My Top 15 Albums of All-Time

Ah, "top album" lists. One of my favorite things to read. While I posted a "top 12 albums" list on the Skillet.com message boards a few months ago, I've decided to expand it to 15, add some insight and thought as to why each album is on said list, and the order of the albums have changed a bit, along with some of them being excluded this time around, and new ones being added. I've made a personal rule for myself as I made this list, however- I couldn't include any album that I had owned under 6 months. So I hope you enjoy reading this list, of what I consider the heart and soul of the genre's of music I love so much. :P

15. Switchfoot, "Oh! Gravity" (2006)

So to start the list off right, here we are at what many consider the "ugly duckling", "the failure" of Switchfoot's career- "Oh! Gravity". I couldn't disagree more. While I am not a huge fan of Switchfoot (only moderate at best) this is a solid piece of musical art, and shows off EXACTLY why Switchfoot went from primarily the Christian market to the mainstream market, yet still being able to serve the Christians, too. Songs like "American Dream" and "Head Over Heels (In This Life)" touch on commercialism, "Awakening" on... well, in my opinion, as I like to put it, a "self-renaissance" of sorts, and "Your Love is Strong" ends the album quite beautifully. This album contains no filler, from track 1 to 12, cover to cover, and is quite frankly the only album by this band I can sit down and listen to all the way through. Nice job, Switchfoot.

Top 3 tracks: "American Dream", "Oh! Gravity", "Amateur Lovers"

14. Michael Jackson, "HIStory" (1995)

Everyone and their grandmother should know by now that Michael Jackson is my very favorite musical artist. From the moonwalk, the white glove, short pants, soulful ballads, powerful vocals, creative music videos... the man mastered it all in his unfortunately short life. This album is perhaps his most underrated, mostly due to the shadow "Thriller" and "Bad" cast in the 80's. Written throughout the "child molestation" scandal and released a mere year after all that, the album wears his anger toward the press and his accusers like a fedora, and rightfully so. While on first listen, the album can seem a bit weird, seeing as it's a double disk, one of new (at the time, anyway) material, and the other of his greatest hits... the whole experience can be a bit jarring. You go from listening to "Heal the World", "Billie Jean", "Man in the Mirror", etc., to having "Scream" almost exploding out of your speakers when you put disk 2 in. However, MJ handled his anger maturely, and of the 15 tracks, there is only ONE filler song, the outright creepy "Little Susie". So pick this up, even if you may have to take out a second mortgage on your home to do so. :P (Seriously, $32.99 is a bit much for this. Oh well.)

Top 3 tracks: "Scream" (W/ Janet Jackson), "They Don't Care About Us", "You Are Not Alone"

13. Jars of Clay, "The Long Fall Back To Earth" (2009)

Ya know, Jars of Clay have been really consistent in making great CDs throughout their 15+ year career. The only one I have never really cared for is 2002's "The Eleventh Hour", and even that one is quality art. Last year, Jars of Clay decided to take their sound to a new level- electronica/dance/pop. No, they didn't go Lady GaGa on us (another amazing artist, I must add), they just took on new influences with their sound. And the main theme? Relationships. To be more specific, relationships, between one another. From end to end, this album is very consistent, never faltering. The lyrics are poetic, perhaps the most poetic since my 2nd favorite album from these guys, 1997's "Much Afraid". So while it may take some a good amount of time to digest this sound from the Jars guys, it's worth sitting and listening to, or perhaps taking it in the car, listening to it with your lover, while taking the "scenic route".

Top 3 tracks: "Safe to Land", "Closer", "Scenic Route"

12. Demon Hunter, "The Triptych" (2005)

Alright, so I'm gonna get this out of the way right now- I am not a metal fan... excluding Demon Hunter. This is definitely the "odd-ball" album of my top 15 list, but it belongs here. My friend Carrie actually introduced me to the guys many months ago, and this was the first album I listened to by them. Songs like "Not I", "One Thousand Apologies", "The Science of Lies", and the cover of Prong's "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" prove to the anti-metal music fans (I used to be one myself) that there is a reason why hardcore music should be taken seriously. While I can't listen to these guys constantly, when I'm in "that" kind of mood, this is the CD I always put in.

