SMAP – SMAP BOO: Remix Hardcore Idol Machine (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

1. はじめての夏 mc “AK” Mix
2. GANTAN Sound Machine
3. $10 #4
4. たぶんオーライ MOD Mix
5. がんばりましょう #2
6. SHOGATU Sound Machine
7. 雪が降ってきた MOD Mix
8. Hey Hey おおきに毎度あり #3
9. KANSHAして MOD Mix
10. 正義の味方はあてにならない #2
11. SMAP #2

In Japan, many artists, groups and bands get the remix treatment by the label. Whether they are good or not is subjective but from many that I’ve listened to, you find a few rare gems and some that are just flat out crappy.

SMAP receives their first remix treatment with “SMAP BOO: Remix Hardcore Idol Machine” and the remixes for the songs are quite interesting as it touches upon songs from their albums 001 through 007 and for me, it was interesting to see how much different they can make the original songs because I imagined right off the bat, remixes for those songs would be difficult.

“BOO” kicks off with “Hajimete no Natsu – mc “AK” Mix” (title track translates to “Beginning of Summer”). This is one song that would be hard to remix but mc AK does a great job in adding a funky beat and some samples. But the song is very close to its original arrangement but considering the difficult this song would be to remake, for the most part, he did what he could. Not a major remix but a subtle and noticeable one with the beats.

The second track “GANTAN Sound Machine” features many of their older songs and songs SMAP fans are used to seeing them perform live in concert. Included are a medley of Japanese covers of American songs and older SMAP hits “Got to Be Real”, “Best of My Love”, “Hataraku Hitobito”, “Pocket ni Seishun no Fun Fun Fun”, “Shake It” and “Walk the Dinosaur”. The song is quite current with SMAP’s more mature, jazzy/funk sound that they are known for now and this remix is pretty much a medley of those songs utilizing their mature sound with the funky guitars and brass.

The third track “$10 #4” is pretty much very similar to the original track but with a slightly different arrangement and repeating of vocals and of course, the samples and beats. But once again, very mild remix and is mostly heard at the beginning of the track.

The fourth track “Tabun Orai MOD Mix” and this is a song that gets the full complete remix treatment with deep bass groove and percussion. Definitely a cool remix!

The fifth track “Ganbarimashou #2” is another song that gets the full remix treatment and a song that I did see SMAP utilize in a performance and that is a hard rock version of their hit song.

The sixth track “SHOGATSU Sound Machine” is another medley and features the songs “Fade Out”, “Shake U Up”, “Subway Kids” and “Scarface Group”. Songs the group are known for singing live in their concert and also, getting the full remix treatment with a funky vibe and cool samples to rock music, so you get a little of everything with this track.

The seventh track “Yuki ga Futte Kita MOD Mix” gets the mod treatment but another remix that may have beats changed but a tough track to remix like “Hajimete no Natsu”.

The eighth track “Hey Hey Ookini Maido Ari” is more like an extended mix than a full-on remix.

The ninth track “KANSHA Shite MOD Mix” is another track that gets a full on remix with deep beats and deep bass groove. At first I was digging this song and somehow later on, I started to feel the music was a mismatch.

The tenth track was a surprise, the group’s older song “Seigi no Mikatawa Ateninaranai”. If anything, I think this song was added for their fans but overall, a fun remix with a slight change but not a full-on remix.

The final track on the album is “SMAP 2” is probably a song that doesn’t sound like it got a remix treatment and possibly remix-wise, not the best remix on the entire album.

As for the the CD insert, there is nothing on the insert but you get a poster which features a collage of photos of the members of SMAP, while on the other side you get the lyrics to the songs and production credits.

Overall, as a remix album, “SMAP BOO: Remix Hardcore Idol Machine” has songs in which they get the full remix treatment and others, just slight remix changes and it depends on the listener. I think that this remix plays its safe with the SMAP fans but those who are expecting more from this remix album, may be disappointed. But for me, I felt it was an average remix album with some cool songs and others which baffle me why its on this album versus other songs they could have used.

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