“Punching Clown”

Backwards Shaka

(Yucky Apple Studios)

Jamaican rhythms, rock guitars and Jawaiian accents reverberate through the download-only debut EP of this young island sextet. Five of six songs are originals. The sixth is a basic Jawaiian remake of a 1976 Max Merritt & the Meteors ballad, “Slippin’ Away,” that was a huge hit in Australia and New Zealand. Hawaii’s self-styled “island music” radio stations have traditionally preferred remakes over originals, and Backwards Shaka’s remake of “Slippin’ Away” has gotten local play here for several months.

With one of the group’s originals — “Under the Covers” — also getting local radio play, Backwards Shaka is moving into the new year with plenty of momentum and memorable music. Take a listen to “Rock da Reggae,” which has a vocal hook reminiscent of the Toyes’ classic “Smoke Two Joints.” Or consider the unconventional story told in “Stranger,” in which a man laments that “a stranger came along and she stole the girl I love.”

Give the sextet credit for ear-catching instrumental work as well.

Visit facebook.com/backwardsSHAKA.

“I’m Not That Guy”

Patrick Tyrrell

(Pass Out )

The year 2016 is shaping up as a great one for local comedy. This debut CD by stand-up veteran Patrick Tyrrell is one of at least three already in the pipeline. It was recorded at O’Toole’s Irish Pub in downtown Honolulu with what was evidently an enthusiastic late-show audience.

Tyrrell is more a storyteller than a conventional bang-bang-bang stand-up comic. A lot of his material consists of somewhat rambling stories that eventually meander their way to a punchline. One is about meeting a woman who thought he looked like someone famous — in a bad way. Another begins with an argument with his wife about which way to drive around the island but ends up going in a different direction entirely.

One of his more clever bits is announcing that intelligent people “get” all of his jokes. Therefore, he says, if you don’t laugh at all his jokes, the intelligent people “will judge you.” (It’s funny when he says it!) No matter how “dry” such material sounds here, Tyrrell gets lots of laughs. And, giving credit where it’s due, he delivers some quick one-liners, as well.

It’s a basic rule of stand-up that a comic should never have to explain a joke or tell the audience why something is funny. Tyrrell breaks that rule and gets laughs doing it.

Visit passoutrecords.com.