Top 3 tracks: "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck", "One Thousand Apologies", "Not I"

11. tobyMac, "Momentum" (2001)

I know, I know. What the heck am I doing, putting tobyMac here? Most hate him because "he's white, trying to do rap". Honestly? The closest he gets to rap is this album, and it's only hip-hop. Most of it is rock, with hip-hop influences. This is one of those albums that I like mainly because it brings a smile to my face due to fond memories. I remember my sister, Kayla and Micah (two friends from youth group), and myself being over at Kayla and Micah's house and us listening to this CD, many years ago, (where does time go?!) and while I'm not a huge of Toby anymore, I do pull out this album every once in a while. Throughout its 18-song length, the album doesn't lose my interest (excluding a couple of the skits...). This album showed Toby on his most energetic, fun album, and also on his first solo outing. So pick it up!

Top 3 tracks: "Love is in the House", "What's Goin' Down", "J-Train"

10. Steven Curtis Chapman, "Declaration" (2001)

This is another one of those "fond memories" albums. Truth be told, I'm not much of a Chapman fan anymore, only popping this one, "Signs of Life", and his most recent album, "Beauty Will Rise", in on occasion. This one barely beats out the other two to earn a spot here. The disk starts out strong with what is probably the most remembered song from this 2001 album, the infamous, "Live Out Loud". "No Greater Love", "God is God", and "God Follower" all help tell the story of "Through the Gates of Splendor", a story of courage and faith (you can check it out online or on Chapman's 2002 concert DVD/VHS, "Steven Curtis Chapman Live"), or the excellent metaphors and musicianship in "See the Glory". And while this disk isn't something I'd ever consider high art, it is a fun disk, filled with quality songs from top to bottom.

Top 3 tracks: "See the Glory", "God is God", "No Greater Love"

9. Hawk Nelson, "Smile, It's the End of the World" (2006)

Another genre' I don't listen to much? PopRock/Pop-punk. However, Hawk Nelson is a bit of an exception. This was the first CD I bought by these Canadians, so naturally, it's my favorite. The album artwork is perhaps my favorite of all four of their albums, being a drawing, in cartoon form, of various things in daily life- a stereo, a young couple, a motorcycle, the sun, etc. etc. etc., coming together, and showing how long each of their average life span is (most of it is pretty tongue-in-cheek), in a dark, grimy world. It's something you would just have to see. Anyway, onto the music! The CD is mostly comprised of party songs ("The Show", "Bring 'Em Out", and "It's Over", especially), but also touches on abandonment ("Everything You Ever Wanted") and suicide ("Zero"; their best song to date). Lyrics from "Zero" such as "When I hear your name / It's not the same / No matter what they say / I'm not okay!" could hit home with anyone whom has lost someone to suicide. "14" ends the album delicately, wrapping the whole "end of the world" theme up rather nicely. As the melancholy piano intro. comes in full force, and Jason starts singing, it's dark, dreary. But as we reach the end of the song and album, with Jason vocalizing freely as the drums and guitar kick in, mainly with a bunch of "woah, oh!'s, it's like the sun starts shining again, through the storm clouds. In a word, epic.

Top 3 tracks: "Zero", "14", "Everything You Ever Wanted"

8. Caedmon's Call, "40 Acres" (1999)

Here's an underrated album if I ever saw one. Caedmon's Call is admittedly a guilty pleasure of mine- their folk acoustic sound and "neighbor-hood" style of vocals (there are three lead singers on this album, to great results, I must add) can't help but hook people in. This might just be my favorite album from 1999. Whether it be Derek Webb's "relationship songs" ("Table for Two", "Somewhere North", "Daring Daylight Escape"), or another song, this album is pure gold, no filler. And while the musical side of things could stand to be a bit more varied, the insightful lyrics more than make up for it. So while this is perhaps the least popular entry in this list, it's one of the best CDs in my collection (obviously...).

Top 3 tracks: "Faith My Eyes", "Thankful", "Table for Two"

7. Owl City, "Ocean Eyes" (2009)

Ah, Owl City. You either love him or hate him (yes, it's only one person- Adam Young). And while "Vanilla Twilight" is my favorite song on the disk (for personal reasons... <3), there are many other good ones here- "The Bird and the Worm", "Fireflies", "Hello Seattle", and "Meteor Shower" just to name a few. And while some of the songs here aren't as "immediate" as others, they are all pop/electronica gems, featuring spot-on, deep, poetic lyrics. Adam Young is truly a breath of fresh air in today's current mainstream music scene.

