Having just 'discovered' Israel Kamakawiwo'ole for myself, I feel like Rip van Winkle emerging from his epic nap. How did I ignore this guy for so long? Those years wasted listening to esoteric Spanish Ska bands and 2nd rate power-pop are haunting me. Now that I have finally heard IZ, a man with an incredibly beautiful voice, over a decade after his death, I am beginning to wonder where I was getting my music news from, what rock I was living under, and what sick and evil persons out there set-out to hide such a talent from all of us. Perhaps there is an evil conspiracy afoot. Either that or musically I was lost in a sea of youthful ignorance. Whatever the case may be, I am happy to have shed the talentless and elitist Maximum Rock+Roll and other subcultural clutter from my life and allowed my ears to be opened to something so lovely.
IZ is no stranger yuppie cultural excavators such as myself, often still charting high among 'world' music sales. so there is a good chance you've heard him or heard of him. Whether you have or have not, I recommend you take (another) break from that long day of "work" (ie. net surfing) to listen to IZ.
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One of my all time favorite musicians!
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