Support NeoGAF

[PhantomZone]

all the released tracks sound overproduced to me. maybe they aren't, but I can't shake it, knowing that MJ didn't have any input feels weird. it's nowhere near as bad as 'michael', but still. vocally they are sublime, but that goes without saying.

also 8 tracks and some of them with already existing versions, either sony are being stingy or there's not much left.

Makes me wonder which story is legit when they were originally talking about how many songs that are unreleased in "the vault". If they do it right they could have 18 or so more posthumous albums still to come out.

For the record i like what i have heard (even though i'll be buying it for the demo versions as they sound better than the overproduced tracks)

 

[Ahasverus]

APWNN has a great melody but the instrumentation is weird. Any link to the demo?

 

[SCReuter]

Slave to the Rhythm's being uploaded in a few minutes. Woot.

Edit: It's up.

 

[cb1115]

the snippet I just heard sounded CRAY.

 

[Oozer3993]

Slave to the Rhythm.

Blue Gangsta will be available from michaeljackson.mtv.com at 10AM EST.

 

[Mik2121]

Slave to the Rhythm.

Blue Gangsta will be available from michaeljackson.mtv.com at 10AM EST.

 

[Ahasverus]

That's the king alright!

 

[SCReuter]

Blue Gangsta will be available from michaeljackson.mtv.com at 10AM EST.

Source?

 

[Mr. Bamboo]

Slave to the Rhythm.

Blue Gangsta will be available from michaeljackson.mtv.com at 10AM EST.

Those vocals... that passion. It's rare to come by elsewhere (in pop music) these days.

 

[cb1115]

MJ sounds PISSED in that song. god damn.

 

[MikeMyers]

Sad... I could listen to the whole thing straight in order. That album is underrated!

I'm glad you enjoy it (not sarcasm), and I do agree that the album is underrated. However, I didn't really care for songs like "Privacy" or "The Lost Children" and felt like the album was better off without them.

Ultimately, I still like the album, as I do with all his work.

 

[cb1115]

welp. just pre-ordered the deluxe edition on Amazon.

 

[iavi]

Man. Xscape is sounding like what Invincible should have been. A real solid step forward from his Blood on the Dancefloor days.

The only song that didn't immediately click with me was A Place with No Name (which was ironic seeing as that was my favorite demo--probably why I was so critical) but that grew on me hard too.

A Slave to the Rhythm is amazing.

welp. just pre-ordered the deluxe edition on Amazon.

You are not alone.

MJ sounds PISSED in that song. god damn.

Hell yah. MJ's vocals got progressively angrier/raspier sounding post Dangerous. It started on Bad to fit the theme, but he went hard on Dangerous, only to take it even further in Blood on the Dancefloor. I think it's amazing, honestly. I like how you can kind of tell which era Michael the demo is from by his vocal style on the track. Love never felt so Good, for example, gotta have been recorded just around thriller/off the wall.

 

[SCReuter]

Never mind, Oozer. Here's a source:

It's truly fitting that after a long history together and in anticipation of Michael Jackson's upcoming album, MTV will exclusively release two never before heard tracks. On May 8 at 10:00 am ET, fans can go to michaeljackson.mtv.com to listen to "Blue Gangsta," as well as view archival footage from interviews and iconic MTV performances including Bad, Black or White and more. Additionally, on May 9 at 10:00 am ET, the title track "Xscape" will also be available on michaeljackson.mtv.com.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/prnewswire/press_releases/New_York/2014/05/07/NY22488

 

[Himynameischris]

Finally heard Slave to the Rhythm...damn classic already, I know I'm going to list to this all day tomorrow.

 

[jackb2424]

Damn, Im a huge MJ fan and every song released has been a a hit for me. It's a absolutely incredible that his older songs completely destroy any pop artist out. The passion in his voice during Slave and Chicago are unmatched. Sure these sonvs stand on their own but I feel theres a younger generation thats gonba love this. Awesome music that gets u up without all the sex. I miss tbe dude.