Top 3 tracks: "Vanilla Twilight", "Meteor Shower", "Hello Seattle"

6. Newsboys, "Take Me To Your Leader" (1996)

Oh man, oh man! The memories that come along with this album! While I won't share any of these embarrassing stories with you, let's just say this album takes me back to a much simpler time in my life. This disk showed the Newsboys jumping on the grunge/alternative bandwagon (in Christian music circles, anyway), and to excellent results. This was the last album former lead singer John James would record with the band, before drummer/vocalist (at the time), Peter Furler, would take the lead (whom actually retired last year). *whew* Ya still there? Good. Now onto the music! This album was the Newsboys at their peak, musically and lyrically. Songs like "Breakfast", "Reality", and the title track all show off just how witty Peter Furler (with a lot of help from Steve Taylor) could be. It's unfortunate they haven't been able to reach this level of intellectuality in their music since.

Top 3 tracks: "Lost the Plot", "Breakfast", "Reality"

5. Audio Adrenaline, "Underdog" (1999)

Of course I can't have list of my favorite albums without including Audio Adrenaline! Easily my favorite band for a good four years (2003-2007, or so), so including them in this is a little way of honoring them for how much influence they have had on my life. While I'm not sure if this album is their "best" (that honor would most likely go to "Lift" or "Some Kind of Zombie"), this is the CD I find I listen to the most, of theirs, nowadays. The anthemic title track is one of the best title tracks I've ever had the privilege of listening to, with songs like "This Day", "Hands and Feet" and "Good Life" all being about how we look at life, finding the good in a bad situation, and helping and serving others. And of course, I can't forget "The Houseplant Song", the "free-style" track of sorts, which features then-member Bob Herdman playing an acoustic guitar, set in a coffee shop, singing his song about the effects music have on houseplants. Yeah, I know it sounds strange. It's just one of those songs you need to hear for yourself.

Top 3 tracks: "The Houseplant Song", "DC-10", "Underdog"

4. Family Force 5, "Business Up Front/Party in the Back" (2006)

Another band that is far too underrated, Family Force 5. Bursting onto the scene four years ago with their debut, this album, with a crunk/rock sound. Imagine Linkin Park on steroids, anti-depressants, and able to attain better lyrical abilities, and you have a decent idea of what Family Force 5 sounds like. While some may find "the family" immature or strange, I personally love them. Songs like "Kountry Gentleman", "Numb", and "Drama Queen" are songs that are begging to be thrown into your car's CD player and blasted with the sub-woofer all the way up, with your car windows down. So while these guys aren't the most "spiritual", the most this, the most that, oh well. They show us how to party, just don't check into this if you don't want that to be up front. ;)

Top 3 tracks: "Kountry Gentleman", "Lose Urself", "Numb"

3. Skillet, "Comatose" (2006)

It's kind of amazing how many albums from 2006 have made it onto this list. No matter. This album was the hit that thrust Skillet into the limelight- and rightfully so. It hits people, especially teenagers, right in the gut, and touches on things such as pornography, cutting, friendship, feeling alone, and more throughout the course of the album. Also, the orchestration (most noticeable in "Comatose" and "Rebirthing") ups the ante a bit from their previous albums, adding a certain edge. Some people say Skillet lost their originality with this one, that they were trying to "fit in" with the audience that bands like Nickelback target themselves to (and I can definitely see that in songs like "Say Goodbye" and "The Older I Get"), and I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. But that is another discussion, for another time.

Top 3 tracks: "The Last Night", "Those Nights", "Looking For Angels"

2. Kanye West, "808s and Heartbreak" (2008)

This was the latest album to eligible for the list. This album, in all honesty, was set up to be a failure. Kanye had just lost his mother to death in the fall of '07, and had recently broken off a 12-month engagement. So yeah, his attitude was somber, and yes, it shows in this album. Also, Kanye was reported saying before the album released that "this was going to be a musical revolution". Now, on his previous three albums, he had samples all over the place, a variety of instruments, and he... well, rapped. But on this one, he was going to cut ALL that out. He was going to use 808s (a type of drum that is heard in every song here), a keyboard, a couple of strings, bass, and he was going to sing. Yes, sing. And he was going to use auto-tune (a pitch correction device that, while leaving your voice sounding technically perfect, it also ends up sounding wholly inhuman) to boot. So did he? Oh, yeah. Does it work out? Heck yes. This album is nothing short of a musical renaissance, and there isn't one song I wouldn't want to be here. At first glance, the album is a dull musical journey, seeming as if Kanye is tapped out. But look beyond the surface, and you see a man truly hurting, and this CD is an auto-biography of sorts. The deliciously tense-ful "Love Lockdown" is my favorite, featuring a pulsating tribal beat and piano, with lyrics that you just want to sink your teeth in. So check this out if you want proof that hip-hop/r&b/pop can make you feel emotion, too.

