Michael: Album Reviews

I will do a fan review soon. I agree with the NME article about the final two tracks. Behind the mask, and much too soon are both brilliant, and far better than most the other tracks on the album.
Love, H4M
 
I wonder what he means with Spoken parts in Hollywood Tonight.
That could totally ruin the song for me... :(
 
^^^^

Have you heard all 10 tracks in full album version ?
 
The excerpts I've read on HP are insightful, as is this review. (Though wasn't he one of the first to back up the Cascio tracks a few weeks ago. Hmmmm.)

His previous post was saying that the vocals were Michael's - which he still maintains in this review by saying "Indeed, for all the controversy about its authenticity, going through the album song by song, Jackson's presence is undeniable." and "Until a forensic analysis or some other concrete evidence proves otherwise that conspiracy theory doesn't hold up for me--especially after hearing the final album versions on very good speakers"

he says the vocals on Cascio songs aren't up to Michael's strength and vitality - and I do not think that anyone says the opposite. Even the supporters of Cascio tracks say that they are demo recordings that's not high quality and that Michael wasn't giving his 100%.

so in a nutshell I think his whole point is that "vocals on the Cascio songs are real but not up to MJ's standard's"
 
Seriously though, Spoken parts by a guy from 3T (Tarryl) in Hollywood Tonight......
Why would they want to ruin a song with that :(
 
^ lmao its funny, fans will find ANYTHING to complain about. Nobody who has actually heard the whole song has complained (or even mentioned this except for the Huffington Post) about it in their review lol. They all say the song is an album HIGHLIGHT so clearly, it doesn't "ruin" it.
 
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all and didn't complain at anything from this new album.

Lets just say I'm worried :/

It's just.. when I heard Hollywood Tonight many times I'm almost sure this must become a big hit and I'm hyped for it.
And to have spoken parts in it (The reviewer said he wasn't too keen on that etc) might make the song less good.

That's all :/
 
Critics tend to exaggerate the situation into something big, don't let the critics themselves influence you on the feelings you have for the album.

Wait another 6 days and then you shall decide what you think. I think this will personally a be a killer album, and don't forget that critics even trashed 'Thriller' when it released in 1982, and now it's the biggest selling album of all time :D.
 
The track was first written by Jackson in 1981 and revisited multiple times over the years. The vocal on this version was recorded in 1994 at The Hit Factory during the HIStory sessions. It was originally engineered and mixed by Bruce Swedien (this version leaked online a couple weeks ago); the album version, featuring more prominent accordion and strings, was re-produced for the Michael album by estate co-executor John McClain.

why John McClain? why ruining the already perfect song. :no:

the spoken parts performed by Taryll Jackson on Hollywood Tonight
:( I don't have good feeling about it.
 
Excellent and I totally agree.
I am also looking forward for this book. I was really good to read a review about the music, not about "MJ's paranoia" as others so-called "professionals" have done :angry:

Highlights:

In spite of its limitations, from opening line ("This life don't last forever...") to closing ("I guess I learned my lesson much too soon") a very intimate, authentic, humanizing picture evolves.
absolutely true :sad2:

Hollywood Tonight: Definitely an album highlight. The song begins with a haunting Gothic church choir, before transforming into an energetic dance stomper [...] The track features Michael in a notably deeper voice, and concludes with military-style whistling.
:bugeyed I soooo want to hear that!!!!!!!!


Deeper voice.... mmmmm :shifty:


Keep Your Head Up: [...] Fans will be happy to know the "Earth Song" ad libs heard on a leaked version of the track were removed.
Priceless!!!! :D


Monster
As Jackson holds a mirror up to society, asking us to observe the distorted reflection, I couldn't help but picture the horrifying scene of paparazzi shoving their cameras up against the ambulance carrying him to the hospital. "Everywhere you seem to turn there's a monster," he sings. "Paparazzi got you scared like a monster." Some reviewers continue to dismiss songs like this as petty "ranting" and "paranoia," but this is some deft social criticism for those who look beyond the surface. It has all the makings of a hit single.

:cry: :cry:
Finally someone says the truth about these songs!!!
Thanks so much for that decency and honesty.
Poor Michael :(

Much too soon: For all Jackson's superstardom, "Much Too Soon" reminds that behind the media construct was a human being.
Michael... :depressed:

occasionally, the creative liberties taken do seem questionable, or at the very least, unexplained. For the purists (myself included), it would be nice, in addition to the current album versions, to have some of these songs as they were last heard by Michael--just as it was nice to see Michael un-mediated in This Is It.
Count me as a purist too!!!

Great honest review.
 
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all and didn't complain at anything from this new album.

Lets just say I'm worried :/

It's just.. when I heard Hollywood Tonight many times I'm almost sure this must become a big hit and I'm hyped for it.
And to have spoken parts in it (The reviewer said he wasn't too keen on that etc) might make the song less good.

That's all :/

ahh, don't worry too much, dear :better:
We just have to wait a few more days to know how it is.
I have spent almost a year new reading about fans being "worried" because the title of the album would be "L.O.V.E.", worried about "Another Day beign the first single" (for we already "know it"... :smilerolleyes:), about the Prince symbol in the cover (it was finally deleted, I guess), about having too many/too few songs, about having "old tracks" (and finally there are only 2, HMH and ILTWYL), about the accordian added to Much too soon...

I am quite worried about the Cascio tracks, for instance.

So all we can do now it's wait.
 
In the offical Hollywood Tonight snippet, right before the snippet ends, you can hear the verse start with a different voice, I think that's where his nephew starts to sing the spoken part.
 
