MAX – NEW EDITION ~MAXIMUM HITS~ (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Music Review)

Posted onAuthorDennis Amith2 Comments

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“An album elebrating the return of MINA to the group but the remix album is average at best.  The best part of this album though is that it features a new track plus a DVD bundled with 12 of their music videos and more.  Otherwise, a solid bundled release for the hardcore MAX fan!”

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GROUP: MAX

ALBUM: NEW EDITION ~MAXIMUM HITS~

LABEL: Sonic Groove

DURATION: 1:02:31

RELEASE DATE: December 10, 2008

  1. Ride on time (eighteen degrees MIX)
  2. Love is Dreaming (Takashi Ikezawa MIX)
  3. Shinin’on-Shinin’love (Takashi Ikezawa MIX)
  4. 銀河の誓い (SADA MIX)
  5. Love impact (PAX JAPONICA GROOVE MIX)
  6. 一緒に… (GIRA MUNDO MIX)
  7. Seventies (Anthology Disc Studio MIX)
  8. GET MY LOVE! (Ryosuke Nakanishi AKA studio-R MIX)
  9. TORA TORA TORA (DJ PLANET MIX)
  10. Give me a Shake (Wall5, SpiceMagic MIX)
  11. Grace of my heart (Ryosuke Nakanishi AKA studio-R MIX)
  12. 閃光 -ひかり- のVEIL (CLAZZIQUAI PROJECT REMIX)
  13. Are You Ready?

DVD: Region 2, 4:3, DURATION: 62 minutes

  1. TORA TORA TORA
  2. Seventies
  3. GET MY LOVE
  4. Give me a Shake
  5. Love is Dreaming
  6. Shinin’on-Shinin’love
  7. 閃光 -ひかり- のVEIL
  8. Ride on time
  9. Grace of my heart
  10. Love impact
  11. 銀河の誓い
  12. 一緒に…
  13. Making (2oo8 photo session)

For many Japanese music listeners, MAX was among the initial groups to help propel the music label avex trax with their string of hits during the mid-90’s.  Originally known as THE SUPER MONKEYS and performing along with leader Namie Amuro, when she went solo in 1995, the girls went on to focus their career as MAX, a group that would take the latest Eurogroove dance music and officially be known as a Hyper Euro Groove all-female J-Pop group.

With a successful first album, the women went on to be more a pop R&B group and for the next several years, become a staple among the variety music shows and part of the Okinawan music group explosion happening in Japan.

But changes were in store for the group in 2002 when MINA would announce that she was stepping down to get married and to give birth and eventually saying that she would return to the group in the future.  MAX would eventually find a replacement not long after with AKI and the women would continue to have several more hits and even perform twice in the United States.

But the group hasn’t released anything since 2006 and if anything, there was more focus on solo efforts and the women doing their own thing.  But there have been rumors of MINA’s return and sure enough, MAX announced in Fall 2008 that AKI would be leaving to focus on her own solo activities and MINA would be rejoining the group.

Thus, continuing MAX’s original December releases from the mid-90’s, the group released a new compilation of their hits.  Having already released a best album, the group returns with a remix album and a DVD featuring all their music videos when MINA was part of the group plus a new bonus track.

Now, when it comes to Japanese remix albums, they are always subject to the listeners musical tastes.  Sometimes you have an album that gets the special treatment with top remixers from different parts of the world and are awesome,  sometimes you get well-known Japanese remixers giving us a a wonderful new interpretation of a classic hit and sometimes you get a remix album that just sucks.

Again, remix albums are subject to the listeners and for my opinion of this remix album, it was average.  I have enjoyed the original tracks but to be truthful, there were a few tracks such as the GIRA MUNDO MIX of “Isshouni” and Ryosuke Nakanishi’s remix of “GET MY LOVE!” which were pretty cool but overall, the remix album was quite average.

I did enjoy the bonus track which was a new song from the group.  Since it’s been nearly three years since MAX has released a CD single and seven years since all four have released a song with each other, “Are You Ready?” was a nice modern pop, dance track.

But if there was a positive of this release was the inclusion of the music videos.  For those who were fans of MAX can probably remember when we would have to pay nearly $65 (US) for five music videos on VHS.  So, considering that this DVD features all 12 music videos of MAX (that include MINA) and a behind-the-scenes photoshoot and interview with the ladies, having this remix album released with all these music videos is quite a deal.

As for the CD insert, the insert features photos of the ladies and the lyrics and production credits.  Also, a 4-page flier promotion for their “LIVE CONTACT 2009” concert.

Again, when it comes to remix albums, its subject to whoever is listening to it.  And for my tastes, this album was an average remix album.  Some songs were good but nothing that made me excited or wanting to hear the song repeatedly.

But it’s the new bonus track and the collection of music videos on the DVD that makes this MAX release quite special.

For its price, considering how much I had to shell out for a MAX music video on VHS back then, the price for this remix album plus the DVD is quite cheap and the fact that so many videos are included, that’s a plus.

So, if you’re a big fan of MAX, this is definitely a release (the CD+DVD version) that is worth picking up.  Otherwise, if you are just curious about their music, then you can definitely find one of their greatest hits album for a lot cheaper via used.

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