9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
It's fresh, still, not very felicitous
Date of Review: Jun 7, 2002
The Bottom Line: It's not his best work, not the worst. Still, very good...
After the unnoticed release of Blood On The Dance Floor in 1997 Michael Jackson was almost ready to retire. Still, here we have him with the enormous hit collection 2001 called Invincible.
The album is very fresh and fits completely the new era of music. I would really like to distinguish the incredible vocal arrangement (all these voice layers create an image of a large choir singing in front of you), that has already become Jackson?s unique style.
The album differs from what he did in the 90s, but not radically. It's a pity, that Michael engaged such a wonderful songwriter as Teddy Riley for only several tracks here, but that can be explained by the unsuccessful Blood On The Dance Floor release created mainly by Jackson / Riley alliance. I also noted a great number of external composers who had worked on this album.
As for the songs, again we may find some Jackson-classics, such as Unbreakable, 2000 Watts, the title track, Invincible and Privacy. I was really amazed and impressed with the new kind of ballads from Michael. These are Break Of Dawn and Heaven Can Wait, sincere, powerful and sensual songs, but a little bit boring.
Still, we have another sweet candy for ears, typical glossy ballad, You Are My Life. Being totally commercial, it bares an imprint of simplicity, which is not typical for Jackson. Furthermore, Speechless is another highlight with perfect a capella vocals in the beginning.
Of course, Michael couldn?t have missed another chance to endow himself with paranormal powers in another Thriller-kind-of-song, Threatened. Latin-influenced Whatever Happens astonished me with its wonderful guitar parts by Carlos Santana and perfectly arranged vocals. R. Kelly?s Cry which was supposed to be another ?You Are Not Alone? lacks candor and sensuality, while the first single, You Rock My World, appears to be an obvious return to 80s R&B, still fresh and turned into 90s poppy ballad. This is not another Billie Jean, but it has something in it, completely original and fresh. Heal The World from epic Dangerous was easily transformed into The Lost Children.
Perception of the album itself is two-fold. Firstly, we have another perfect hit collection from MJ, fresh, colorful, multi-faceted. Secondly, I conceive that the album lacks 100% hits airplayed 24 hours a day on radio. Altogether, very good. Rate it a four.
Tower Records
