the opportunity to speak with him briefly (on several occasions), hear him sing, and see that giant of a man strum his Ukulele dozens of times.  The man was definitely "Island style", easygoing, and peaceful on every occasion as well as  posessing a fun and likeable sense of humor.

Israel's music is smooth, easy, and peaceful with the occasional funny or comedic track. The rhythm and melody are often enough to touch you even in his many Hawaiian tracks, whether you understand the lyrics or not.  This is not necessarily my favorite of his works, but it's popularity allowed his music to cross the oceans even further.

I rank him tops in contemporary Hawaiian music of the 20th century along with other favorites of mine including: Cecilio and Kapono, Hapa, Willie K., Kalapana, Tropical Knights, and Ho`aikane.

I left Hawaii in March 2007 with my Hawaiian CD's to keep me company back on the mainland.  It's amazing that in the islands, mainland news was slow to arrive, but on the mainland, island news is even slower. It wasn't until December of that very year that I learned that our friend IZ had passed away in June.

It is with great respect, admiration, and aloha that I share his music with you.

Enjoy!