Mega Music Talent

Posts Tagged ‘album review’

“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin” – What a brilliant way to start this album. It’s a totally over the top song stuffed with so many beats, riffs, and unexpected surprises (“yee haw”) that it still sounds ridiculously fresh 27 years after it was first released. I think it’s worth noting that Jackson as a sole songwriting credit on this song. Not enough people give him credit as a songwriter. They want to write him off simply as an “entertainer” or as someone who just sang and danced but didn’t have any real creative input on his music. While he was an excellent singer and dancer, he was also an extremely creative songwriter.

“Baby Be Mine” – One of just two songs not released as a single which goes to show how great this album really is because this is an excellent song that I think could
have been a hit.

“The Girl Is Mine” – Most would agree this is one of the lesser songs on the album yet it was actually released as the lead single. That’s probably partly because MJ was so thrilled to have done a duet with Paul McCartney. Over the years this song has actually really grown on me and I enjoy it more today than I ever have in the past. Once you accept it for what it is, it’s really quite enjoyable.

“Thriller” – The music video for this song is so famous that I think the song itself actually doesn’t get enough attention. While Jackson didn’t actually write “Thriller,” it’s hard to imagine it being anything close to what it is in the hands of anyone else.

“Beat It” – Michael wrote this classic song himself. The inclusion of the blistering guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen gives this song a lot of crossover appeal to rock fans who may otherwise dismiss MJ’s music. Including such a guitar solo in this song is a great example of Jackson’s creativity and desire to push the boundries.

“Billie Jean” – Probably Jackson’s all time most popular song. It’s the song that he first moonwalked to (at the 1983 Motown awards.) And yes Jackson wrote this brilliant track himself. I’m not sure there’s any other song in the world that makes me want to dance more than “Billie Jean.”

“Human Nature” – This part of the album is probably what I enjoy most at this point because these songs haven’t been quite as “overplayed” as most of the rest of the album. I love this song. It was written by Steve Porcoro and John Bettis. Steve Porcoro was a member of the band Toto.

“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” – This song just absolutely rocks. It’s somewhat lesser known because it’s never included on Jackson’s “Greatest Hits” albums but to me it ranks among his best songs.

“The Lady In My Life” – This one has grown on me over time but I’d still probably rank it as my least favorite song on the album. I think it starts off pretty weakly but I do really dig where it goes once it gets going.

Jake Topp recommends Singorama singing lessons if you want to improve your vocal abilities: http://www.MusicByDay.com/singinglessons.html

The whispering clamour surrounded me and as it grew in intensity my fear of what was to come grew stronger. Suddenly the chanting started, the dread inside me rose as the chants grew louder and my anticipation greater. Each drum beat took me closer to the edge… a scream …then Preludium.

Fun over! As I looked at the hellish images on the Toxic album Fear just before I inserted the disc into my CD player I wondered if I had something to be afraid of. A whimsical thought I know but those thoughts continued as I looked at the play list:

01) Preludium

02) Lucifer

03) Fear

04) Live On

05) I am the Fire

06) Panic

07) Tinnitus

08) Feed me Bitch

09) Freedom

10) Truth

11) Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

12) Greed

13) Every Beating is a Lie

14) Fear None

Those titles are not exactly pussy footing around, but my fears continued in a good way as I listened to Preludium. It began with the type of sound effects that are used to create fear and anticipation in horror films and then chanting as if a black magic ceremony was going on. My imagination was working overtime by the time the band kicked in with powerful vocals and backing. I’m told that Preludium was recorded in a large cathedral type of room and that it sounded wicked – I can imagine that!

The other tracks that stood out for me were:

Feed me Bitch – despite the title I loved this track. ‘You’ve got to be poor to feed the rich’ that’s true. A contrast of sounds with an edge that made me feel the music almost as much as Preludium.

I am the Fire reminded me a bit of Black Sabbath. A full on rock track that got me jumping. To get the full effect I wished that I were listening at a concert and not in my sitting room, but second best was still good.

Every Beating is a Lie tells you to stand up for your rights and not to let them hold you down. I absolutely agree with that. Musically I enjoyed listening to this stirring track and as with all over the other tracks Toxic are getting a good message across.

Fear None is a good finale to the album, strong instrumentals but it does get a bit screechy in places. Not enough to scare my cat who seemed to be enjoying it as much as I was. Seriously, I like the vocals, the instrumentals and the mad contrasts and was disappointed when the track faded out to nothing and half expected them to come back and shock me.

After listening to the 14 tracks several times I can reveal that there was nothing to be afraid of from Fear. I enjoyed listening and can recommend the album to anybody who likes heavy rock. It’s crazy in places, a creative album of unexpected events that left me wanting more. My favourite track has to be Preludium because it was so atmospheric and captured my imagination. Well done Toxic it isn’t often that happens.