CD Reviews: Bop Tribal and Busekrus

February 27, 2009

Michael Keany,

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Bop Tribal

(Pass Out Records)

New quintet Bop Tribal may be the closest thing Hawaii has to a supergroup, comprising local jazz heavies such as DeShannon Higa, Abe Lagrimas Jr. and Satomi Yarimizo. This, their debut collection of original compositions, doesn’t disappoint. The title track for example, starts off with an enticing tribal beat that makes clear the source of the group’s name, before flowering into a creative, free-flowing jazz ramble that handily showcases each member’s talent. Recommended.

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Busekrus

On the Rocks

(Pass Out Records)

It can sometimes seem that the only recordings coming out of the local music scene are Jawaiian, Hawaiian and more Jawaiian, so when an alternative rock offering like this one pops up, it’s cause for notice. There’s definitely a ’90s vibe here; lead singer Marcus Busekrus (his real last name) sounds as if he’s channeling Ed Kowalczyk from Live, and the music is a mix of crunchy pop punk and ska. If that sounds good to you, this might sound good to you.

For more information on either of these releases, visit www.passoutrecords.com.

This article appears in the March 2009 issue of HONOLULU Magazine.