I'm thinking that maybe the spoken part isn't even long or make much of an impact, cuz the lyrics of the spoken part aren't even included in the lyric book...
 
No matter what opinions or feelings we have about certain things, it's hard on us that Michael is gone. We are trying to adjust to a new way now and it's not easy. Even though I haven't heard the album yet, I think the people that worked on it tried to do things the way Michael would want even though that is a hard thing to do as well.
 
I guess I shouldn't worry!
And just wait until the song is here to listen to it and make a decision after I've heard it!

:)
 
I wouldn't be too worried about these negative reviews, almost every decent thing in this world has negative reviews from some crackheads who don't know what they're talking about.
 
Guys dont worry with a reviewer doesnt like the album coz what really matters is how we the fans feel bout it. We are the ones who want 2 get it and if they are those who dont want to get it, its their choice.

Im still undecided bout getting the album myself but knowing me i'll end up getting it anyway :lol:
 
In The Closet also has spoken parts, but that doesn't ruin the song. Maybe it's not bad, we should wait to hear it first before we judge it.
 
On the Horizon: 'Michael' Finishes Up Some Jackson Songs
from the Wall Street Journal: By CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY

On his signature song "Thriller," Michael Jackson sang about things that came back from the grave. You can add his recording career to the list. On Dec. 14, "the King of Pop" will resurface with a new album titled "Michael." The set features 10 songs that were completed after the singer's death in 2009 at the age of 50.

Sony Corp.'s Epic Records plans to ship nearly one million copies of the new record to stores, according to Billboard magazine. Mr. Jackson's estate has earned about $275 million over the past year, according to a person familiar with the matter. The estate's revenue came largely from its deal with Sony Music, the film "This Is It," and from music-publishing revenue.

John Branca, a co-manager of the Jackson estate, said that after making "This Is It," a wealth of unreleased material surfaced. "It would have been a sin to leave it in the vaults," Mr. Branca said.

Some of the songs on "Michael" were originally recorded in the New Jersey home of the Cascios—a family Mr. Jackson stayed with in 2007—an informal arrangement that spurred some critics and fans to question the authenticity of the tracks.

Representatives of the estate said they verified that the tracks used on "Michael" really featured his voice by playing them for musical experts, including producers who had worked with Mr. Jackson.

Mr. Branca said that Mr. Jackson left behind numerous vocal tracks and "in terms of material that we might feel comfortable releasing," there is enough for at least another album, in addition to "Michael."

Singer-songwriter Akon, who co-produced the first single off "Michael," titled "Hold My Hand," said the song was essentially completed before Mr. Jackson passed away. The theme of the composition, Akon said, captured the way that Mr. Jackson wanted to relaunch his career. "He wanted to come back with records that would bring the world together," said Akon, who also sang on the track.

Producer Teddy Riley, who worked on several songs on the new record, said that the tracks Mr. Jackson left behind were in various stages of completion. To prepare them, Mr. Riley added drums and sound effects and did some remixing.

Mr. Riley, who worked with Mr. Jackson on his 1991 album "Dangerous" and several other projects, said that the singer would have enjoyed the debate about whether the posthumous tracks should have been released.
"He loved the controversy—that's what Michael lived for," Mr. Riley said. "He's looking down on all this and smiling."

Mr. Riley says there is a salsa-flavored song called "Burn Tonight" that didn't make "Michael" that could get a future release. "It's not what people would expect from Michael," he said. "It's like something from 'Dancing with the Stars."'

Mr. Branca said that the next big project for the Jackson estate will be a re-release of his 1979 album "Off The Wall." It will likely include alternate takes, remixes and perhaps some previously unheard material.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704493004576001412357926964.html
 
Hmmm Re-release :/
I would love another album with unreleased songs.
This means the chance DYKWYCA and Blue Gangsta and SSTR etc aren't going to get a release anytime soon. :(
 
I'm thinking that maybe the spoken part isn't even long or make much of an impact, cuz the lyrics of the spoken part aren't even included in the lyric book...

Also, I would PLEASE hear ONE (mostly female...) fan on this board stand up and say, yeah, I really wished he didn't do the spoken interludes in "In The Closet" during the HIStory. After I recovered from passing out, I opened all windows in the house. :D

I love hearing him speak. And that's saying it politely.
 
Also, I would PLEASE hear ONE (mostly female...) fan on this board stand up and say, yeah, I really wished he didn't do the spoken interludes in "In The Closet" during the HIStory. After I recovered from passing out, I opened all windows in the house. :D

I love hearing him speak. And that's saying it politely.

But it's not him speaking....It's Tarryll supposedly...
 
Prolly would help to read reviews I really don't wanna read...:D:hysterical:
I was done after the one from the Sun, I'm afraid.

Aaaaaaaah, people wanna hear Tarryll's uncle, took a while, sorry, I'm slow tonight. :D

hahaha...who knows if it's true..I hope it really is Michael :ninja: :naughty:
 
oh for heaven sake! itc is all 10000000000% michael. i hate when his fam gets all greedy and wants a piece of the action that doesn't include them.. judge it (the album) when it gets here not from the leaked songs we get. because if u havent noticed some of the songs aint the album versions that are being leaked,.
 
I REALLY hope these reviews don't reflect my personal taste. I never really trusted the media when it came to Michael Jackson but.. ugh... I guess that's the price for anticipation.. Always anxiety lurking around there somewhere :(
 
I enjoy reading the article by Joseph Vogel. Very fair review of the album.

The moment I heard the official snippets, my confidence on the whole project came back.
 
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