I absolutely disagree with the review. Sometimes people forget Michael Jackson stood out from the beginning not only for his dancing or performance but his instrument, his voice. I still feel disturbed that Sony couldn't support his last ever album when he graced this earth but exploit his legacy with a relentless assault. There's something repugnant that leaves a sweetless sour taste upon the steep of the mouth, but yet the catch 22, is the release of Michael's voice that we all miss and wish we can hear again, fortunately and unfortunately depending on one views it, Sony will continue to inflate their accounts with further releases for years to come..
I agree but the old versions weren't "boring" they were all demos. Demos aren't supposed to be hits lol. They stay there until they are worked on further to become the hit, which they were.
Honestly I prefer the originals of every song, because they sound like what MJ would've eventually released. The newer "up to date" versions imo do not sound like MJ at all.
I recommend the delux version... I love playing the tracks back to back and listening to all the differences. Yeah the new versions are very cool. But having the delux version extends the life of the album, you'll get much more listening hours out of it - and a deep appreciation for all the songs.
Great review and this is coming from a hard core MJ fan of over 22+ years. The contemporary versions of the songs sound 100 times better. Not to say that I don't like the demos, but honestly, all I've been playing are Timbaland's versions. It's hard for some MJ fans to let go of wanting to hear MJ purely, but for me personally, I love that this album can be played on the radio and clubs. If only the demos were released, I highly doubt they would do all that well besides the big fans who would buy the album. It was a good move to offer both versions so in reality, there is really nothing to complain about. Kudos to Timbaland and L.A. Reid on this project I 'm sure MJ would be proud!
Nicole's View also a MJ fan myself I like all tracks. However, most of the tracks from the demos did not feel complete. For example: Blue Gangsta, a sequel song to Smooth Criminal, the demo version was the 2nd weakest edition to the demo tracks. Number 1 being Love Never Felt so Good was extremely weak (the demo version), the remix was ok, but the duet with Justin Timberlake was the best version of the song. I'm probably going to get some dislikes for saying this, but that's just my opinion for the demos. The edited versions of MJ's unreleased tracks are far superior in terms of production. I give Xscape a 8.5. out of 10, it's a great album, but not the best. It has its ups and downs. What do you guys think?
I prefer the original versions. I felt like most of the new versions were way too over done, especially Blue Gangsta. But I do really like the new "Love Never Felt So Good."
mj was always one to adjust himself to fit with whatever decade he was currently making music such as his album dangerous during the 90's in which he changed his main producer from Quincy Jones for teddy Riley for the at the time popular new jack swing sound and again changing to popular at the time producer Rodney jerkins for his last album invincible imo this is close to what he would sound now because he's always one to adjust to the Times rather than stick with the same style so I'm really happy with this album and timbaland and the other producers did an amazing job on updating his songs to sounding modern and amazing
Disliking the origin of Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson and PAUL ANKER on piano? How fucked up is todays musictaste? Slave to the Rhythm (original) is by far the better pick because it's not remixed to death. I like the intro of it, too. Slave to the Rhythm was one of Michaels last songs he was working on since the early 90es. Along with the original Hollywood Tonight it would have been THE single of 2014.
***** original songs are always better. 0 8 15 remixes are for people with no taste at all. Everything sound great with an upbeat? Well than I can't help you.
The only reason why the originals were so "boring" is that they weren't even finished. I've heard that they weren't released originally is because eiher Michael wasn't happy with them, wanted to scrap them or they just weren't finished.
One thing this album does great is tell an overall story, more so than any of his other albums. However this is done very subtly. For those who aren't aware here is the track list for Xscape : 1. Love Never Felt So Good 2. Chicago 3. Loving You 4. A Place With No Name 5. Slave To The Rhythm 6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are 7. Blue Gangsta 8. Xscape The overall story is that Michael is at first focused on true love (Love Never Felt So Good, Chicago, Loving You), and then is taken to an "unnamed utopia" (A Place With No Name). After his return he sees and understands some of the major problems in our society (Slave To The Rhythm, Do You Know Where Your Children Are) and he feels hurt by the way people act (Blue Gangsta). In the end he decides that he better off getting away from everything (Xscape). All of these tracks involved what Michael dealt with in real life, and the producers who knew him realize and respect that, and the order for the tracks could not have been any better. For these reasons and others, I believe "Xscape" is a very underrated album.
As a MJ fan of more than 20 years, Very much prefer the original versions overall. MJ's voice standout in the orignals. The newer/remixed version sounds over produced, music drowning the vocals, too mainstream.