Top 3 tracks: "Love Lockdown", "Street Lights", "Robocop"

And the number 1 album is... *drum roll*

1. Michael Jackson, "Dangerous" (1991)

Honestly, this one should be a no-brainer. Like I said earlier, Michael Jackson is my favorite musical artist of all-time, so it's only fitting that one of his albums be my number 1 disk represented here. And "Dangerous" is far and away his best album. It showed MJ adapting his style to that of the 90's, and fitting into a musical landscape that was comprised of Nirvana and the like. Songs like "Who Is It" take us back to the paranoia that was so present on his previous two albums, "Thriller" and "Bad", but also throws a couple monkey wrenches into the mix- namely, going with producer Teddy Riley instead of former producer Quincy Jones to produce this album, making it fit into the genre' known as "jack-swing", which is basically pop/r&b with electronic samples and the like, most notable on songs like "Jam" and "Remember the Time". First single "Black or White" was a call for racial unity, and its catchiness shot it right to the top. And while this is sadly overlooked by many music fans today, it is THE best album I've had the privilege of listening to. If an album can sell over 27 million copies and still be underrated, this is it (no pun intended... I swear).

Top 3 tracks: "In the Closet", "Give in to Me", "Dangerous"

Honorable mentions:
Switchfoot, "Hello Hurricane" (2009)
Family Force 5, "Dance or Die" (2008)
T.I., "Paper Trail" (2008)
Newsboys, "Thrive" (2002)
Jars of Clay, "Much Afraid" (1997)

Thanks for reading! :)

I Recommend - 4/6/10

Recommended for 4/6/10 - Newsboys - Love, Liberty, Disco (1999)

Ah, yes. The Newsboys. The lovable Aussies from down-under that have been making music for over 20 years now. I'm in the midst of writing reviews on their entire catalog and this is one of their albums that stick out in my mind the most, if not for quality, but uniqueness. But that's not to say there isn't some quality tracks here, such as the title cut, "Beautiful Sound" (perhaps some of the deepest lyrics the Newsboys ever wrote), "Everyone's Someone", and "I Surrender All". It's certainly different than all of their albums were prior (and since), but different doesn't always equal bad. While I'd recommend picking up Take Me To Your Leader or Step Up To The Microphone for a potential fan, this is definitely a great album to own, for Newsboys junkies and casual fans alike. 

 

Song Highlights:"Beautiful Sound", "Love, Liberty, Disco", "I Surrender All", "Everyone's Someone", "Good Stuff"

Have comments on this album? Questions? Feel free to comment!

"Lucy", Skillet

 
Hey Lucy, I remember your name
I left a dozen roses on your grave today
I'm in the grass on my knees, wipe the leaves away
I just came to talk for a while
I got some things I need to say
 

Now that it's over
I just wanna hold her
I'd give up all the world to see that little piece of heaven looking
back at me
Now that it's over
I just wanna hold her
I've gotta live with the choices i made
And I can't live with myself today
 

Hey Lucy, I remembered your birthday
They said it'd bring some closure to say your name
I know I'd do it all different if I had the chance
But all I got are these roses to give
And they can't help me make amends
 
Here we are
Now you're in my arms
I never wanted anything so bad
Here we are
For a brand new start
Living the life that we could've had
 
Me and Lucy walking hand in hand
Me and Lucy never wanna end
Just another moment in your eyes
I'll see you in another life
In heaven where we never say goodbye
 
Here we are, now you're in my arms
Here we are for a brand new start
Got to live with the choices I've made
And I can't live with myself today

Me and Lucy walking hand in hand
Me and Lucy never wanna end
Got to live with the choices I've made
And I can't live with myself today

Hey Lucy, I remember your name


"Typically I don’t write in a way where a song can have an open ended interpretation, but this is a song about loss and can be applied to a whole range of situations. It has a gist of regret where you wish you had done things differently and it could be about mourning the loss of someone who died or a relationship. It seems sad, but it’s strangely hopeful because it gives off the idea that you can change your life right here and now – you have been given a second chance so you can remember to live and love with no regrets." - John Cooper (Skillet)