 

[Mik2121]

Yup. Right now my ranking would be something like this:

1 - Love Never Felt so Good
2 - Slave To The Rhythm
3 - Loving You
4 - A Place With No Name

I listened to Chicago a couple times but can't find it anymore so it's hard to judge. Same for Xscape, we've only heard some bits so...

But right now everything is sounding GREAT.

 

[iavi]

I am mad about what they did with A Place with no Name. I like it, but I am mad. The only Michael track that I can think of with any kind of country/acoustic bent, and they throw it out...for a fucking messy take on the Leave Me Alone rhythm.

ugghhhh

Yup. Right now my ranking would be something like this:

1 - Love Never Felt so Good
2 - Slave To The Rhythm
3 - Loving You
4 - A Place With No Name

I listened to Chicago a couple times but can't find it anymore so it's hard to judge. Same for Xscape, we've only heard some bits so...

But right now everything is sounding GREAT.

mine goes like this so far:

A Place with no Name
Love Never Felt so Good
Slave to the Rhythm
Loving You
Chicago

 

[Himynameischris]

Oh I missed A place with no name...damn love it, so far I'd say:

Slave To The Rhythm
Love Never Felt so Good
A Place with no Name
Chicago
Loving you

 

[SCReuter]

1. LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD
Written by Michael Jackson and Paul Anka
Produced by Michael Jackson, John McClain, Giorgio Tuinfort and Paul Anka

2. CHICAGO
Written by Cory Rooney
Vocals Produced by Michael Jackson and Cory Rooney
Produced by Timbaland and Jerome Harmon

3. LOVING YOU
Written by Michael Jackson
Vocals Produced by Michael Jackson
Produced by Timbaland and Jerome Harmon

4. A PLACE WITH NO NAME
Written by Dewey Bunell, Michael Jackson and Dr. Freeze
Vocals Produced by Michael Jackson and Dr. Freeze
Produced by Stargate

5. SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM
Written by L.A. Reid and Babyface
Produced by LA Reid and Babyface
Produced by Timbaland and Jerome Harmon

6. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE
Written by Michael Jackson
Vocals Produced by Michael Jackson
Produced by Timbaland and Jerome Harmon

7. BLUE GANGSTA
Written by Michael Jackson and Dr. Freeze
Vocals Produced by Michael Jackson and Dr. Freeze
Produced by Timbaland, Jerome Harmon, King Logan and Daniel Jones

8. XSCAPE
Written by Michael Jackson and Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels and Fred Jerkins III
Vocals Produced by Michael Jackson and Rodney Jerkins
Produced by Rodney Jerkins

17. LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD - MICHAEL JACKSON & JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Written by Michael Jackson and Paul Anka
Produced by Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Jerome "JRoc" Harmon

.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Trust me, the original demos you will like. Hell just listen to the previously leaked demos of:

Place With No Name
Blue Gangster
Love Never Felt So Good
Escape
Do You Know Where Your Children Are

These were Michael's versions that he was working on and sound great. The new crap sounds like garbage. Basically they are presenting the remixes (brand new instrumentation) as the official versions.

This is hurting me so bad..like I listen to the demo..then the new and im just like wtf did yall just fucking do!?

 

[Dorsal Axe]

I was worried about Slave to the Rhythm, but it sounds much better than what we heard in that awful Xperia preview. I think I still prefer the original version though.

I'll admit APWNN has grown on me.

 

[PSGames]

I really like Slave to the Rhythm and APWNN is awesome now that I've heard it a few times.

 

[SCReuter]

I was worried about Slave to the Rhythm, but it sounds much better than what we heard in that awful Xperia preview. I think I still prefer the original version though.

The "original" Slave to the Rhythm is actually a 2010 reproduction. The true original from 1989 will be on the deluxe edition of the album.

 

[-GJ-]

The "original" Slave to the Rhythm is actually a 2010 reproduction. The true original from 1989 will be on the deluxe edition of the album.

Are you sure? Ellen played a tiny snippet of Slave to the Rhythm saying it's a new MJ track, and she played the Tricky Stewart version.

 

[SCReuter]

Are you sure? Ellen played a tiny snippet of Slave to the Rhythm saying it's a new MJ track, and she played the Tricky Stewart version.