I really like the JT version of this song, it's perfect for a single release and that way it's an easier way for a younger audience to getting to know Michael for those who are to young who really never knew him
Many big time hardcore MJ fans out there like me myself love the newer versions and the demos... I love MJ in any song if he was snoring in a song I would listen to it LOL Great review on the album... but my opinion the demos are just as good :) peace my friend MJ is king forever
i gotta respectfully disagree with you.. i'll give the album credit.. they did a good job with love never felt so good, loving you, and xscape. But the orginals of blue gangsta, a place with no name and xscape sound great... And in my opinion the versions of Slave To The Rhythm & Do You Know Where Your Children Are from the original Dangerous album outtakes sound much better than both the remade version and the orginal version on the album
the reason why it was so boring to you is because you dont take time to study it play with it you just shoot it down like damn dude plus a place with no name remix is not a timberland prodction its stargate producers that remix didint do justice the original was kick ass to be honest only love never felt so good and loving you and xscape was good the rest was boring im just going to put that out there
Totally disagree that Timbaland's production was good. It was overproduced noise. Place With No Name, Blue Gangsta and Xscape needed no remix at all, they were all pretty much finished tracks, the first two were butchered alongside Do You Know Where Your Children Are and Slave To The Rhythm, MJ was certainly no slave to Timbalands rhythm here. They all sounded similar and they even ripped off an old MJ song ( Leave Me Alone ) in their remix of Place With No Name. Not one of these Timbaland remixes will be remembered. Timbaland took a huge dump on Jacksons and other producers who were involved in some of these songs work.
I can listen to a few songs from a "music fan" perspective, but not as a full-blooded Michael Jackson fan. It sounds nice and everything, but just because you have MJ's voice on it, doesn't make it MJ music. He would've never released any of those songs the way they sound on the album. He always added a final touch to his music, none of those songs can replicate that. I prefer songs like "We've Had Enough" over ANY of the songs on "Michael" and "Xscape". You get 100% Michael Jackson!
I keep forgetting for ungrateful Michael Jackson fans are. You get new material and brand new awesome songs, but instead all they hear is "ohhh Sony is trying to capitalize on his death, ohhhh they're not michael's songs they don't have his final touch ohnooo". Just fucking enjoy the new shit they release. I completely respect the opinions of the older fans who understand and respect this new updated sound they're trying, and who are just enjoying what we're getting... and then there's the kids who weren't even alive when invincible released, wining about "ohhh this isn't michael blah blah blah i understand him so well". It's not like they're enjoying the new stuff, all they're doing is complaining and trying to push forward their "superiority" they feel like they have against casual fans and Sony entirely.
I'm a big Michael Jackson fan, and I gotta say that I love both the new and old versions of the songs, though in different ways. I really like the idea of releasing his unreleased tracks in this format, it feels new and fresh and current, while you can still enjoy the older versions if you feel like it. Really I feel like the only version of this album that should exist is the Deluxe version, just releasing the remixes feels odd. The originals is what MJ actually produced himself, and releasing a remix album under his name when he didn't really have any part in it seems odd to me. Also, it feels like this is a separate effort from how they made the Michael album entirely, like it's a whole other creative effort... Like they updated the songs and polished them in a new and unique way, without trying to "finish" the songs for Michael. It's not always very Michael (Loving You's beat is a bit too club like in a bad way for my taste), but it's not really supposed to be so that's not a huge problem for me. I really like that, that they're being creative with it instead of trying to finish Michael's songs for him, or emulate him to an awkward degree. It feels really creative and really cool. Hopefully we get to see more of his unreleased tracks being released like this. As long as they keep it true to the MJ soul and heart, I'm really feeling this.
You said that the "original versions" would be the versions that MJ released, but these songs were scrapped. MJ made dozens of songs for each album and cut it down and perfected it. These songs didn't make the cut. If he had decided to add these songs he would have edited and perfected the "original versions" in an MJ way!
This is coming from someone that owns every single Michael Jackson studio album, and I have to say, this is definitely not the best Michael Jackson album. For me, it felt WAY too over-produced, and what really struck me and made me not like this album more than I should as a huge MJ fan is that a lot of the songs didn't feel like something Michael would produce, and I'm referring to the final products. The theme of the album (escapism) stayed true throughout each track, but the overall sound of the album just doesn't feel like Michael, to me. I did a review of this album on my channel if you wanna check out exactly how I feel.
The originals were obviously unfinished, so you can't totally judge however I like the originals to dome of the originals were better than the new ones
you are forgetting that this is demo versions of the songs!!!!!!. there are not finished songs..... and new producers give it their own spin, so they sound different from MJ sound!!!
divineartofmusic1 It's true, the original songs were demos but when the producers remixed them for Xscape, they had the intention of giving it an MJ sound. They weren't trying to produce a different sound, they were trying to keep MJ's vibe and style.
Michael J. Jackson well were they good at their job of doing that, I don't think so . somehow that remixed song don't have the mj vibe. they are good songs but not mj good
