Thriller...the 25th Anniversary Edition Disaster

For the past week I have been listening to the 25^th Anniversary Edition release of Michael Jackson's Thriller album, grappling on how to classify this album. The original is the best selling album of all time, selling over 40 Million records. It was ranked #3 in the NARM/The Rock and Roll hall of fame's Definitive 200 albums. This album rocks. Every song is just brilliant. Quincy Jones showed his class on this record. Thriller and Beat it were....for lack of a better word...Grand. The collaborations with Vincent Price, and Sir Paul McCartney were well chosen. It's the only album to have SEVEN number 1 songs on the Billboard Top 100. With the junk pumping out of our speakers today, I can safely say that record will never be surpassed, not even matched.

Fast forward to 2008, the new edition, with collaborations from Kanye West, Will.I.AM, Fergie and Senegal's favourite son, Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam aka Akon. These are some of the best producers around right now. Perhaps the best if you exclude Timbaland and the legendary Dr. Dre. They showed their mastery on this timeless record. The kind of mastery that must have Quincy Jones wincing and moaning wherever he is. All their effort produced what would even today be one of the worst albums ever. Perhaps it's the notion that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' but my gosh! This album is horrendous. I am not a music critic, actually far from it but this album is the biggest disappointment. The original songs far outshine their remixes. This isn't a job done poorly. It's a job not done at all.

Track 1: Wanna be starting something. Reminds you of why the 80's were good for music. A song that you can listen to when your stressed and the up tempo beat will lift you. The saxophone is...wow! Listen to it when is switches to the Caribbean sound.
Track 2: Baby be mine. Temperton showed his class with the keyboard. The vocal arrangement is just so exquisite. At least they didn't touch this one
Track3: The Girl is mine (With Sir Paul). This song is so mellow. It is sweet and gentle to the ears. The verbal trades between Michael and Sir Paul are well thought of, funny and just what the song needed. The vocal arrangement is great. A great product of the legendary Quincy Jones.
Track4: Thriller (with Vincent Price). There are no words in the dictionary I can use to describe this song. If you do have this song, listen to that base line. Put that together with the synthesizer and when the electric guitar kicks in.....ORGASMIC.
Track 5: Beat it. My favourite song on this album. The snare on this is amazing. The electric guitar player (Eddie Van Halen) on this was amazing. The bridge he played on this is one of the greatest guitar sounds ever played (according to me anyway). The tempo, vocal arrangement and the whole song arrangement (Quincy Jones) is simply brilliant.
Track 6: Billie jean. Those of you that have watched the video of this song will remember the crouch grabbing strokes of M.J. This song has that catchy base line, complemented by the strings. Great stuff
Track 7: Human nature: So gentle, so mellow, so nice.
Track 8: Pretty Young Things (PYT). This song is good and that's all I can say.
Track 9: The lady in my life. For those that have never heard this song, remember the Boys II Men song 'Hey Lover'? This is where they got the rhythm.

Now to the worst part

Track 11; The girl is mine (2008) This is by far the worst song on the album. Will.I.AM's growling on this album just irritates the ear. "She mine, she mine, she like the way I rock, the way I rock" my, oh my, this is abysmal. He goes on and on that you can't help but get really irritated with his voice. He's good with the Black Eyed peas but can't be trusted with a classic, let alone a classic like thriller. The song was bad enough without his voice. He got the production wrong from the beginning. The drums were too loud, the base line too antiquated and gosh that horrible synthesizer. I can't say anything about it.1/10
Track12: PYT. This song was so nice till that 80's dance rhythm was introduced. Another howler by Will.I.AM.2/20
Track 13: Wanna be starting something (with Akon).The best of the worst. The only reason it's not as bad as the rest is because they didn't deviate too far from the original. Akon and MJ's vocal arrangement was quite good. These two should do another song together. The bridge is good. They even had the switch to the Caribbean sound. Good stuff but no match for the original though I'll give it a 6/10.
Track 14; beat it (with Fergie). Two voices have never clashed like this before on a record. It will never happen again. It's impossible. She's almost inaudible and MJ's voice is....MJ's Voice. Another one of Will.I.Am productions (more like howlers) The electric guitar was simply crap. Listen to it just after the bridge. It screams HORRIBLE. What's the hype with this Will.I.AM fellow anyway? Yes he's good with BEP and other artists but crap on his own. Have you listened to his solo album? Don't. 2/10
Track 15: Billie jean (with Kanye). Second best. Kanye introduces his maverick production style. His drums and snares rocked...a bit. He didn't try to do a lo of talking like a certain Mr William. 5/10.

It's good they kept all the originals on it. If they had only released the remixes, we'd be in trouble. The best part about this album is the original songs. Don't mess with anything successful. MJ should have released a completely new album. Perhaps Will.I.AM would have shown how good he is with completely new stuff and not how mediocre he is remixing songs. I love the album...a lot but only for the old timeless songs. Hopefully they'll spare us a golden anniversary remix edition. If not, good luck to your ears.