Reading one of the posts above, about deducing the authenticity of 'Michael' - one word tells you an album that would be fantastic:

acapella

Imagine if they took an album - BAD say.. and removed all of the music. Imagine how fantastic that would be. Alternatively, poll fans on the best two or three tracks from each album, and release those, as acapella versions on one CD.

I would rather have an instrumental album!

there's dozens of MJ acapellas already, including a few from bad. they are of limited appeal so a cd of acapellas wouldn't sell well. there was also a japanese instrumental collection cd. again of limited appeal. amongst its tracks were 5 from bad. it was just a compilation of previously issued material, the instrumentals and acapellas are usually on the 12 inches, but others have been taken from 5.1 mixes and video games

You can stream the whole album inc. demos by using the player halfway down this page under the album cover pic:

http://www.dizsoundz.com/michael-jackson-xscape-album/

Good article here about the album:

http://www.billboard.com/articles/ne...-album-details

This is MJ at his best (from the new album):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NIXlRBWevo

Golden era Michael Jackson for the 21st century.

The 2014 version of Xscape (the song) is great.

Takes the original version and gets a thumping new sound with some brass thrown in! I think Michael Jackson would have been proud of the new version. It's seriously rocking. If you love MJ you're gonna love this version. It's the anthem track of the new album. Michael Jackson is back!!!!!!!!

It's not weird, it's business unfortunately - I know what you mean though.


I can't get enough of that song at the moment The version with Justin Timberlake though is terrible.

Xscape 2014 track is brilliant. It's classic 'modern sounding' MJ. Fans will adore it. It's sort of the 'Bad' track of the album. The anthem type track.

I've always liked the remix that leaked a few years ago (the one with the rap) of DYKWYCA and I love this new version on Xscape.

Great read, thanks for posting.

He'll have a hard job promoting it!!

Deleted post.

I'm looking forward to hearing more of it but I wouldn't buy the album because I see buying albums as a way of showing the artist they're appreciated. These remix albums, which will probably keep being released for years to come, are more about Sony making money and I'm less of a Sony fan.

Everyone has to got to hear Xscape (track eight) on the album. It's one of the best dance songs of the year. It's MJ at his best. Brilliant. What a comeback! (RIP)

Couldn't agree more. It is the best song on the album IMO.

How do we all think this will chart next week? Surprised the single didn't make the top 10! Unless people are just waiting for the album.....?

I am surprised at how good this album is, it isn't classic MJ but it is not far from it. I like how most of the songs have a Quincy Jones era sound to it, Slave to the Rhythm seem to be my favourite so far but Xscape is pretty good too.

I am loving this album !

All great songs with great lyrics.
How I miss Michael

I really like it. At first I thought 8 tracks was quite stingy, but listening to them all, plus the original versions (which are definitely worth listening to) it's actually a really good CD and just about right.

I loved 'Michael', but this collection has clearly had much more effort paid to it. It sounds very much like what I imagine MJ would have released. The interview with Darkchild about 'Xscape' was rather nice too. I love how all the tracks span over all major his albums (Thriller to Invincible) yet despite spreading over 20 years the album still flows really well.

Just goes to prove how wrong the theory is that "if the songs were any good they wouldn't be unreleased"!

I got the album on CD today and all is brilliant so far...almost!

The only thing that ruins it for me is the ridiculous amount of audio processing / mastering that has been applied to the album. There's no need for it and it really spoils the listening experience for me. What happened to dynamic range?!

Anyway, "Loving You" is my second-favourite track on the album, after "Love Never Felt so Good" of course

http://youtu.be/ias0Th_J9m8

Can anyone tell me the official dates the "original versions" were produced?

I'm absolutely in love with this album. I've had a few of the demos for quite some time now, and it's nice to even have them in a CD quality! Really impressed with the work done on the tracks for the contemporary versions, and they've made it flow really well. It's a million miles ahead of 'Michael', and I really hope that if there are any future releases, they pump the time and effort into making it as good as this compilation. We're only a couple of years away from Dangerous 25, so I'm interested to see what they do to mark that occasion!


1. Love Never Felt So Good (1983)
2. Chicago (1999)
3. Lovin’ You (1987)
4. A Place With No Name (1998)
5. Slave To The Rhythm (1989)
6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (1987-1991 - was originally for Bad, but reworked for Dangerous)
7. Blue Gangsta (rumoured to be recorded in 1991 for Dangerous, but conflicting reports for 1999 too )
8. Xscape (1999 for Invincible)

I've not heard the album yet, but this article (http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/53066...=Entertainment) sums up my feelings quite well, especially this bit: 'Many experts consider Jackson on par with genius artists like Jackie Wilson, John Lennon, and Ray Charles, but would their fans welcome such a release? Imagine the Lennon estate announcing plans to 'contemporize' a collection of unreleased recordings before releasing them. There would be uproar. His entire career, Jackson strove to be considered as an artist in the same league as his heroes, from Tchaikovsky to James Brown. 'Good art never dies', he told an anti-Sony rally in London, 2002. How long will these 'contemporized' songs, by hip, young producers, remain 'contemporary'? Jackson aspired to longevity - immortality, even. These posthumous releases have shorter shelf-lives than a Justin Bieber album.'

I think if you look at it that way, you can't appreciate the tracks. I would class myself as a bit of a 'completist' who likes to see the progression of how tracks have been altered, or reworked - that's why I have so many demos from artists I like. Obviously, this album would never have happened had MJ still been alive, but it's interesting to hear how he 'might' have sounded had he worked with the producers in the 2010s (and it's also great to hear the originals to hear what else he was working on during each album session).

I don't think that it should be classed as an MJ 'album' per se, more of a collection of rare tracks - similar to how The Ultimate Collection was released (just without adding MORE 'greatest hits' with the unreleased material). It's like I've said before, this release has obviously had much more effort and time put in to it than 'Michael' which was just shockingly bad (bar 1 or 2 tracks), and even if the estate/sony are just doing it for money, I say take advantage and just give them a listen and take them for what they are - EXTRA MJ tracks.