That part is turned down so much you can hardly hear it lol. Somehow I feel that Xscape is a little less funky/bouncy than the old leaked version. Anyone else find that?
Yeah, the bass is a lot less "fat", very different instruments in some areas, more "clicky". The spoken part seems to have a compression effect into it, like he's speaking through an old radio.
Here are my thoughts on the demos:
Love Never Felt So Good - Badly (re)mastered, stereo expansion unnecessary (like 2006 leak). Artifacts with the hiss when the song starts when MJ sings "love" (very obvious with headphones) and also near the end. SERIOUSLY? 2010 leak was much cleaner but has lower bitrate and sibilant. VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!!
Chicago (She Was Loving Me) - Very ambient. The vocals still sound a bit processed especially "she smiled and looked at me" but I think these effects may have been intended. I like how the "she was lovin me" alternates between left and right channels slightly. Overall, however, I prefer Timbaland's remix; the original is too slow for my liking.
Loving You - Reminds me a lot of the demo for The Girl Is Mine. I don't like how it's pitched down slightly (TGIM demo was also pitched down in its release on 2008 remix single), I keep thinking Michael's voice is slightly out of tune in some parts compared to the Timbo's remix but much more natural if not a bit deeper. Due to the slight pitch-down, the key transition in the demo sounds quite subtle but it does transition from B-flat into B major. Timbo's mix stays in B-flat major so he processed MJ's voice to stay in B flat. He also replaced "I'll stay home instead" to "I'll stay home in bed in the first build up. I do like the production of the remix a lot - my favourite out of the Xscape album.
A Place With No Name - Shortened from the leaked version, the only change is the instrumental break before the bridge has been shortened - it still fades out around the same point as the leaked mix (slightly earlier/faster). The remix on the other had took a while to dig into. My ears died first but like other fans, I STARTED LIKING IT, KISSING IT, HUGGING ITTTTT! (LOL)
Slave To The Rhythm - I was not expecting this. A few fans seem to be disappointed but it seems Tricky simply made up those chord progressions. Timbo's version isn't that bad if you consider that. Suppose Tony Moran's remix of HIStory leaked before HIStory itself, I think people would be digging the remix and be surprised the original is so different.
Do You Know Where Your Children Are - Reminds me of Abortion Papers and a bit of Bad Tour Wembley, a lot better than the 2010 leak! The only thing I don't like is the fade-out, it makes the adlibs at the end become muddled out (notably the "heyyyyyyyyyy!" around 4:29).
Blue Gangsta - There's more bass but it doesn't resonate as much so it sounds a bit stripped down. That said, I like the extra touches to this version such as the guitar right before the chorus and the different instruments.
Xscape - Sounds like the leaked mix with a bit more punch.