This song has had a lot of impact on me as of late. It's a somber song touching on a tough topic-- loss, regret. I've done many things to people whom I have lost, and I regret it everyday. While nothing I say will come out as well as the quote above, I am adding my thoughts. This song can relate to me in many ways. "Lucy" is my friends that I've lost due to life taking us on different paths, or death has taken them away. "Lucy" is my former life-- when I was much more carefree. Everything I do has a consequence. I can choose to have good consequences or bad consequences happen to me, because I can make my own choices. This is a lesson I have to learn and live daily. "I have to live with the choices I've made, and I can't live with myself today..." That lyric is my daily life. I have to find strength from inside. I have to find a will to go on. Each and every path you take, all the choices you make, shapes your legacy. Love to live, live to love. <3

I Recommend - 3/22/10

Recommended for 3/22/10 - Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak (2008)

Yeah, yeah yeah. I know. What the hell am I doing recommending a Kanye West CD? I know, I know. The guy is an egomaniac who can't carry a tune in a bucket. Thankfully, he uses auto-tune to sing (you read that right: sing, not rap) for all of this disk. If you do not know what auto-tune is, it's basically hip-hop's favorite toy. It's a tool used to computerize (and unfortunately, in most cases, monotonize) the singer's vocal, leaving it wholly inhuman, but leaving it with a perfect pitch. The album is pretty much consistent throughout, with only a couple filler tracks to fill out the disk, but the good tracks more than make up for it. While it shocked all of Kanye's audience in late '08, mainly because it featured no rap and a bare-bones sound, consisting of nothing more than some 808s (tribal drums), keyboards, Kanye's vocals, and perhaps a few embellishments on the musical side of things. It leaves the listener feeling overcome with emotion, which is more than any other rapper's album is doing in the current music biz.  

Song Highlights: Love Lockdown, Heartless, Welcome to Heartbreak, Street Lights, Say You Will

Have comments on this album? Questions? Feel free to comment!

Expansion

So, I've decided to expand my blog a bit. Writing about music, while interesting, can get a bit monotonous after a while. So, while music will always be the main focus of my blog, I'm going to try and branch out a bit-- reviewing other forms of entertainment such as movies and books. It may work, it may not. Who knows? So be checking back here often in the next few days and weeks, as changes are visible on the horizon. Thanks!

He May Be Invincible, But Is The Album?

Ah, Michael Jackson. He was such an interesting character. I've already reviewed his 1991 Dangerous album here, which you can read below. This 2001 disk, Invincible, was to be the last album he would release in his lifetime, so of course it's a bit bittersweet to listen to, despite it's many shortcomings. This disk was released a whopping 6 years after his last full-length album, HIStory (released in 1995), so it was highly anticipated in its time. Jackson decided to team with a new producer, Rodney Jerkins, whom was responsible for many popular artists from the late '90's/early '00's, such as Destiny's Child and NSync. The album took over two years to record, due to the hiring and firing of producers, writers, staff, etc., so by the time the album actually did drop in fall '01, was it worth the wait? Well, it depends on what kind of standard you're holding MJ to. If you're comparing this album to any of his earlier work, then no, it was certainly NOT worth the wait. But if you're comparing him to many other artists from that time period, then yes, it was worth the wait, because we all know MJ's C game could beat practically any other artist's A game. So, without further ado, I give you, once again, a track-by-track analysis of this album:


1. Unbreakable

You can try to stop me, but it won't do a thing
No matter what you do, I'm still gonna be here
Through all your lies and silly games
I'll still remain the same, I'm unbreakable...

You know, if you're anything like me, when you first pop this disk in, after all the electronic bloops and bleeps that go on for about half a minute, and you're introduced to heavy-dance sounds of this song a'la' NSync, you're probably going to want to vomit. It's that bad, until you get used to it. This is one of those songs that have to "grow on you". After you grow to like it, you'll find it's actually a pretty decent song, with a killer hook for its chorus. Clocking in right at 6:25, it's the album's longest track, and it can seem even longer placed right at the front of the disk. This is one of the only songs here reminiscent of HIStory at all, with this song dispelling the notions that MJ's career is over (which it basically was by the time this album released, sadly).

2. Heartbreaker

She plays a game with such an innocent face
I didn't know heartbreaking was her case
Her actions confess and her actions put me through the test
I was surprised that I was caught inside...


