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CD Review: Jackson’s latest mediocre
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DAYTON, Ohio — The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, released his long-awaited album,
Invincible, last Tuesday.
This is Jackson’s first album of new material since 1995.
Invincible contains 16 new tracks, varying between pop, R&B and ballads.
It reportedly cost around $30 million to produce.
By far, the best track on the album is the Latin-based, Santana-influenced, “Whatever
Happens.”
Here, Jackson sings in the third person and narrates the story of a couple stuck in a
threatening situation.
What makes this song strong is its narration, momentous rhythms and Santana’s passionate
guitar.
Everything works perfectly for Jackson in this track.
Unfortunately, he didn’t fill his album with songs similar to this one.
Another great track featured in the album is the single, “You Rock My World.”
It opens with a funny dialogue between Jackson and actor Chris Tucker.
On “You Rock My World,” Jackson decided to visit his younger days and give this song
the great voice and vibrating vocal harmonies that everybody knows him for.
This track is also one of the best on the album. Other overall good songs are the hard-
driven “Heartbreaker,” the ballad “Cry” and “Speechless.” Instead of following the paths
of “You Rock My World” and “Whatever Happens,” Jackson heads for the ballad-brick
road.
Here, he stumbles.
Songs like “You Are My Life” and “The Lost Children” waste quality time on the album.
The only ballads that break through are “Don’t Walk Away” and “Cry.”
However, this album will be another great achievement in Jackson’s career.
Other artists battling Jackson’s Invincible this week are Enrique Iglesias’s Escape, Lenny
Kravitz’s Lenny and the Backtreet Boys’ Chapter One.
What do I think of Invincible? Wacko Jacko should have done better. My advice to him is
to stay away from ballads.
My prediction?
Jackson will be the king of Pop once more, but the real question is: For how long?
I don’t think he’ll hold the No. 1 spot after the first week.
Francisco Cangiano, The Flyer News (U. Dayton)