"I've never heard Michael Jackson's Invincible album until...now (a revie..." Wed Feb-27-13 11:47 PM by double negative
I havent listened to a MJ album from start to finish in years.
I randomly happened upon this album because of the song 'Butterflies'
Track one- Unbreakable feat. Biggie. I nearly fell out when I heard the biggie verse dropped in the middle of the track. Its a great way to open the album.
Track two-Heartbreaker. This shit is so Justin Timberlake its not even funny. I see where JT gets it. I can see how this track would sound bad in 2001 because it totally works right now.
Track three- Invincible. again, sounds ahead of its time. really dig the way they built up a groover over a simple repeat musical phrase. not really hooking me but I can see it being a track that ends up being one of my favorite tracks after repeat listens. One thing I really dig is the play between the rigid lockstep groove and the looser sections. The song could have totally scrapped the rap in the middle but it still works.
Track four- Break of dawn. Ballad. I felt something, and then I realized it was just the tea I was sipping. Really into the layered vocal section that really opens the track up. Definitely reminds me of classic MJ moments. Love that cracking snare driving the chorus, this is the song that needed a remix of sorts.
Track Five- Heaven Can Wait. the song for the whip. This shit is smooth. That bassline is hitting like shit. Its strange to hear MJ use support vocals (layered?). Its more RnB than rock/funk. Its a bit strange to hear MJ play a song so straight.
Track Six-You Rock my world. Fuck I'm going to hell, I cant stop laughing at intro. Mike-"i can get the girl...." . know the track well. no need to review. although I would like to add that the snare/snap is really hitting. i think there is a kick underneath it. this was around the same time as Mary J. Bliges 'Family afair' and Big Pun's "still not a player". I can hear a similar musical style with the fake strings driving parts of the track
Track seven-butterflies-nothing to see here, great track. really good track. pay attention to the building and swirling synths in the background. its a deceptively simple track but there is a LOT going on in the background. its a perfect track.
Track eight-Speechless. Skip.
Track nine-2000 watts-skip. way too much going on, very distracting. the repeating "200 watts" vocal coupled with MJ singing in a low register made for a mess
Track ten-you are my life..............shit.....skip. Its a good track actually, it doesnt fit the album.
Track eleven-Piracy-feels like the A-side or better version of 2000 watts. Its not a bad track, its just needs a different mix. It feels thin sonically and the camera/polaroid sample is way too high in the mix. Conceptually I understand why the sample is high in the mix but its ultimately distracting (which is a part of the concept)
Track twelve-Dont Walk Away-didnt skip but uh.....not my style.
Track thirteen-cry-what is this shit? skip.
Track fourteen-The Lost Children- what the shit is this fuck? skip.
Track fifteen-Whatever Happens-solid groove. after the last few tracks I was losing faith in the album. i cant really tell whats going on stylistically with this song. on one hand its a RnB jam but then there is a spanish guitar line laced throughout and then out of nowhere theres the ever present MJ electric guitar dropped into the track amongst the sea of strings and vocals. Its a good track because its something you can play for someone and they will say "i really really like this...what is this?!" and then when you say "Michael Jackson" they will shout back "GET OUT!".
Track Sixteen-threatened. first thought; why hasnt this track been sampled to shit and back? it starts out like a bugged out west coast snap n' clap track a la Kurupt, Mac 10, Dre,Volume 10. there were a few moments on the album that reminded me of Janet Jacksons music, this is definitely one of those tracks that carries that rock/rnb thing well.
so in a nutshell, its a really good album.
were it my world the album would be a solid 10 tracks not a bloated 16.
there is a very good collection of tracks among the throw away stuff.
it was ahead of its time in some ways and very behind in others.
------------------------- “The other dude after me didn’t help my case. It was just like…crazy nigga factory going on.” Dre makes no apologies for his own eccentricities. “I was young, and searching, trying to find myself,” he says. “Never did.”-- Andre B
17. "its a pretty shit album. really uneven" In response to Reply # 0
i clowned 2000 Watts HARD for years wen this shit dropped lol. was too clownable. him singn "Dolbyyyyyyy" was just...nah. but on the flipside, its got "Butterflies" on it, one of his best cuts.
19. "sony had a vested interest in that album failing. " In response to Reply # 0
they did little things to sabatoge that album, michael jackson didn't even want "you rock my world" to be the lead single. they purposely butted heads with him on that project, they purposely underfunded the marketing, gave it one music video. they needed mike to go under in order to get him to sell that catalog.
they also left the most epic song off the album "We've Had Enough", this song is up there with man in the mirror and earth song. sony pulled it at the last minute on mike to piss him off.
24. "It was the one MJ album that it took some time for me to appreciate" In response to Reply # 0 Fri Mar-01-13 09:56 PM by jaywonder
I loved it when it first came out but then grew to be more than critical (it had to do with Rodney Jerkin's production and the BS that was going on in 2001-2003), but as time passed, I began to appreciate
The outtakes though? I Am A Loser A Place With No Name Blue Gangster Hollywood Tonight Fall Again Beautiful Girl We've Had Enough Another Day One More Chance
some of those songs make me want to ask "How in the hell did Heartbreaker, 2000 Watts, The Lost Children, and Cry make the cut but these didn't?!"
Shave it down to
Unbreakable Invincible Break Of Dawn Heaven Can Wait You Rock My World Butterflies Speechless You Are My Life Don't Walk Away Whatever Happens
add I Am A Loser, Hollywood Tonight, and We've Had Enough or Another Day and IMO, it would've been a better tracklisting