New Michael Jackson album announced: Xscape. 8 unreleased songs coming May 13th.

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Michael Jacksons invincible is really really good guys.

That album was ahead of its time it needs 4 or 5 songs cut though...
 
Having listened to the originals, Timbaland and co seem to have done a great job with the majority of songs.
 
Listened to the whole album, I don't like it much at all. These songs should not have released like this. The originals aren't that great either. I did like the Michael album though.
 
Mihael Mello Keehl said:
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!?
Click to expand...

The new versions suck. I am still holding out for owning the album but decided that listening to updated versions of the tracks that we've had in their original form such as:

Place With No Name
Blue Gangster
Love Never Felt So Good
Escape

would be fine. Man, these producers just straight up ruin the tracks. Actually Love Never Felt So Good is fine, the other stuff though, holy crap is it terrible! Blue Gangster is supposed to have a big band sound and is a true sequel to Smooth Criminal, but Timbaland screwed it up. I don't even want to talk about the new Place With No Name.

Anyways I'm looking forward to tuesday being able to hear the original demos of:

Do You Know Where Your Children Are
Loving You
Chicago (She Was Lovin Me)
Slave To The Rhythm

Apparently Blue Gangster is an earlier version than the one that has been on the net for years too.

This whole deluxe album is leaked on the net, due to the Estate's dumb decision to release the album almost a week apart in different countries, should've been a worldwide launch.
 
The cool part about the deluxe album is that you can consider disc 2 as a legit unreleased Michael Album from his artstic peak if you don't like the remixes.
 
I dunno, all the original versions sound like demos. I like all the new versions except A Place With No Name, (the original just sounds like the America song it's based on anyway). Xscape is a massive improvement on the original, the different chords really bring it to life. Loving You is fantastic, I think that's my favourite.

The only misstep for me is the solo version of Love Never Felt So Good. Such a terrible mix, not sure what's going with the sound. But worst of all, the snare/handclaps go out-of-sync with the music in the second chorus. That's some serious amateur hour. Can't believe nobody noticed it before it went to print, considering it's the first track on the album. What a mess.
 
Ahasverus said:
The cool part about the deluxe album is that you can consider disc 2 as a legit unreleased Michael Album from his artstic peak if you don't like the remixes.
Click to expand...

They are actually both on the same disc, disc 2 is a DVD. Yes I am going to ignore the new versions.
 
tanuki said:
The only misstep for me is the solo version of Love Never Felt So Good. Such a terrible mix, not sure what's going with the sound. But worst of all, the snare/handclaps go out-of-sync with the music in the second chorus. That's some serious amateur hour. Can't believe nobody noticed it before it went to print, considering it's the first track on the album. What a mess.
Click to expand...

Loud, distorted and hissy, the mastering really is lousy on that one. Somebody dropped the ball.
 
tanuki said:
I dunno, all the original versions sound like demos. I like all the new versions except A Place With No Name, (the original just sounds like the America song it's based on anyway). Xscape is a massive improvement on the original, the different chords really bring it to life. Loving You is fantastic, I think that's my favourite.

The only misstep for me is the solo version of Love Never Felt So Good. Such a terrible mix, not sure what's going with the sound. But worst of all, the snare/handclaps go out-of-sync with the music in the second chorus. That's some serious amateur hour. Can't believe nobody noticed it before it went to print, considering it's the first track on the album. What a mess.
Click to expand...
This is 100% how I feel.

Great album. To go as far to say that the songs were ruined is hilarious.
 
It's a bit baffling that there are two different productions of Love Never Felt So Good. Why not get Timbaland to do a Justin-less edit? His mix is so superior on every level.

You have the solo version which is like, "Oh, let's do a generic 70s disco production on this track". And not even doing it well. I already mentioned the botched snare. Then there's other terrible stuff. The bass playing is super sloppy. The piano and strings are mixed so loud. I mean, this is the one instance I'd rather listen to the original piano demo. It's just crap on every level.

Then you have the other version where someone actually put some thought into it, like "How can I make this track sound like a modern Off The Wall cut?"