Here we are at the first track that is pure filler. It's VERY similar to "Unbreakable" musically, perhaps too much. You'll notice something that unfortunately pops up in many of the others songs here, too-- MJ's voclas sound strained, half-hearted, and nasally (one too many nose surgeries, perhaps?) It also doesn't help that the chorus is so repetitive, It's actually sad to see songs like this come to fruition on a MJ record, when I know he can write stronger songs about women. Just look at "Liberian Girl", "She Drives Me Wild", "Dangerous", and "Human Nature" for solid proof of that.

3. Invincible

If there's somebody else, he can't love you like me
And he says he'll treat you well, he can't treat you like me
And he's buying diamonds and pearls, he can't do it like me
And he's taking you all across the world, he can't trick you like me...


And, we hear the same recycled electronic/dance beats from "Heartbreaker" and "Unbreakable". Ugh. At least it's a light at the end of the tunnel tot hink this song's going to be another one about Jackson being "invincible" from the media's accusations or whatever. But no, it's another song about Jackson trying to get a woman, so I guess the light at the end of the tunnel is actually an oncoming train. That's lovely. The lyrics are strained here, once again, but at least the chorus is half-way catchy. This song says nothing the previous train wreck of a song didn't, but if I had to pick, I'd choose this one, mainly because it has a good hook. But that's just me grasping for something good to say about this song. So... next!

4. Break of Dawn

I don't want the sun to shine, I wanna make love
Just this magic in your eyes and in my heart
I don't know what I'm gonna do, I can't stop lovin' you
I won't stop 'til break of dawn makin' love... 

This is where the album takes a sharp upward turn, with it's first ballad - a slow jam, no less. Yes, it's about making love, and yes, it's important to get the mental image of Jackson nude out of your head to be able to fully enjoy this song. It's this album's ballads that show us Jackson had any musical talent left, with this song being exhibit A. While this isn't my very favorite song here (some are just better by comparison), it's high up on my list.


5. Heaven Can Wait

Unthinkable
Me sitting up in the clouds and you are all alone
The time might come around when you'd be moving on
I'd turn it all around and tyr to get back down to my baby girl...

Alright, Mike. This is getting a bit ridiculous.  This song is downright embarrassing to listen to.  The lyrics are dismal at best, with no creative energy, the song itself drags on way too long, and MJ, you sound like Justin Timberlake in the chorus, and no, that's NOT a good thing, no matter what your 7 producers tell you. It's kind of amazing (in the not-so-good way) how similar parts of this album are to NSync. Maybe that was all on purpose. I hope so, because if not, that's downright sad, considering the gems from earlier in his solo career. Whatever. It's nothing the skip button can't fix.

6. You Rock My World

Ooh, it feels so right
I've searched for the perfect love all my life
Ooh it feels like
I have finally found a perfect love this time...

It's a relief! Finally, we have arrived at some musical sanity! ("Break of Dawn" notwithstanding) While I could do without the cheesy introduction to this song, featuring comedian Christ Tucker and MJ admiring a girl whom is "pretty bangin", the song itself is classic (although I did have to chuckle at the part in the introduction when Christ Tucker bet Jackson Never-Neverland he couldn't get said girl). The rhythm and vocals are reminiscent of Jacko classics such as "Remember the Time" and "Rock With You". This song was released as the debut single from this album back in '01, but sadly only peaked at #10 in the U.S, due to lack of promotion on Sony's part, and that is rather unfortunate, because this song had the potential to go to #1, with proper promotion, in my opinion.

7. Butterflies

All I gotta say is that I must be dreaming, can't be real
You're not here with me, still I can feel you near me
I caress you, let you taste us, just so blissful listen
I would give you anything baby, just make my dreams come true
Oh baby you give me butterflies...


In perhaps what is MJ's best vocal performance on this album (a la' Off the Wall), we are given another excellent slow jam. This is one of the only songs here MJ had no part in writing - Andre Harris and Marsha Ambrosius penned this one. It was also released as a single, but also didn't chart very high, due to a lack of a music video and again, lack of promotion. Perhaps my favorite part of the song is the second verse, where Michael goes into a heart-wrenching falsetto, something we haven't heard since Thriller, if even that album.

8. Speechless

Your love is magical, that's how I feel
But I have not the words here to explain
Gone is the grace for expressions of passion
But there are worlds and worlds of ways to explain
To tell you how I feel...

