rojo
(Ret)
I've listened to the free live streaming of the album twice now. Is the new album any good, you ask? Yes, it is. Not great, but good.
I sure would love to hear the originals, to see what exactly has been done to these tracks. The lead vocals on three of the tracks (Breaking News, Keep Your Head Up and Monster,) are strange, and remain a big question mark for me. Why these songs were included on the album in this dubious state leaves me baffled. The lead vocals resemble Michael's voice, but do not sound like the real thing, particularly (but not exclusively) in terms of the vibrato and diction. If there is some effect involved, it would be nice if someone would explain what that effect would be. As effects go, Hollywood Tonight uses some form of effect (autotune?) on the lead vocals, yet they are recognizable as being Michael's.
It should not sound like a different person singing than the name on the album cover. It's a shame because I think the three songs in question are actually fairly good in some respects. However, I can't really appreciate them under the circumstances. The Twilight Zone continues. Baffling.
Stand out tracks for me:
Hollywood Tonight. I'm not digging the nephew's spoken lines which are too long and trite, the incongruous chant intro, nor the whistling ending. Still, MJ's beatboxing is cool and the bass line is funky. This is a fun, danceable, Billie Jean-esque track that would make a good second single. The chorus actually resembles that of Breaking News; up a tone, then a half tone, then back down same notes.
Best of Joy. Supposedly the last track Michael worked on before his death. Beautiful ballad highlighting his spectacularly lovely voice. I hear similarities here with songs by the Beegees, giving this new song a bit of a retro feel. Punctuated by finger snaps, and decorated with flute sounds.
Behind The Mask. Crowd applause intro gives a live sensation to this funky up-tempo track. Minor chords give this song a slightly dark overall feeling.
There are other good songs on the album as well. However, none of these tracks have had as much of an impact on me as Do You Know Where Your Children Are, and Blue Gangsta. Perhaps because they were actually finished by the man...
I sure would love to hear the originals, to see what exactly has been done to these tracks. The lead vocals on three of the tracks (Breaking News, Keep Your Head Up and Monster,) are strange, and remain a big question mark for me. Why these songs were included on the album in this dubious state leaves me baffled. The lead vocals resemble Michael's voice, but do not sound like the real thing, particularly (but not exclusively) in terms of the vibrato and diction. If there is some effect involved, it would be nice if someone would explain what that effect would be. As effects go, Hollywood Tonight uses some form of effect (autotune?) on the lead vocals, yet they are recognizable as being Michael's.
It should not sound like a different person singing than the name on the album cover. It's a shame because I think the three songs in question are actually fairly good in some respects. However, I can't really appreciate them under the circumstances. The Twilight Zone continues. Baffling.
Stand out tracks for me:
Hollywood Tonight. I'm not digging the nephew's spoken lines which are too long and trite, the incongruous chant intro, nor the whistling ending. Still, MJ's beatboxing is cool and the bass line is funky. This is a fun, danceable, Billie Jean-esque track that would make a good second single. The chorus actually resembles that of Breaking News; up a tone, then a half tone, then back down same notes.
Best of Joy. Supposedly the last track Michael worked on before his death. Beautiful ballad highlighting his spectacularly lovely voice. I hear similarities here with songs by the Beegees, giving this new song a bit of a retro feel. Punctuated by finger snaps, and decorated with flute sounds.
Behind The Mask. Crowd applause intro gives a live sensation to this funky up-tempo track. Minor chords give this song a slightly dark overall feeling.
There are other good songs on the album as well. However, none of these tracks have had as much of an impact on me as Do You Know Where Your Children Are, and Blue Gangsta. Perhaps because they were actually finished by the man...