I love the little touches on Timbaland's version:
The horns that references It's The Falling In Love.
The Rock With You-esque guitar
The chorus percussion a la Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough/Working Day and Night
The added harmonies on the later choruses. Don't know if it's Justin singing them or if they were added via Melodyne/pitching software, but it helps lift the later choruses.

Gotta give Timbaland credit, the guy clearly put a lot of love and thought into the song (and the rest of his productions on the album). And his snare doesn't go out-of-sync.
 
Was playing this album nonstop at the gym earlier. Managed to get Place With No Name back to back on shuffle. I listened to both of them like 4 times in a row. I really like the final version much more, but they are both really good. The chorus is just much more powerful in the final version, especially the background tracks from Michael.

And maaaaaaaaan, Do You Know Where Your Children Are/12 o'clock is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD.
 
I am absolutely loving the new productions. Timbaland did a fantastic job. The beat in "Do You Know Where You Children Are" is essentially Timbo doing the music for an SNES game, and I love it for that.

There will be a performance of some sort of one of the songs at the Billboard Music Awards on May 18th. The performance is described by Billboard thusly:

On what already promises to be one of the year’s stand-out music events, the 2014 BBMAs raise the bar even higher with a world premiere experience featuring the late King of Pop.

The Estate of Michael Jackson created the spot, which will present the superstar “like you’ve never seen him before.”
Click to expand...

Well Billboard Brazil's official Twitter account may have let the cat out of the bag on how that will go down (hint: exactly how you're thinking):

@BillboardBrasil

Michael Jackson aparecerá, na forma de um holograma, no palco do Billboard Music Awards
Click to expand...

Translation:

Michael Jackson will appear as a hologram on stage at the Billboard Music Awards
Click to expand...
 
the original versions of these songs are incredible

MJ was sitting on some hot shit

the 'remixes' i can leave. a couple are decent i guess, most just sound confused and overdone. gets me thinking about he might have sounded in 2014 had he not died, he generally followed trends but did it very well.
 
The song Xscape is hot shit, wow. Could have easily been released on Dangerous, HIStory, or Invincible. Xscape and Love Never Felt So Good are my favorites, that's for damn sure.
 
This album just flows. I don't have to skip a single song. Need a few more listens but I might actually put this above Invincible. A million times better than the abomination that was 'Michael'.
 
This fucking album is incredible!! I ran 5 miles non stop on the treadmill jamming Mike. APWNN is so awesome. The beat it so catchy and infectious. Slave is one of the best pop songs I have heard in years. The original and new version are sick. Theres no way Mike wouldnt dance to the new version. Xscape gets me pumped like Jam does but my favorite is Chicago. Omg the way he flows into the chorus is unbelievable. No one sings angry like he does. The R and B beat Timbalnd gave is downright perfect. This is a number one hit. Much props to Timbaland. I feel he did right by Mike and his music. This goes to show that he really is the king. That I can go back almost 30 years and still produce musoc better than anything in the past 10 years. I hope the younger generation picks this up. This is real Pop music.
 
*listens to the remixes*

Hey, not bad! Probably the better MJ remixes out there

*listens to original*

WHOAAAAAAAAAAOOWOOWOOWOWOWOW
 
I like both the remixes and original versions. I can't really confidently say I like one version over another at this point.
 
Oozer3993 said:
I am absolutely loving the new productions. Timbaland did a fantastic job. The beat in "Do You Know Where You Children Are" is essentially Timbo doing the music for an SNES game, and I love it for that.

There will be a performance of some sort of one of the songs at the Billboard Music Awards on May 18th. The performance is described by Billboard thusly:



Well Billboard Brazil's official Twitter account may have let the cat out of the bag on how that will go down (hint: exactly how you're thinking):



Translation:
Click to expand...

He lives :o
 
Chicago became my instant favorite on the album and remains as such for now (we'll see if that changes)... I think the song is underrated in this thread.
 
Some of the songs sound terrible to me. Just hate the modern production from Timbo (or whoever is producing these tracks). Some are pretty good, though. Tracks like Love Never Felt So Good or Chicago still have some of that old MJ sound.