Here we are, the centerpiece of the album, and also my favorite track here, hands down. This is one of two songs solely penned by Jackson, and it's everything you'd expect from the "king of pop". The basis of this song is nothing more than Mike's (excellent) vocals, a few strings, and a drum machine. It's pretty much a Capella for the first minute or so, and it's absolutely beautiful. However, I have to admit, what made MJ first think of the idea for this song is a bit... odd. Basically, MJ had a water balloon fight with some children (in his Neverland home, perhaps?), and he wrote this song dedicated that - the love he felt for/from those children, and the wonder of being with said kids. Creepy? A bit, but that's just Michael Jackson for ya.

9. 2000 Watts

Bass note, treble, stereo control, how low you go
Just enough to make your juices flow
Press play, don't stop, rotate, too hot
You feel I'm real...

You know, this song would be a great energetic moment for the album, if it made some fucking sense. Seriously, all this song is is MJ listing off different musical things such as Dolby, bass notes, treble, ohms, and feedback, all in a low electronic vocal. It's all a bit weird for me. Maybe it would've been better live. MJ didn't promote this album with a tour or anything, however, and this song wasn't ever performed live, as far as I know, so the world will never know what this song would've sounded like in a live setting. It certainly isn't the album's worst track (we'll get to that in a while), but it would've been better if it made some sort of sense. Oh well.

10. You Are My Life

Now I wake up everyday
With this smile upon my face
No more tears, no more pain
'Cause you love me...

And here we are, traveling down abysmal lane, once again, with a song so cheesy it should be illegal. The song actually sounds like Jackson is gonna pull some psychotic, stalker song (which I have to admit would have been... interesting), but no, all we get is a slow jam about how great some girl is, and how she is "the moon", "the stars", :the sun", "the daytime and nighttime", and on and on and on. It gets to be a bit vomit-inducing, actually.

11. Privacy

Ain't the pictures enough, why do you go through so much
To get the story you need, so you can bury me
You've got the people confused, you tell the stories you choose
You try to get me to lose the man I really am...

Ah, "Privacy", my second favorite song here. It's the song on this album that's the most similar to the fierce, take-no-shit attitude that made up so much of HIStory, with this song taking the same approach: screaming (sorry, no pun intended!) at the press to back off, and leave MJ alone. (Again, sorry, I didn't mean to make a punny!) I also like the vocal style that Mike uses here -- his 'deep-er, snarling-through-the-teeth" type of singing, which hasn't been used on this album at all up until this point. Perhaps I could've done with a bit more originality in the chorus, instead of it's "I need my privacy, yeah yeah, so paparazzi, get away from me," but that's just a miniscule complaint.

12. Don't Walk Away

I close my eyes
Just to try and see you smile one more time
But it's been so long, now all I do is cry
Can't we find some love to take this away...

Now this song works, unlike its kin "You Are My Life" and "Heaven Can Wait". The emotion felt in MJ's vocals here: the pain, the regret as he realizes he is losing the love of his life just radiates through your speakers. The music is based around a rather somber electric acoustic guitar pluck, some strings, and the works. It's nothing short of amazing, because the emotion is just so real. The backing vocals layered behind MJ's just add to this, mournfully singing, "If you go, I won't forget you girl / Can't you see that you will always be / Even though I had to let you go / There's nothing left to do / Don't walk away..." We can all relate to this song, because break-ups are never easy, and this song captures that feeling quite beautifully.

13. Cry

Stories buried and untold
Someone is hiding the truth, hold on
When will this mystery unfold
And will the sun ever shine
In the blind man's eyes when he cries...

Ah, you knew it was coming. This wouldn't be a Michael Jackson album without a socially-conscious song, and "Cry" is that for this CD. Perhaps it's a little too similar to "Man in the Mirror" from Bad, what with the gospel choir and all, but it's a good song, albeit cheesy in some areas, what with the line sin the chorus "You can touch the sky (Gonna take somebody's help) / You're the chosen one (I'm gonna need some kind of sign)", and it's certainly not as elegant as "Earth Song" from HIStory, but ti works, especially in comparison to the some of songs from earlier in the album. But by this point, you are getting a bit weary of this disk, simply because of the decent song/good song/cheesy ballad type of formula that's going on, and for the fact this disk has already been running for 13 damn tracks, and you still have 3 more to go!

14. The Lost Children

Home with their fathers
Snug close and warm, loving their mothers
I see the door simply wide open
But no one can find thee...

