michael jackson: michael jackson death

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Friday, July 3, 2009

Michael Jackson, at age, 11, appeared on the cover of the April 29, 1971, edition of Rolling Stone magazine.

But the music itself is anything but invincible.

Jackson has enlisted enough co-writers to fill a city bus, but they haven't helped him recapture the vitality and command that made the highlights of his work with Quincy Jones on "Off the Wall" and "Thriller" seem so urgent.

REVIEW: 'Invincible'" class="gallery-slideshow-photo" height="410" width="410">
The title can be seen as a statement to those who have questioned the self-proclaimed King of Pop's creative and commercial standing during all the image-bruising, tabloid scrutiny he's undergone since "Thriller."But the music itself is anything but invincible.Jackson has enlisted enough co-writers to fill a city bus, but they haven't helped him recapture the vitality and command that made the highlights of his work with Quincy Jones on "Off the Wall" and "Thriller" seem so urgent.

But without any further collaboration from Jackson himself, such top remixers as Todd Terry and the Fugees' Wyclef Jean can't do much to substantially improve the eight songs from his 1995 "HIStory" album that form the bulk of this album. More..." class="gallery-slideshow-photo" height="410" width="410">

"Blood on the Dance Floor" is an apt title: Jackson is hemorrhaging, and a string of emergency surgeons--of the mixing board variety--try to stop the bleeding.But without any further collaboration from Jackson himself, such top remixers as Todd Terry and the Fugees' Wyclef Jean can't do much to substantially improve the eight songs from his 1995 "HIStory" album that form the bulk of this album.

And yet for all that, the new disc does feel like an act of courage on Jackson's part--in its sheer, surprising joylessness. The skin-deep lyrics themselves may not take us too far into his thinking, but the downbeat tone does: He's sad, he's sad, he's really, really sad. More..." class="gallery-slideshow-photo" height="410" width="410">

Inasmuch as the album sells itself as his most deeply personal body of songs, yet doesn't offer up much sense of real personal revelation beyond mere defensiveness, "HIStory" is principally an album of denial, probably in more ways than one.And yet for all that, the new disc does feel like an act of courage on Jackson's part--in its sheer, surprising joylessness. The skin-deep lyrics themselves may not take us too far into his thinking, but the downbeat tone does: He's sad, he's sad, he's really, really sad.

REVIEW: 'Bad'" class="gallery-slideshow-photo" height="410" width="410">
The fact that the LP's key tracks are rooted in established traditions is a clue to "Bad's" relatively modest aims. "Thriller's" hallmark was the vaulting ambition and hair-raising power of two startling songs: "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' " (and, to a slightly lesser degree, "Beat It"). "Bad's" retreat from that kind of ambition is a letdown, but it's understandable: It would have been hard to out-thrill "Thriller" without the strain showing.