Very up and down record, but it's interesting for what it is.

Naked Snake said:
Chicago became my instant favorite on the album and remains as such for now (we'll see if that changes)... I think the song is underrated in this thread.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Chicago is great. Maybe my second favourite track.
 
i met her on my way to chicago
where she said she was alone
and so was i so i asked her for her name
she smiled and looked at me
i was surprised to see
that a woman like that was really in to me
she said she didnt have no man
raised the kids very best she can (she was lovin me)
she told me she was all alone
said dont she didnt have no one (she was wanting me)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played
she lied to you lied to me (she was lovin me)
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah
i never would have that she was living like that
her words seem so sincere
when i held her near she would tell me how she feels
it felt so real to me
this girl she had to be
an angel sent from heaven just for me
she said she didnt have no man
raised the kids the very best she can (she was lovin me)
she told me she was all alone
said dont she didnt have no one (she was lovin me)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played
she lied to you lied to me
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah (she was lovin me)
she tried to give a terrible lie (she was lovin me)
lovin me while she was still your wife (she was wantin me)
she thought that lovin me was right
while you at work ad the kids at home (she was lovin me)
she said she didnt have no man
try to get me any way she can (she was wantin me)
she lied to you lie to me
cause she got a family family yeah
why? no, alright
oohhh oohh oooh
i feel
daddada daddada
i didnt know she was already spoken for
cause im not that kind of man
i swear that i would have never looked her way
now i feel so much shame
and now things have to change
you should know that im holding her to blame
she said she didnt have no man (holdin her the blame)
raised the kids the very best she can (holdin her the blame)
she told me she was all alone
said dont she didnt have no one (holdin her the blame)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played (holdin her the blame)
she lied to you lied to me
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah (holdin her the blame)
she tried to give a double life
lovin me while she was still your wife (holdin her the blame)
she thought that lovin me was right
while you at work and the kids at night (holdin her the blame)
she said she didnt have no man
try to keep me any way she can (holdin her the blame)
she lied to you lie to me
cause she got a family family yeah (secret time for me)
she said she didnt have no man (she was lovin me)
raised the kids the very best she can
she told me she was all alone
said she don't -didn't have no one (she was lovin me)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played
she lied to you lied to me
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah (she was lovin me)
she tried to give a double life
lovin me while she was still your wife (she was wantin me)
she thought that lovin me was right (she was lovin me)
while you at work and the kids at night (she was lovin me)
she said she didnt have no man
try to keep me any way she can (she was wantin me)
she lied to you lie to me
cause she got a family family yeah
 
Naked Snake said:
i met her on my way to chicago
where she said she was alone
and so was i so i asked her for her name
she smiled and looked at me
i was surprised to see
that a woman like that was really in to me
she said she didnt have no man
raised the kids very best she can (she was lovin me)
she told me she was all alone
said dont she didnt have no one (she was wanting me)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played
she lied to you lied to me (she was lovin me)
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah
i never would have that she was living like that
her words seem so sincere
when i held her near she would tell me how she feels
it felt so real to me
this girl she had to be
an angel sent from heaven just for me
she said she didnt have no man
raised the kids the very best she can (she was lovin me)
she told me she was all alone
said dont she didnt have no one (she was lovin me)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played
she lied to you lied to me
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah (she was lovin me)
she tried to give a terrible lie (she was lovin me)
lovin me while she was still your wife (she was wantin me)
she thought that lovin me was right
while you at work ad the kids at home (she was lovin me)
she said she didnt have no man
try to get me any way she can (she was wantin me)
she lied to you lie to me
cause she got a family family yeah
why? no, alright
oohhh oohh oooh
i feel
daddada daddada
i didnt know she was already spoken for
cause im not that kind of man
i swear that i would have never looked her way
now i feel so much shame
and now things have to change
you should know that im holding her to blame
she said she didnt have no man (holdin her the blame)
raised the kids the very best she can (holdin her the blame)
she told me she was all alone
said dont she didnt have no one (holdin her the blame)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played (holdin her the blame)
she lied to you lied to me
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah (holdin her the blame)
she tried to give a double life
lovin me while she was still your wife (holdin her the blame)
she thought that lovin me was right
while you at work and the kids at night (holdin her the blame)
she said she didnt have no man
try to keep me any way she can (holdin her the blame)
she lied to you lie to me
cause she got a family family yeah (secret time for me)
she said she didnt have no man (she was lovin me)
raised the kids the very best she can
she told me she was all alone
said she don't -didn't have no one (she was lovin me)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played
she lied to you lied to me
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah (she was lovin me)
she tried to give a double life
lovin me while she was still your wife (she was wantin me)
she thought that lovin me was right (she was lovin me)
while you at work and the kids at night (she was lovin me)
she said she didnt have no man
try to keep me any way she can (she was wantin me)
she lied to you lie to me
cause she got a family family yeah
Click to expand...
Yeah Chicago is unquestionably one of the best tracks in the album. It's my favorite track of the album.
 
