Doug Heffernan
Member
Chicago is my jam, sounds like it could be a track from Dangerous.
New Michael Jackson album announced: Xscape. 8 unreleased songs coming May 13th.
- Thread starter ColonelColon
- Start date
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Booty Patrol
Banned
Well it doesn't take much to be better than ARTPOP and Britney Jean. Completely disagree about Katy and Beyoncé, though.
Net_Wrecker
Member
I'm so split on a bunch of these. DYKWYCA, for example, has a synthpop/retrowave sound to it in the new version, but the Original is much more gritty with that 80s/early 90s touch I love. Both sound good.
Slave To The Rhythm is a hit either way because Michael's melody is incredibly catchy. Timbaland future vs. groovy MJ, both are great.
A Place With No Name has more of its own identity in the new version, but the acoustic original is still good.
Chicago is new 90s bounce vs. atmospheric 90s bounce. Pick your poison.
Blue Gangsta feels like a logical progression of sounds. It's "more" but the spirit is still there. New version is probably better even if it slightly loses that smokey big band quality.
Likewise, Xscape sounds like the progression of Jam and other songs in that vein, but the original has the "pop" to the drums and the mechanical sound I really liked from the Dangerous album.
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All in all, it's just good to hear new MJ material. Some real quality on here.
Slave To The Rhythm is a hit either way because Michael's melody is incredibly catchy. Timbaland future vs. groovy MJ, both are great.
A Place With No Name has more of its own identity in the new version, but the acoustic original is still good.
Chicago is new 90s bounce vs. atmospheric 90s bounce. Pick your poison.
Blue Gangsta feels like a logical progression of sounds. It's "more" but the spirit is still there. New version is probably better even if it slightly loses that smokey big band quality.
Likewise, Xscape sounds like the progression of Jam and other songs in that vein, but the original has the "pop" to the drums and the mechanical sound I really liked from the Dangerous album.
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All in all, it's just good to hear new MJ material. Some real quality on here.
Remixed Slave to the Rhythm...hmm not that good, overproduced, the magic is suffocated here. There is this annoying "70s computer" sound played after the chorus that drives me mad.
But the original Slave to the Rhythm is great, great flow, just enjoyable to listen to
What a great album, one of the best, if not best of the year.
But the original Slave to the Rhythm is great, great flow, just enjoyable to listen to
What a great album, one of the best, if not best of the year.
Waited till physical to hear the album, got it today. Michael is my favorite artist and always has been, I listen to his music every day and am an expert on him. I am going to paste my long review that I just wrote on an MJ fan site. This might be too much to read but thought I would share anyways. I only listened to the demos and did not hear the remixes.
tldr: amazing collection of music
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I will review the real versions (demos) and those are what I listened to. Going into this album I had only heard the OG leaks of Blue Gangster, Place With No Name, Escape, 2010 Slave, 2010 DYKWYCA, and all versions of Love Never Felt So Good, so I had many surprises in store. I listened to the album twice to truly appreciate it. Let me just say that this one does require a decent volume to hear all the instruments and appreciate it.
Packaging: Unfortunately the image of that cool looking cover from last week's Walmart ad must have just been an error or some weird placeholder art. Walmart also only had the "softpack (aka cardboard)" version, no jewel case version (even though I 100% know it does exist). I couldn't be bothered to waste my time driving somewhere else just for better packaging.
The packaging looks cool and everything, especially when opened up, but the cardboard is cheap and the glossy material they use is a finger print magnet. It came with a book, poster, and free download code (have no idea what file format they are). I find it funny to include a download code with a CD when you can legally (and most playback programs have an option) just rip the audio from the CD to your computer, no information is lost either. Maybe some people don't know this?
The poster is OK I guess, it is interesting at least. Looks like some weird version of Mike that used a Blood On The Dancefloor music video look as the basis.Better than the front cover art.
Love Never Felt So Good: Never a great demo, never has been, sounds much better on CD than the supposed "CD Quality" leak I have.
4/10
Chicago: Really interesting song. To be honest it was absolutely nothing like I thought it would be. It has a really deep beautiful instrumental in the background with lots of different instruments and sounds. The best way to describe the background music as a mix between Fall Again and Human Nature. Vocals were pretty damn good and I love how the percussion accentuates Jacksons voice, when he does certain syllabus and is emotional on them the drums go with it, awesome. Very cool song with a beautiful background. The one thing I will fault it for is that it lacks any bridge. Still great though and it is a demo:
10/10
Loving You - This one I really had no idea what it would sound like. It reminds me of a Jacksons track that would be on Going Places or the self titled album. It's a pretty good song and I love that they experimented with a tape wobble effect for the dreamy opening (he is supposed to be in bed dreaming). It is NOT a damaged tape like I heard some fans mention, you can tell because the bass and drums sound perfect during the opening. The vocals are great on this one. The bass and guitar sound like Al Capone. There is nothing wrong with the song itself except it really doesn't sound too unique and seems like something that would play on the Cosby Show.