Alright, Mike. I've cut you a LOT more slack that I could've in this review, but this is just bad. There are no other words for this. It is bad. I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to convey here, or what the hell this song is even talking about-- is it about kidnapped children, or is it a loose metaphor for those who feel they have lost their childhood? If it's the latter, dude, you already have a song about that, it was on your last album, and it's called "Childhood". And if it's about the former, well... that's just creepy. It doesn't help that this is the other song that you penned solo, and it also doesn't help that you have children singing the chorus of this song with you on toward the end of the track. This song does nothing more than leave a bad taste in my mouth.

15. Whatever Reason

'Everything will be alright,' he assures her
But she doesn't hear a word that he says
Preoccupied, she's afraid
Afraid that what they're doing is not right...

This is probably the most interesting track here, musically anyway. Featuring a guest guitar lead from Carlos Santana, this song is given a Spanish flavor, which is desperately needed at this point, because the songs are starting to sound similar, so this song is excellently used to break up the monotony. It's an interesting tale-- a man and woman are making big changes in their lives, that much is obvious, with the hook of the song being "Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand". I could have dealt with perhaps a bit more detail-- what exactly is happening to the man and woman, are they getting divorced, are they moving, what? But even without that much in the way of detail, the song gets merit for being musically different (in a good way, mind you).

16. Threatened

You're trapped in halls, and my face is the walls
I'm the floor when you fall, and when you scream it's 'cause of me
I'm the living dead, the dark thoughts in your head
I know just what you said
That's why you've got to be threatened by me...

Fortunately, this album ends with another gem, this time the "Thriller"-esque "Threatened". What truly makes this song stand out is it's multiple samplings of Rod Sterling, whom in the beginning of the track, introduces us to the "monster", leading into Jackson's vocals for the first verse. The production and music here may be a bit too much like Rodney Jerkins had too much control, but that's just a little beef. However, in light of MJ's death 9 months ago in June, this track can be a bit eerie to listen to, especially with the sampling of Rod Sterling saying "What you have just witnessed could be the end of a particularly terrifying nightmare. It isn't. It's the beginning," but it's a great way to show that MJ actually had balls, unlike many of the other songs here.

*Whew*
You're still there? You read all of that? Congratulations! While some songs here are nothing short of dismal ("The Lost Children", "Heaven Can Wait", "You Are My Life", "Heartbreaker"), other tracks such as "Don't Walk Away", "Speechless", "Threatened" and "Privacy" more than make up for it. I'm actually torn on this album, as to whether to label it "good" or "bad". I think that's impossible, because this CD has elements of both. I'm going to call it spotty, and leave it at that. It's excessively long, with too many filler tracks. I recommend it, but only at a low price, and do not let this be your introductory to the wonderful world of MJ. I'd recommend Dangerous, Bad, Thriller, or Off the Wall for the potential fan.

3/5

Our Hearts are Close, even if we are 600 Miles Apart.

"Vanilla Twilight", Owl City
The stars lean down to kiss you
And I lie awake and miss you
Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere

'Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly
But I'll miss your arms around me
I'd send a postcard to you, dear
'Cause I wish you were here

I'll watch the night turn light-blue
But it's not the same without you
Because it takes two to whisper quietly

The silence isn't so bad
'Til I look at my hands and feel sad
'Cause the spaces between my fingers
Are right where yours fit perfectly

I'll find repose in new ways
Though I haven't slept in two days
'Cause cold nostalgia
Chills me to the bone

But drenched in vanilla twilight
I'll sit on the front porch all night
Waist-deep in thought because
When I think of you I don't feel so alone

I don't feel so alone, I don't feel so alone

As many times as I blink
I'll think of you tonight
I'll think of you tonight

When violet eyes get brighter
And heavy wings grow lighter
I'll taste the sky and feel alive again

And I'll forget the world that I knew
But I swear I won't forget you
Oh, if my voice could reach
Back through the past
I'd whisper in your ear
Oh darling, I wish you were here

Long-distance relationships can be a hard. With no means of communication besides phone calls, text messaging, and internet chat sites such as myspace and facebook, it can be a bit harder to help these kind of relationships grow. This song I just quoted could be applied to this type of situation -- a long-distance relationship, which is the type of dating relationship I am in currently. And it's hard. But I can honestly say that I would not wan to be with anyone else. This song helps me a lot when I feel alone -- it brings back the image of Austin (my girlfriend's) face, her voice, her laughter, and as the song so excellently puts it, it makes me feel "not so alone". So, if you are in a long-distance relationship, let this blog entry be an encouragement. Work at it. Anything you work hard at will work out in the end, no matter how hard or difficult your relationship is now. I'd also recommend checking this song out. <3