EazyWeazy3 said:
Chicago man, Chicago. So, so good.
Click to expand...

jackb2424 said:
my favorite is Chicago. Omg the way he flows into the chorus is unbelievable. No one sings angry like he does. The R and B beat Timbalnd gave is downright perfect. This is a number one hit. Much props to Timbaland. I feel he did right by Mike and his music. This goes to show that he really is the king. That I can go back almost 30 years and still produce musoc better than anything in the past 10 years. I hope the younger generation picks this up. This is real Pop music.
Click to expand...

krypt0nian said:
It's really that damn good. *HUGS*
Click to expand...

Fjordson said:
Yeah, Chicago is great. Maybe my second favourite track.
Click to expand...

N7Commander95 said:
I Xscape and Chicago are some of my favourite MJ songs now.
Click to expand...

ASIS said:
Yeah Chicago is unquestionably one of the best tracks in the album. It's my favorite track of the album.
Click to expand...

High fives all around!
 
Also APWNN is really growing on me now. I kind of love the beat.

Also Blue Gangsta is a glorious piece of funk, holy shit its amazing.

This is such an amazing Album. I put it up there with RAW and Thriller as my favs.

The only song I'm not as keen on is DYKWYCA but I still like it.
 
Naked Snake said:
i met her on my way to chicago
where she said she was alone
and so was i so i asked her for her name
she smiled and looked at me
i was surprised to see
that a woman like that was really in to me
she said she didnt have no man
raised the kids very best she can (she was lovin me)
she told me she was all alone
said dont she didnt have no one (she was wanting me)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played
she lied to you lied to me (she was lovin me)
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah
i never would have that she was living like that
her words seem so sincere
when i held her near she would tell me how she feels
it felt so real to me
this girl she had to be
an angel sent from heaven just for me
she said she didnt have no man
raised the kids the very best she can (she was lovin me)
she told me she was all alone
said dont she didnt have no one (she was lovin me)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played
she lied to you lied to me
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah (she was lovin me)
she tried to give a terrible lie (she was lovin me)
lovin me while she was still your wife (she was wantin me)
she thought that lovin me was right
while you at work ad the kids at home (she was lovin me)
she said she didnt have no man
try to get me any way she can (she was wantin me)
she lied to you lie to me
cause she got a family family yeah
why? no, alright
oohhh oohh oooh
i feel
daddada daddada
i didnt know she was already spoken for
cause im not that kind of man
i swear that i would have never looked her way
now i feel so much shame
and now things have to change
you should know that im holding her to blame
she said she didnt have no man (holdin her the blame)
raised the kids the very best she can (holdin her the blame)
she told me she was all alone
said dont she didnt have no one (holdin her the blame)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played (holdin her the blame)
she lied to you lied to me
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah (holdin her the blame)
she tried to give a double life
lovin me while she was still your wife (holdin her the blame)
she thought that lovin me was right
while you at work and the kids at night (holdin her the blame)
she said she didnt have no man
try to keep me any way she can (holdin her the blame)
she lied to you lie to me
cause she got a family family yeah (secret time for me)
she said she didnt have no man (she was lovin me)
raised the kids the very best she can
she told me she was all alone
said she don't -didn't have no one (she was lovin me)
she said just give her a break
filthy lie was the go she played
she lied to you lied to me
cause she was lovin me lovin me
yeah (she was lovin me)
she tried to give a double life
lovin me while she was still your wife (she was wantin me)
she thought that lovin me was right (she was lovin me)
while you at work and the kids at night (she was lovin me)
she said she didnt have no man
try to keep me any way she can (she was wantin me)
she lied to you lie to me
cause she got a family family yeah
Click to expand...

