Invincible by Michael Jackson

One of the most consistent things about Michael Jackson is his perfectionistic manner. Everything he does, he would have reworked in his mind and tried over and over again just to get right. This type of behavior is quite inspirational and stands out at a time when the music scene is really going through a slump of garbage here and there.

With his latest offering, you should forget everything about the man and look at him as an artist. Invincible truly does shine on that end all in all. When I first heard the album, I just didn't know that this was the same man who brought us Thriller, Bad or Dangerous. This guy is not good, he's better. The album truly does shine with pure and perfect genius. There is no bubbly pop we get to hear on the airwaves these days. This is music, through and through.

The first three songs, Unbreakable, Heartbreaker, and Invincible (the one word songs), are vintage Jerkins. The songs are very similar, in both beat, tempo and verse. The rhythm is completely in synch. Pure R&B. All of them are singable, the title song being the most tuneful. The production is just different from any other song on the album.

Break of Dawn and Heaven can Wait are back to back R&B ballads. Both are beautifully sung by Michael. The lyrics on both of them are deep and loving. The production on both songs is right on the money too. Dr. Freeze creates magic on the former piece. The latter has its chorus sung in the beginning. You don't get to hear anything like that these days. Excellent!!!

You Rock my World is another Jerkins tune that was the first single to be released. The song has been recently nominated for a Grammy which goes to show that MJ can still be appreciated for what the press has called the most "mediocre song he has ever dished out". The song is ok in general. The production is also pure Jerkins. In a sense, if you listen carefully to the song it sounds quite retro, circa Off the Wall material.

Butterflies, in my opinion, is the most beautiful song on the album. It is the most mature piece to ever be sung by anyone out there and MJ does it amazingly. The words are pure and simple the most touching of all. If any person has any person out there whom he loves but just can't get close to, this is the song that has to be dedicated to.

Speechless is an MJ stand alone. A nice song, but quite easily forgotten in the foray of great material on the album. The songs is quite good, but here the album starts to flounder after a great 7 song start.

2000 Watts, although different is just meaningless. The beat is groovy and quite danceable, but what the heck are we getting at from it. Teddy Riley production on this one is aggressive. Even MJ sounds completely different on it.

All the following songs are not worth mentioning individually. You are my Life is not a great track although produced by Babyface. A mediocre offering. Privacy follows the same path as MJ's old tunes of paranoia. The only great one in his history of songs is Leave Me Alone. Michael should stop working his they're the enemy and I will attack routine and just concentrate on producing great tunes (not that he's not already doing that). Don't Walk Away is ok, not a great song, but listenable. Cry is a disaster. After a number one song in the HIStory album, R. Kelly's remake of Man in the Mirror is just not worthy to make the cut. The song is bland, even the production is not top notch. I won't even get into the The Lost Children.

After a 7 song break, MJ picks up the pace with Whatever Happens, a great tune that would surely make number one if ever released. The guitars of Carlos Santana and the Teddy Riley production is outstanding. You just can't go wrong with this one. For the first time in a long time, MJ sings in the third person telling us a story of a two people in love. This the sleeper of the album and worth every minute of music. A work of art.

Threatened is another great song which goes in the same style as Thriller and its 90s counterpart, Ghosts. Instead of Vincent Price, we get a Rod Serling (from the Twilight Zone) rap. It's a great song taht ends the album on a right tone with the words "... it is only the beginning". Clearly the beginning of a new era in MJ musicianship.

I just don't get what the negative reviews are all about. They clearly have slammed the album into music hell. Although this is no Thriller, but then nothing is. No one in anytime will ever create such a piece, not even Michael. People should look back on Thriller as an individual album and all the other offerings in the same way. Like children, no one is really the same as his brother. There are some great songs on this album and it does hold its mark on a number of occassions. Something that has 16 tracks can't be all that bad as they say. MJ may have lost some of his magic in the pop direction (R&B has always been where the art is if not the sales), but is it possible to do all that in all 16 songs? The critics are just for getting back at an amazing artist doing what he loves and does best is that making good music. Good enough to make us feel good about ourselves. MJ delivers and he delivers it with style.