More pop than you can throw a stick at. (Bad - Michael Jackson)

Member Name: km1234

Product:	Bad - Michael Jackson
Date:	09/07/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some classics in here showing Jackson's ability to progress.

Disadvantages: Some not-so-classics showing Jackson's desire to top 'Thriller'.

So how do you top 'Thriller', the most successful album of all time? Perhaps if this thought hadn't plagued Michael Jackson, we would have seen him take some of the artistic expansions that occur in his next album 'Dangerous' rather that him trying to stick to the format of Thriller. Not to say that it didn't do ridiculously well anyway as it's sold over 30 million copies and counting since it's release in 1987. 'Bad' is too accompanied by it's own string of records e.g. the first album to have 5 U.S. #1 singles and the 'Bad' tour is widely considered to be one of the most successful tours of all-time, perhaps due to the sheer scale of the venture. As for the music...

'Bad', the titular song opens up with the album - catchy, memorable and in my opinion, propelled by the elaborate accompanying music video. While it's another Jackson classic, I personally think that it's one of the weaker songs on the album but nevertheless...a number one for Jackson.

However, the second song, 'The Way You Make Me Feel' is one that knocks the listener's socks off. Beautifully crafted, this pop epic has it all - strong vocals, strong backing and a cute music video. Extremely infectious, this song acts as the second number one for Jackson and deservedly so.

'Speed Demon', featured in Jackson's short-film titled 'Moonwalker' is a funky song somewhat similar to 'Off The Wall' compositions but seems to be somewhat lacking - the hook is not so instantly recognisable and is quite weak in comparison to the previous song but the song is worth noting for Jackson's impossibly high vocals.

On now to 'Liberian Girl'. Ignoring the fact that the music video for this appears to be a game of spot-the-1980s-celebrity, I have a bit of a soft spot for this spot. Echoing vaguely of 'Lady In My Life', the song may appear to be weaker but in this case, I feel that less is more. The melody is simple and engaging, the vocals are silky and the instrumental is oddly soothing. One for the romantics at heart.

The fifth song is the first not to have been written by Michael Jackson but is instead Terry Britten and Graham Lyle and perhaps it shows. Along with fellow Motown legend Stevie Wonder, Jackson laments about the issue of being 'Just Good Friends'. Although both vocalists are at their usual brilliance, I feel as if the two fail to gel for the verses. Nevertheless, the chorus is undeniably funky and one that certainly will stay in your head for days.

Continuing with the funk, we return to the Jackson composition of 'Another Part Of Me', a song about harmony. When deciding which tracks should be included in the album, this came into competition with the upbeat 'Streetwalker' (included in the Special Edition) but instead the former was chosen because Jackson's manager Frank Dileo started to dance to it. While I think 'Streetwalker' would have been a better choice, 'Another Part of Me' is still a decent song to groove to.

The next track is something so quintessentially Michael Jackson, it's difficult to believe that he never wrote it but 'Man In The Mirror' is a beautiful song preaching fraternity and togetherness. While some consider it to be too saccharine, I find the song uplifting and heartfelt and fully deserves to score the third Number One for Jackson. Combined with the stunning performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards and the fact that he donated the profits from this song to charity will mean that I shall always remember this song.

'I Just Can't Stop Loving You', a duet with Siedah Garrett yields the fourth U.S. Number One, the song is a bit sappier and lacks as much charm as the previous lush ballads found on 'Thriller'. Still, as with many Jackson songs, the song is unbelievably catchy and easy to sing along to.

The ninth song is the crossover pop-rock track we've been waiting for - 'Dirty Diana', a song about desperate groupies (not Diana Ross) is a brilliant track and accounts for the fifth U.S. Number One. Accompanied with an electrifying concert performance in the music video, the song is not overtly complicated and measured perfectly.

Quite possibly the most famous song from 'Bad', the tenth and final track for LPS is 'Smooth Criminal'. A song suggesting a tale of rape and murder, you'd be pardoned for questioning it's suitability to the be subject of a pop song but Jackson makes it work. Famed more so for the music video which oozes of cool and impressive dance routines, 'Smooth Criminal' as a track itself stands strong with the falsetto chorus and the synthesised instrumentals (for some unknown reason).

A bonus track for the C.D. listeners, 'Leave Me Alone' is undoubtedly one of the best tracks on the album and it's a shame that it was left of the vinyls in place for something like 'Speed Demon'. A song about paranoia and Jackson's anger at the media, the layering on this track is divine and the melody is once again very infectious. Combined with a brilliant and intelligent music video far ahead of its time, it's a shame that this is one of the lesser known Jackson songs.

In summary, a brilliant album but not as good as it's predecessor 'Thriller' nor it's successor 'Dangerous'.

Summary: This album is worth listening to for the production alone.