This song is just amazing
 
BramVD said:
Listened to the whole album, I don't like it much at all. These songs should not have released like this. The originals aren't that great either. I did like the Michael album though.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way about the new album. Overall, it's fairly weak and messy. The first few were nice but the rest don't have much traction.

I like most of the originals though, especially the remixed versions that popped up a few years ago.
 
Short video interview with LA Reid: http://www.tylerpaper.com/TP-Arts+E...e-making-of-michael-jacksons-new-album-xscape

LA Times did a very positive review of the album:

LA Times said:
Michael Jackson's 'Xscape' feels shockingly vital

From the first lines of the first song, the Paul Anka-penned, "Love Never Felt So Good," "Xscape" confirms that hearing Michael sing "new" material can still be a mystical experience, and throughout the freshly produced recordings the sound of a still-vital spirit rushes into the present with revived energy.

You can hear his breath in the slow-burning "Chicago," about an innocent tryst gone wrong, can nearly touch the quiver in his falsetto during "Loving You." "Blue Gangsta" is pure funk, with a vocal take that's toe-curlingly gorgeous and a conceit that ups the "Smooth Criminal" vibe. That crack of emotion, heard in headphones, races to the pleasure center, while the track's producers, including Dr. Freeze, Timbaland and Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, build a sonic Robocop to support it.

In fact, "Xscape" often passes the skeptic's test.

Does it swing? Yes. Does it feel like a contractual obligation album? No. Does it honor Jackson's legacy? Yes. Can you dance to it? God yes. Can you mash to it? Certainly.

The product of "album producer/curator" Antonio "L.A." Reid and executive producers Timbaland and Jackson's estate overseers, the release offers sonic holograms of the best possible kind. This is especially true of the Rodney Jerkins-produced title track, which closes the album with robotic glory, and the nearly perfect opener, "Love Never Felt So Good."

...

One measure of this effort's success? Jackson accomplishes something virtually impossible when, during "A Place with No Name," he makes soft rock vocal group America sound funky. A lost-in-the-desert re-imagining of the early '70s song, his demo is utterly surprising, like Frank Ocean turning an Eagles song into his "American Wedding." As updated by Swedish dance-pop masters Stargate (Ylvis' "The Fox," Rihanna's "Diamonds," "Firework" by Katy Perry), the new track thumps with classic hooks and melodies.


Thematically, "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" is less effective at its message than Prince's "Sign O' the Times," and showcases the more tiresome touchy-feely side of late-period MJ, the sweet protector of innocents who moralized on youth troubles and absentee parents with an admirable, if indulgent, righteousness. The original "Slave to the Rhythm" sounds more like a Roger Troutman and Zapp jam than an MJ track, with a gravel and growl that's fierce and convincing. Updated by executive producer L.A. Reid and others, its sturdiness is impressive.

By the conclusion, the producers have posited a future for hologram Michael, one that shimmers with surreality, capturing the idea of artist as cipher, and temporarily blinding us to the truth that his remains are entombed in Glendale. At the same time, "Xscape" offers a chance to once again be whisked back to his creative prime and recall the man before his flaws felled him, when he was untouchable.
Click to expand...


I've seen a couple of negative press reviews of the album, one even titled "This album should have never come out", I'm not going to link to them because as far as I'm concerned those critics can go die in a fire :P
 
Holy shit the original demos/versions are far and away superior.

It's like a private concert with Michael Jackson.

Stripped down to just the bare essentials.

Love it.
 
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