Tuesday, April 8, 2014

'Xscape' by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson may have left this Earth too soon, but he still has catalogues of unfinished music locked away in vaults. L.A. Reid obtained permission to put together a new posthumous collection of the King of Pop's stuff, and the first single has arrived.

The title track off the new album, 'Xscape', was originally recorded during the Invincible era. It is the first of eight unreleased songs that are being "contemporized" by some of the biggest hit makers in the game. Rodney Jerkins had controlled over this one, and 'Xscape' features Michael singing over a '70s disco and '90s R&B beat. The voice is undoubtedly Michael but I feel like the music is drowning out his voice.

I haven't quite decided if I find this track to be brilliant or a mess. It's leagues better than the music from his first posthumous album for sure so I have high hopes for this next project. Even though Michael didn't put his seal of approval on this material, it's always refreshing to hear new music from the greatest entertainer that ever lived. Xscape is due out May 13th.

1 comment:

  1. This is the original demo, not the reworked remix we're expecting from Rodney Jerkins (who happened to create this original with MJ himself).

    This version was meant to be released by Michael, but it ended up leaking over a decade ago which caused him to shelf it. Recorded and composed in '99.

    Personally, I love it. It has that 90's carefree FU attitude that I adored from him.

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