Yep, I don't know why they chose to play Tricky's version on Ellen, but it won't be on the album.

 

[sphinx]

the only sad thing about all of this is that there is no video to STTR with MJ dancing to it.

MJ is easily the biggest loss in the world of modern music ever.

 

[SCReuter]

Whoa, just heard a snippet of the new Do You Know Where Your Children Are. It sounds amazing. Totally digitized and tugs at my retro gaming strings.

 

[-GJ-]

Whoa, just heard a snippet of the new Do You Know Where Your Children Are. It sounds amazing. Totally digitized and tugs at my retro gaming strings.

Do you have a link to that one?

 

[SCReuter]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q90qdRjtAI0#t=26

Video also includes snippets of Xscape and Blue Gangsta. Some MJ fans are complaining that DYKWYCA sounds like Sonic the Hedgehog, but that's why I love it.

 

[-GJ-]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q90qdRjtAI0#t=26

Video also includes snippets of Xscape and Blue Gangsta. Some MJ fans are complaining that DYKWYCA sounds like Sonic the Hedgehog, but that's why I love it.

Thank you. Xscape sounds insane! I can't wait to hear the full track. Blue Gangsta sounds kinda weird. Judging on this snippet I think I'll like the original more. Do You Know Where Your Children Are does sound like Sonic, haha, but like you said; that doesn't have to be a bad thing.

 

[PSGames]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q90qdRjtAI0#t=26

Video also includes snippets of Xscape and Blue Gangsta. Some MJ fans are complaining that DYKWYCA sounds like Sonic the Hedgehog, but that's why I love it.

WOW at DYKWYCA. Sounds fantastic to me.

 

[LAM09]

I was looking forward to hearing Xscape the most, but DYKWYCA sounds like something special. Not long till the album is out!

 

[thefro]

Blue Gangsta is up. Quite awesome as expected.

 

[ASIS]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q90qdRjtAI0#t=26

Video also includes snippets of Xscape and Blue Gangsta. Some MJ fans are complaining that DYKWYCA sounds like Sonic the Hedgehog, but that's why I love it.

BG sounds like a hot mess in that snippet. I hope this is not an accurate representation of the full song. But DYKYWCA sounds amazing!

 

[PSGames]

Blue Gangsta is up. Quite awesome as expected.

Those vocals. He killed it.

 

[LAM09]

I like what they have done with Blue Gangsta, but I still prefer the original (demo).

 

[tanuki]

Gotta say, Timbaland did a fucking great job. Totally brought his A-game to the project; he's been on autopilot for years.

 

[RaidenZR]

Man I'm conflicted about Blue Gangsta. It is good, much better than what I expected after hearing the preview, and overall I do like it...but the dated drum machine seems cheap and turns me off. I really like the swagger in MJ's voice on that track though. A little 'angsty' or 'confident' Michael vocals can go a long way.

 

[Air]

Like blue gangster so far. Don't know how I feel about slave to the rhythms new production though.

 

[PSGames]

So it looks like LNFSG debuted at number 20. I don't see any other debuts that high on first week. Pretty good?

 

[SCReuter]

And here's the original Slave to the Rhythm from 1989!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Bl-kLlcN8

It's a thing of beauty. 0_0

 

[Twilight Gap]

snip

 

[cb1115]

Deluxe edition appears to have leaked

 

[R.I.P]

Blue Gangsta is up. Quite awesome as expected.

Damn those vocals are good. Can't wait to pick up the full album tomorrow!

 

[cb1115]

This album has me feeling happy and sad at the same damn time.

RIP MJ

 

[Dorsal Axe]

Deluxe edition appears to have leaked

Yep, it's the real deal.

 

[LAM09]

The leading track of the album 'Xscape', has to be the best song on the album IMO.

 

[PSGames]

Must... resist... urge to download.

So for those that have the full thing how would you rate the new productions to the demos?

 

[cb1115]

Must... resist... urge to download.

So for those that have the full thing how would you rate the new productions to the demos?

A Place With No Name and Do You Know Where Your Children Are seem to be the most polarizing. kind of comes down to whether you like electronic beats or not.

everything else is very well done, IMO.