9/10
Place With No Name - Never a favorite of mine but it sounds a lot nicer on this CD version than before. Cool track and good to hear in proper quality. It is a cover of a true classic song and it is interesting at the very least.
7/10
Slave To The Rhythm - Was not big into the 2010 mix, but damn, this is a cool song now. The song is nice and has lots of little cool layers of synth and what not. It is sonically interesting (like Chicago), and that is what is very important to me. All the little layers complimenting one another really are a signature Michael Jackson sound. Vocals are slower than the 2010 leak, and are much better for it. I feel that the ending he should have made really powerful end with a stronger voice to highlight the drama. The ending ad libs are great and are a throwback to State of Shock, "You really gonna give it baby!". They just need to turn down Michael's vocals as the backing music can be difficult to hear at times. It isn't completely to the level of perfection but it is still damn good.
8/10
Do You Know Where Your Children Are - Damn! This one is really powerful! I thought the 2010 demo was cool but was never into it. There is no doubt about it that Steve Lukather is a great guitar player and I love his previous contributions to Michael Jackson songs, but this version just completely blows the other one away. There is this perfectly well done electronic beat driving the song along with this ambience type "aaaaaaaah" sound you hear that compliments the rest of the sound, with what appears to be a nice mix of synthesizer and a chorus. That solo in the middle of the song is mind blowing. Seriously, this is a fantastic song. Very well done.
10/10
Blue Gangster - Great mix of an already great song. I am used to the leaked version. The differences in this one are the "Good Bad and The Ugly" whistle being replaced by an acoustic latin sounding guitar, the piano is less prominent, and the horns are at the front of the mix. Now this finally sounds like a big band song! While I miss the Good Bad and the Ugly whistle it is not a deal breaker and the horns being at the front of the mix (and not just at the end of the track like the leaked version) easily adds more to the song.
8.5/10
Xscape - Some sound effects are a bit different but overall this is a better quality version of the same song we all know and love. Always was a classic, always will be a classic. The car sound effects are less prominent in this but nothing wrong with that. Awesome song, the bridge is just as beautiful as ever.
10/10
One thing I don't understand is why the intros to so many songs are impossibly quite to hear such as (APWNN, Slave, and Xscape). I know Michael did quiet openings in HIStory but this is too quiet. No big deal though.
I know this doesn't add up as an average but overall I give this album of the original demos a 10/10, it is Michael Jackson and it once again proves the fact that he made beautiful music. These a great collection of songs and this is much better than Invincible, easily. Consider this almost like "The Ultimate Collection" part 2. Lots of magic on these songs. Of course this isn't going to be as good as his other studio albums, but as a collection of demos this is damn impressive and might as well be a new album.
I am very happy to have heard all this music and have new MJ music in my life.
tldr: amazing collection of music
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will review the real versions (demos) and those are what I listened to. Going into this album I had only heard the OG leaks of Blue Gangster, Place With No Name, Escape, 2010 Slave, 2010 DYKWYCA, and all versions of Love Never Felt So Good, so I had many surprises in store. I listened to the album twice to truly appreciate it. Let me just say that this one does require a decent volume to hear all the instruments and appreciate it.
Packaging: Unfortunately the image of that cool looking cover from last week's Walmart ad must have just been an error or some weird placeholder art. Walmart also only had the "softpack (aka cardboard)" version, no jewel case version (even though I 100% know it does exist). I couldn't be bothered to waste my time driving somewhere else just for better packaging.
The packaging looks cool and everything, especially when opened up, but the cardboard is cheap and the glossy material they use is a finger print magnet. It came with a book, poster, and free download code (have no idea what file format they are). I find it funny to include a download code with a CD when you can legally (and most playback programs have an option) just rip the audio from the CD to your computer, no information is lost either. Maybe some people don't know this?
The poster is OK I guess, it is interesting at least. Looks like some weird version of Mike that used a Blood On The Dancefloor music video look as the basis.Better than the front cover art.
Love Never Felt So Good: Never a great demo, never has been, sounds much better on CD than the supposed "CD Quality" leak I have.
4/10
Chicago: Really interesting song. To be honest it was absolutely nothing like I thought it would be. It has a really deep beautiful instrumental in the background with lots of different instruments and sounds. The best way to describe the background music as a mix between Fall Again and Human Nature. Vocals were pretty damn good and I love how the percussion accentuates Jacksons voice, when he does certain syllabus and is emotional on them the drums go with it, awesome. Very cool song with a beautiful background. The one thing I will fault it for is that it lacks any bridge. Still great though and it is a demo:
10/10
Loving You - This one I really had no idea what it would sound like. It reminds me of a Jacksons track that would be on Going Places or the self titled album. It's a pretty good song and I love that they experimented with a tape wobble effect for the dreamy opening (he is supposed to be in bed dreaming). It is NOT a damaged tape like I heard some fans mention, you can tell because the bass and drums sound perfect during the opening. The vocals are great on this one. The bass and guitar sound like Al Capone. There is nothing wrong with the song itself except it really doesn't sound too unique and seems like something that would play on the Cosby Show.
