#tierlistthursday - 01/15/2014 - mj's Xscape

OVERALL:

album is too modern. very signature timbaland,
but his producing style overshadows michael's voice several times.
most of the originals are better than the modern tracks.

BEST TRACK
Xscape

WORST TRACK
Slave to the Rhythm

Honorable Mention
A Place with No Name (Original)


There are only 8 tracks so I'm not gonna make a tier list.
Just listen to the while thing, but here are my thoughts.


Love Never Felt So Good
 feels like an "off the wall" song; could go with less bass.
 a corruption of 70s disco murdered by modern bass.
 good lead off track though.

Chicago
 why does mj sound like he was auto tuned ;;
 overproduced. bass again drowns out mj's natural singing talent.
 layers michael over michael during the chorus was a bad choice.
 feels like a late 90s song

Loving You
 hello michael buble??
 young mj with fat bass is just a weird feeling to me.
 his high pitch just contrasts too much with the instruments.

A Place with No Name
 please don't abuse the bass line from Leave Me Alone...
 oh lmao it is "a horse with no name". shoutouts to America.
 definitely not a song that should be on any MJ studio album.
 unbelieveable, this is the longest song by a full minute at 5:30.

Slave to the Rhythm
 almost expecting a britney/niki/rhianna chorus or breakdown
 poor lyrics.
 forgettable. worst track easily.

Do You Know Where Your Children Are
 the positive message song of the album?
 bizzare 80s/london-electro feel. has michael ever done a song like that before?
 not a fan of the guitar solo. stick to one decade's style please.

Blue Gangsta
 nope.
 michael's emotional singing is really good, but the chorus is exceedingly banal and almost comical.

Xscape
 oh baby. is Justin Timberlake about to make a cameo?? is this the 20/20 experience??
 high energy, good vocals, this is the good agressive michael in his later years.




OH SNAP!! This deluxe album has "Original" Versions!!

Love Never Felt So Good
 definitely like the disco strings more than this version's solo piano and snaps. but it does work ok.
 i can see this being a comfy lounge song haha

Chicago
 whoa whoa whoa. did i just fall on a bed of silk sheets?? this is smooth.
 feels 10 years younger that the remixed version from earlier (which is good)

Loving You
 lol why is the whole song out of key? interesting
 not bad, not great. editing is not very good.

A Place with No Name
 ok there is legit A Horse with No Name as the track music.
 more focus on michael's voice over the guitar is welcome.
 having the original guitar, and no bass line from another sing makes this great.

Slave to the Rhythm
 i keep hearing snake to the rhythm
 i don't think there's really anything that could make this song good.

Do You Know Where Your Children Are
 maybe the only song where the new version is better than the original.
 but that's probably due to my partiality to electro.

Blue Gangsta
 nah the chorus ruins this. better, but still just a drab song.

Xscape
 you know this is good. it's like a better Jam.
 both versions are pretty good.

BONUS ROUND - Love Never Felt So Good w/ Justin Timberlake
 wish this was Xscape with JT