Invincible by Michael Jackson

Invincible is Michael Jacksons first studio album in six years, his last attempt was the brilliant HIStory which had some superb tracks on like, 'scream,' 'stranger in moscow,' and 'childhood.' That was a magnificent album but can he produce the same again?

Michael Jackson fans have been waiting far to long for this album of new material to be on the market, six years is a long time for an artist of Michaels calibour. There has been alot of expectation for this album and people have been asking questions like, 'Is Michael still the greatest?' The album was a long time coming but on October 30th I opened it on my birthday and played it right through very loudly in my front room.
My first impression was that I was blown away, dancing to the danceable grooves and the pounding beats, and swaying gently on the smooth r&b ballads. It takes a few listerns though to really get the kick from this album, and it must be played very loud.

The tracks:-

Unbreakable - 10/10

The first track leaps in after the intro and immediatly gets you dancing with the brilliant R&B style but also with lots of hip - hop thrown in for that industrial dance feel. Michaels lyrics and singing are brilliant and the hook is one of the best. The song is remicent to smooth criminal but it has something new, very much fresher and dancier. The tune is fast and furious. I like the rap, i think it makes the song shape well, alot of people have slaggede the rap for not making sense to the song, who cares? The song is over six minutes but it doesn't feel it, it never tires. A great opener! MJ is back!

Heartbreaker - 10/10

A brilliant techno style beat which is fast and furious. Michael sings well on this track, the hook is superb and will have you singing it again and again. The whole song makes you wanna move around the dancefloor, it is defiently one for Jackson to do live and to do the robot too. This song rocks and pounds through the speakers. Great Track.

Invincible - 10/10

A gear change for Michael, still a pounding good track but slightly slower then its two predocessures. A jerky but very musically styled beat for this track this is also a hip - hop styled track, and Michael again is singing well, I love the bit before the hook, where whispered singing is, it is top notch, the ending also is very good with the handclapping.

Break Of Dawn - 10/10

This is what Michael is famous for, his wonderful voice and this track shows a whole range of Michaels power and control of his voice. The hook is wondeful full of brilliant lyrics and also it is one of the most freshest chorus' jackson has ever done. This song will have alot of first kisses to its name.

Heaven Can Wait - 10/10

Michael proves that he can move from different music styles effotously and comfortably, he really suits this style of 70's soul and the song is incredible. The hook is ace, and the versus are the best part of the song because they are joined with not just Michael but great backing vocalists.

You Rock My World - 10/10

The only annoyence with this is the intro, the annoying spoken word with chris tucker and jackson. Its funny the first time but just boring and tedious after that.
This song like the first three has to be cranked up to get the true feel, this is great, the hook is quite complexed but once you have heard it once you are screaming for more.
The best part of this song is the bridge when he sings, 'and girl i know that this is love, i felt the magic all in the air/and girl i never get enough thats why i always have to have you here!' This is the part of the song where you really get the feel and the hips start really swinging at this point.
I love this single, and I ask the question,'why wasn't it a smash hit?' Shame but it is still one of the best on the album.

Butterflies - 9/10

This track is slightly out of place it should have been put on a bit later because after the bomb of you rock my world this can feel to fall short, but as a single on its own it is spectaular. Lyrically the words are good, and vocally it is outstanding yet again, the chorus is so powerful that it must be up load to get that, and this song does give you butterflies inside, just close your eyes and think of your first love as the song progresses.

Speechless - 8/10

A really beautful track which shows Michaels singing ability and how he is at peace with himself, a bit sappy some might say in that is so well sung and put together but to me it is great, listern just because it is a soft tune doesn't mean you have to hate it. I don't.

2000 Watts - 9/10

The electro dance florr beat powers in after two slow songs, to produce a brilliant pounding beat and one that gets your feet moving. Michaels voice is very low on this track and the hook is ace, but this also shows Michael's nack of creativity, as this song pounds through your speakers. I would though have liked this song to be slightly more uptempo it just feels a bit to slowed down. The ending though is slightly poor, because it just fades out when you feel it should have exploded.

You Are My Life - 9/10

This ballad will grow on, trust me. It sounds bad at first listern and rather feminnine, but as it progesses it just gets better and better. The hook is good also, singing, 'you are the sun, you make me shine, or more like the stars, that twinkle at night.' Good song.
YOU ARE MY LIFE WAS PUT IN PLACE OF THE ORIGINAL TRACK 'SHOUT' WHICH MICHAEL TOOK OFF OF THE ALBUM, YOU CAN FIND THE SONG 'SHOUT' ON THE CRY SINGLE.

Privacy - 9/10

A monster of a song and a really rough edged powerful jab at the media. Michael has a rough edge to his voice in this song, the hook is wonderful as the whole composition comes together, also the solo from Slash is ace. The reason why I have given this 9 instead of 10 is because it doesn't have a place on the album a bit to hard rock for the album, still good though.

Don't Walk Away - 10/10

Close your eyes and you can see lighters waving from side to side, this is a real loving track and you can hear Michaels heart bleed as he gets to the chorus each time. The ending is very powerful and it really works because it leaves you feeling numb.

Cry - 7/10

This song doesn't seem to be produced to well, it is not as loud as the others but it is still good. The versus come out really well but the finale is poor, it is too messy and you can't make head nor tail of it. Still a quite good track.

The Lost Children - 7/10

This single is ok, but to me, it should have been on a b-side to a single,it like cry, has no place on the album. It is too theatrical and just seems like it is putting a good message across cheesily. The album has started to drop at the last two songs. Shame. This song andd cry should have been replaced by two bombs, to make the album really super strong, i never listern to these two songs, because they are very weak.


Whatever Happens - 10/10

Wonderful track after two poor ones and it really shines as one of the best on the album. Michael is in Latino mode which again is expieremental and gives a good flavour to the album. From beginning to end this track shines. Well done.

Threatened - 10/10

I love this track, and to me this is better then Thriller. It is a Thriller re-make without doubt but this is far more dancy and more catchy, and Michael sounds evil on this track, really haunting and a good way to finish a great album.

SPECIAL SONG, TAKEN FROM THE B-SIDE OF THE CRY SINGLE.

Shout - 10/10

Strong and grunge type tune, with Michael rapping lyrics quickly into the microphone and screaming the chorus in. The bridge is the best part, when he sings, 'How can we preach, when all we make this world to be Is a living hell torturing our minds. /We all must unite, to turn darkness to light, And the love in our hearts will shine.'
This is a tremendous song. The album would have been so strong with this song on it.

CONCLUSION

The album needed more uptempo tracks, it just started to die, the openning five to six tracks should have been unstoppable in music and groove , reminicent to 'Dangerous.' Then he should have put in break of dawn, and heaven can wait, then you rock my world, he should have then put in another bomb, then butterflies, don't walk away, 2000 watts, then 'shout' off of the cry single ~ which was Jackson expiermenting and doing it well. Then it should have gone, speechless, whatever happens, theatened. And the Michael Jackson would without any slate from the critics become truely invincible.

The album held just too many ballads. I like a long album, I don't care about the feel, the more songs the better, I heard that Michael recorded something like 60 songs for the album, I would love to own all 60 of these, that is how hungry for Michaels music I am.

A good solid album but just could have been better. Good luck next time Michael I enjoyed this album. I love it though, one of the best in the collection so far, here is my list of his albums in order of best first:-

1. Dangerous
2. Invincible
3. Thriller
4. HIStory
5. Bad
6. Blood on the dancefloor
7. Off the wall