9/10
Place With No Name - Never a favorite of mine but it sounds a lot nicer on this CD version than before. Cool track and good to hear in proper quality. It is a cover of a true classic song and it is interesting at the very least.
7/10
Slave To The Rhythm - Was not big into the 2010 mix, but damn, this is a cool song now. The song is nice and has lots of little cool layers of synth and what not. It is sonically interesting (like Chicago), and that is what is very important to me. All the little layers complimenting one another really are a signature Michael Jackson sound. Vocals are slower than the 2010 leak, and are much better for it. I feel that the ending he should have made really powerful end with a stronger voice to highlight the drama. The ending ad libs are great and are a throwback to State of Shock, "You really gonna give it baby!". They just need to turn down Michael's vocals as the backing music can be difficult to hear at times. It isn't completely to the level of perfection but it is still damn good.
8/10
Do You Know Where Your Children Are - Damn! This one is really powerful! I thought the 2010 demo was cool but was never into it. There is no doubt about it that Steve Lukather is a great guitar player and I love his previous contributions to Michael Jackson songs, but this version just completely blows the other one away. There is this perfectly well done electronic beat driving the song along with this ambience type "aaaaaaaah" sound you hear that compliments the rest of the sound, with what appears to be a nice mix of synthesizer and a chorus. That solo in the middle of the song is mind blowing. Seriously, this is a fantastic song. Very well done.
10/10
Blue Gangster - Great mix of an already great song. I am used to the leaked version. The differences in this one are the "Good Bad and The Ugly" whistle being replaced by an acoustic latin sounding guitar, the piano is less prominent, and the horns are at the front of the mix. Now this finally sounds like a big band song! While I miss the Good Bad and the Ugly whistle it is not a deal breaker and the horns being at the front of the mix (and not just at the end of the track like the leaked version) easily adds more to the song.
8.5/10
Xscape - Some sound effects are a bit different but overall this is a better quality version of the same song we all know and love. Always was a classic, always will be a classic. The car sound effects are less prominent in this but nothing wrong with that. Awesome song, the bridge is just as beautiful as ever.
10/10
One thing I don't understand is why the intros to so many songs are impossibly quite to hear such as (APWNN, Slave, and Xscape). I know Michael did quiet openings in HIStory but this is too quiet. No big deal though.
I know this doesn't add up as an average but overall I give this album of the original demos a 10/10, it is Michael Jackson and it once again proves the fact that he made beautiful music. These a great collection of songs and this is much better than Invincible, easily. Consider this almost like "The Ultimate Collection" part 2. Lots of magic on these songs. Of course this isn't going to be as good as his other studio albums, but as a collection of demos this is damn impressive and might as well be a new album.
I am very happy to have heard all this music and have new MJ music in my life.
zeioIIDX
Member
Exactly what I've been thinking since I first heard the track. Jam kept coming to mind.
I like JT but just not on this track. I just want MJ vocals.
I can't stop listening to this album.
Zantetsuken
Member
I thought it conveyed his passion through the songs he used it in. I really want to hear this album now.
Zantetsuken
Member
A Place With No Name, Chicago, and Loving You: Wow!
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
Oh wow, always loved that Pras/MJ No Friend of Mine song, and now its here as Blue Gangsta. Very cool - loving this album!
Dreams-Visions
Member
A Place With No Name is so vintage MJ I cried.
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
Both productions of Do You Know Where Your Children Are sound awesome. Straight off Bad but reminds me a bit of Who Is It. They've done a great job updating this sound while keeping it nostalgic.
bobbychalkers
Member
I would love to hear a Teddy Riley remix of it.
Twilight Gap
Member
Have had more time to listen to them now. This can change at anytime too:
Like
Slave 2 the Rhythm Original
Loving You
Chicago
Love Never Felt So Good Solo
Xscape Original
Do You Know Where Your Children Are Original
Loving You Original
Growing on me
A Place With No Name
Blue Gangsta
Do You Know Where Your Children Are (sped up)
Chicago Original
Slave 2 the Rhythm
Indifferent
Xscape (would like it a lot if they didn't overmix it. Too many drops and beat changes)
Love Never Felt So Good Ft JT
Love Never Felt So Good Original
A Place With No Name Original
Blue Gangsta Original
Like
Slave 2 the Rhythm Original
Loving You
Chicago
Love Never Felt So Good Solo
Xscape Original
Do You Know Where Your Children Are Original
Loving You Original
Growing on me
A Place With No Name
Blue Gangsta
Do You Know Where Your Children Are (sped up)
Chicago Original
Slave 2 the Rhythm
Indifferent
Xscape (would like it a lot if they didn't overmix it. Too many drops and beat changes)
Love Never Felt So Good Ft JT
Love Never Felt So Good Original
A Place With No Name Original
Blue Gangsta Original
Byakuya769
Member
Love Never Felt So Good is by far the best song on this album.
