AMG Review of Reinvention

Jared Johnson
All Music Guide

According to Max Hsu, Superchick's keyboardist/DJ and mega-guru producer, there's no true end to the songwriting process. Hsu, the man whose vision truly shapes the band's sound, describes their six prior releases as snapshots of songs in a continuing evolution. The idea behind Reinvention, therefore, was to capture some of the band's most memorable hits at later points in that evolution. It's a new way of looking at music in the iPod generation, and Reinvention is certainly a new way of hearing Superchick's G-rated, girl-power rock. The album is a creative way to look back and celebrate the band's accomplishments at this point in its career: over 750,000 albums sold and -- strikingly more impressive -- appearances in over 100 television shows, video games, and movies. Reinvention is not a typical greatest-hits collection or remix album where well-known songs are simply dressed up in faux club beats. Most of the songs are distinguishable from their original studio renditions by beefed-up guitar licks, rhythm tracks, and drum loops. This makes Reinvention a logical starting place for new listeners. Longtime fans will also enjoy the new takes but may ultimately consider this album a bonus rather than a necessity if they already own the rest of the Superchick catalog. Regardless, this is a landmark recording that demonstrates the band's versatility and sparks the hearts of listeners all over again.