Michael Jackson - Off the Wall (Spec)

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Product Description

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Genre: Popular Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
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Release Date: 16-OCT-2001

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Customer Reviews

Review by liz blue eyes, 2010-08-10

I love MJ, but I acknowledge in advance that I am of the "Thriller" generation (being born in 1980), and so I am probably biased (music-wise). Comparing this to "Thriller" is something I almost loathe to do, knowing I will likely irritate some people. But because they're quite different and the closest in chronological order for him as solo albums, I think it's the best I can do. This was a tad grittier, MJ was a little more outgoing on certain numbers here & he was a more of a risk-taker on "Off the Wall". There is a rather hmoderate disco element here, which is neither good or bad BUT does age certain numbers on the album a tad. Some songs are must-haves for me- the rest of it is almost grating to my ears. I just don't care for them- it's purely personal preference, so please understand, it's not an attack on Michael or anyone else who performed on the album. I just find his other albums to be easier to listen to as a whole- probably because I grew up with them and thus they bring back memories.

I wish they played tracks from this album more in the clubs, and it should be better known to the younger crowd. Had I been old enough to appreciate it, I probably would have really dug "Rock With You", "Workin' Day and Night" & "She's Out of My Life". Don't get me wrong. There are some real standouts on here. Certainly, the title track is one. Same with "Get on the Floor", which is my favorite track on the entire album. I listen to those two songs almost daily. "Off the Wall" is an album where you need to listen to the songs in full, so you can get the feel for what you personally like best. Michael (I'm sure purposely, considering his genius) started with a good hook on all of his tracks, but knew to let the song slowly come to a dynamic climax of various chords, his own harmony and melody tracks, sparingly using back-up singers countered w/ plenty of interesting instrumentation, layering it all gradually until you just want to burst out of your seat and dance. He was a magician weaving a spell of song, and a real master he was. Then he'd let the tracks wind down just a bit until the end, but he somehow alwayss left you craving more. "Off the Wall" is a track which has a phenomenal final minute and "Get on the Floor" has a middle section bound to impress the most disco-jaded of all listeners. This is feel-good music at it's best. Even MJ'S disco-heavy pieces, though, are more timeless and high-quality than much of the era's music. MJ was a musical prophet in many ways. He blended the best of the late 70's with a sound unlike anything ever recorded before- and gave us all a glimpse of the bright future ahead. For that, this album has my respect, if not my complete adoration. "She's Out of My Life" was a beautiful serenade, if a bit contrived. MJ, at this stage in his life, sounded just a little too forced emotionally on this sad love song. The dance songs were where he seemed more comfortable, and those were the tracks that shined for me.

I only started listening to this album seriously in the last few years, despite listening to MJ for thirty years w/o stopping. Had I listened to this before hearing the music of Justin Timberlake (who especially comes off as a copy boy to me now, after listening to this), Britney Spears or really...virtually every dance, R&B or pop artist/group who recorded after 1979, I would have realized that everything they did, Michael had already done first- and he did it better (either solo, with The Jackson Five or The Jacksons). He was a trailblazer, which even the most anti-MJ person has to grudgingly admit. This isn't an album full of favorites that I listen to over and over again in full. The bonuses to me were boring and unneeded- they did the same thing with the re-release of Thriller. Neither are special editions which are must-haves, but again, that is sheer personal preference.

Listen to the whole album and judge for yourself. I will say it was a marvel of quality and care, as was MJ's entire body of work. Even at it's worst, it was still pretty good. And the magnificent tracks make up for the more mediocre ones (much like other great artists (I'm thinking Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, etc.)

Review by Michael J. Boulrice, 2010-06-05

I bought this for my mom who is a huge MJ fan as I assume many of you are and she loved it. There isn't much I can say that will convinve you to like or dislike the music but as a collector of MJ's music I can say that one would be far better served purchasing the main albums rather then compilations(unless you buy the fancy 8 disc ultimate collection). The reason for this is that you will not get as many repeats of popular songs and get to listen to the growth of MJ as a creative genious. Some of the bonus tracks are cool to listen too as well as they are typically demo tracks of MJ recording the music at his house with his family playing various instruments and allow you to see how the song initially started and how the studio helped MJ form that vision into popular songs of today. Bottom line this should be in every MJ collection.

Review by MCGOODIE, 2010-05-11

You could already tell that this dude was gonna be BIG. No one I don't think could have
predicted that he would become the supersonic megastar that he did become.

But from this project you surely could tell that he belonged out front.

Very enjoyable look back at the starting point from a solo point of view for a man
who would become a music legend!

Review by L. CLEMENTE, 2010-04-27

IF YOU EVER WONDER IF HE WAS THE MOST TALENT PERSON ON THE PLANET. THIS CONFIRMED IT. THIS ALBUM WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLD TEN MILLION ALBUMS. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MICHAEL JACKSON AND HIS MUSIC AND ALL OF US JUST ENJOYING THE RIDE.

Review by Jason Weber, 2010-04-12

When Michael Jackson released Thriller and Bad in the 80s those two albulms tended to overshadow this one since they were both so revolutionary and offered many top billboard hits, but this albulm is still one of Michaels greatest albulms and helped Michael start off his solo career on a high note. There is a good variety of songs which showcase Michael's early recordings like Don't Stop til you get enough, Rock with You, and Off the Wall, as well as what Michael was singing before the early pop era. As much as I am not a fan of disco, I feel Michael really provides good vocals, and the songs aren't too strongly geared towards disco, they tend to break off into different genres such as early pop and even a little R&B sounding. Maybe this albulm isn't as big as Thriller or Bad, but it definitly offers some great early Michael Jackson songs, and is better than the modern Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga crap, no offense if you're a fan of those two. And you can find it for dirt cheap due to it being overshadowed by Michael's other albulms.