And how did a song titled "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" make it out of a group decision!?!
And how did a song titled "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" make it out of a group decision!?!
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
I'd put the newer version at the top! That spacey synth and the guitar that comes in near the end (2m37 to be exact) is so vintage MJ it's crazy.
The original Slave to the Rhythm reminds me of Sonic the Hedgehog for some reason. haha.
Twilight Gap
Member
I just sped the song up and I like it a lot better now, actually. Transposing it makes both versions sound a bit like Heartbreak Hotel. It's even got the same guitar riff in there. Good call
lol don't worry
You know which track really grows with time? Blue Gangsta. I was like "eeh" the first time but I'mlimking it more now. Strong vocals all around.
Naked Snake
Member
You are not alone. I was thinking this exact thing yesterday.
Which is not that surprising considering that
MJ worked on Sonic 3 music, even if it's not officially recognized.
I like the sample of "A Horse With No Name"
I'm enjoying the originals more. I understand some of the new beats added to make it better for the club and new MJ listeners though.
Twilight Gap
Member
Yea that's what's hot now. This will do well there without any of the autotune!
Naked Snake
Member
Because why not.
Christopher
Member
Purchased. Gotta support as a true Jackson fan.
You have to have the CD on repeat a bunch of times before things click sometimes. I think that Love Never Felt So Good (WITHOUT JT) is one of the best MJ songs in awhile, oh man it just makes you want to dance!
Man I also I'm loving Chicago now, however it took me a few replays for it to really click. Also I love the track Loving You...overall I'm very satisfied and impressed with this album. Although, I'm not a hater I did quite like a few tracks on "Michael" as well.
For anyone on a MJ kick please listen to Invincible...
I LOVE short nice albums, when I do my own mix of Invincible I gotta trim that CD by about 6 songs...
Privacy
Speachless
Cry
The Lost Children
Heaven Can Wait
Cry
If you guys cut those out, and relisten to Invincible it's REALLY solid.
You have to have the CD on repeat a bunch of times before things click sometimes. I think that Love Never Felt So Good (WITHOUT JT) is one of the best MJ songs in awhile, oh man it just makes you want to dance!
Man I also I'm loving Chicago now, however it took me a few replays for it to really click. Also I love the track Loving You...overall I'm very satisfied and impressed with this album. Although, I'm not a hater I did quite like a few tracks on "Michael" as well.
For anyone on a MJ kick please listen to Invincible...
I LOVE short nice albums, when I do my own mix of Invincible I gotta trim that CD by about 6 songs...
Privacy
Speachless
Cry
The Lost Children
Heaven Can Wait
Cry
If you guys cut those out, and relisten to Invincible it's REALLY solid.
Master_Funk
Member
I like most of the new mixes, though Slave to the Rhythm has never been a song I have ever been a fan of. The original version of DYKWYCA seems to be synth led rather than the guitar led version that leaked earlier, which I preferred. Xscape and APWNN new versions are better that the originals IMO. TImbaland and Rodney Jerkins did a great job overall.
The original version of Xscape is my least favorite song on the album. I never understood what was supposed to be so great about it, just sounds like another filler track from Invincible.
Naked Snake
Member
Yeah I've been puzzled by the love for Xscape too. It has grown on me quite a bit with repeated plays, but it's not a top tier song for me.
Spiritreaver
Member
Same here. It's not bad, and occasionally I hear bits of it and think it's nice, but for the most part I forget it's even on and start the album over.
I don't know any of the words either, lol.
nah the lyrics are great.
I tried to share my life with someone I could love
But games and money is all she ever thought of
how could that be my fault when she gambled and lost?
I'm tired of silly games, it's time to make a change
Why is it I can't do whatever I want to?
When it's my personal life and I don't live for you
so don't you try to tell me what is right for me
You be concerned about you, i will do what I want to
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
Loving this WHOLE album like expected.. Cant rate anything higher or lower than another if I was to do so I would be missing out on the greatness of the other songs.. They each offer something different like always. Every MJ song gives me different feelings and I love it! Really wanna shed some tears now 
Xscape is a grower for me. Gives me Dangerous (the track) vibes.
I love the trap vibe of Chicago.
The bridge on "A Place With No Name" gets me everytime.
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