Thriller (Review)
Hi, Hey, Hello, peeps. ItzSonny and now you’re reading my very own goddamn blog posts, yes, weird isn’t it not hearing my voice, huh? Yeah, anywho, this is “The Music Vibe”, my very own blog dedicated entirely to music, with this section being towards album reviews. If you’re not on the up and about with me (why the fuck would you), I pretty much did this video where I performed this experiment listening to the best songs of all time (for the most part…) and essentially used them as a basis for what I deem “great music”, and now I’m a music nerd. So to give some background, I’ve actually never listened to an album before, okay well, I have but like…only like…4 (yaaah), so this is entirely new to me unlike with movies that I also discuss on my YouTube, so with this being my debut album review, it had to be something truly special (you already know, read the title), and with some guide from a friend from school whose also a fellow music viber (working on terms, don’t judge), why not discuss both an artist (separating art from the artist) that is the very reason as to why I fell in love with music, whose songs I’ve listened to a lot, and just so happens to have crafted a classic album that is also the most highest-selling album of all time, of course, I’m talking about Prince (nah sike, that’s next month), I actually meant…
Okay enough glazing, let’s just get to the point. Erm…
BACKGROUND
Let’s get to the facts. Obviously, the one and only, King of Pop (Michael Joseph Jackson) was hitting it high off his previous album (Off the Wall, potential future review? lemme know fam) after it received critical acclaim and was a commercial success, selling 10 million copies at the time. In-between both albums, Jackson was in a transitional period, growing his independence, he fell into a great depression.
“Even at home, I’m lonely. I sit in my room sometimes and cry. It’s so hard to make friends...I sometimes walk around the neighborhood at night, just hoping to find someone to talk to. But I just end up coming home.”
At age 21, he hired John Branca as his manager, informing him of his heavy goals to become the biggest in show-business. He was upset about what he perceived as the under-performance of his last album, feeling it deserved it’s Grammy for “Record of the Year.” He felt undervalued in the industry, claiming how black people on magazine covers never sells, but that he was gonna change that for good. For his next album (this one), he wanted every song to be killer and thus…Thriller was born, did he accomplish his goal? Well…
REVIEW
“Wanna Be Startin’ Something”
For an album opener, I think it’s pretty solid, though the writing isn’t like the best from MJ, it’s still fun and plentiful, with a really strong production going into it, the backup vocals and delivery from the king himself is really enjoyable and the melody is very playful with a really strong bouncy bop-filled tone to it. It for sure kicks off the album in a very cheerful manner.
“Baby Be Mine”
So fun little story, I actually got exposed to this song through this old fun horror Roblox game (lmao) where there was this secret section that you can find where it was a night club playing it (cute story, sadly no longer there rip), anywhooo, this song is alright. Honestly pretty weak, it’s production, aesthetic, and overall melody is fantastic with it’s fun soul-filled atmosphere, but where it lacks it that the writing isn’t really the best, kinda cheeky, and the song feels dragged out, doesn’t really need to be 4 minutes.
“The Girl Is Mine” (Ft. Paul McCartney)
Yah, this song is…like what, bro…like it’s not bad, but very…like…erm…like production-wise again, it’s good, but where it really lacks is that the composition is kinda fine, nothing really stellar, and it’s really the lyricism and banter between MJ and Paul fucking McCartney of all peeps fighting over a girl and it’s just not compelling, it comes off with like Disney Channel energy, but yah, this is easily the weakest song off the album.
“Thriller”
Do I…even have to explain myself? C’mon, we all know this classic, this is the ultimate Halloween tune and my kind of music, I love Halloween, I love horror, and I love this song, literally the first real banger off this album, it’s perfection. Everything from the incredible arrangement adding in nice quirks of both instruments and sound effects to create a real Halloween atmosphere (and fuck ass synths that go hard), with Michael giving it his all and really giving into the spirit of it, with an overall splendid rhythm to the writing that makes this a catchy all-time classic BANGER.
“Beat It”
I remember having some issues re-listening to this song awhile back when analyzing it (still loved it), but on re-listen…no…I actually…have no problems, the only real thing is this tiny ass nitpick where the dynamics on the guitar solo could’ve been more up, but other than that…it’s masterful. I love it’s very mood and focus on gangs and violence and how MJ plays it off in a completely cool and believable way (unlike Girl is Mine), and the overall guitar progression is splendid, making this another Pop classic.
“Billie Jean”
What else do I have to say? This song is a classic, with it’s timeless sound from a springy percussion, really soft-striking synths, very consistently engaging hook, literally the peak of MJ melodies, iconic and catchy chorus, the back and forth guitar, and what really makes this track truly a masterwork is it’s writing, detailing such a sorrowful, vibrant, and raw narrative that is conveyed heavily by MJ’s performance that makes this song forever timeless and easily a top 3 classic in all of music.
“Human Nature”
Listening back onto this track, it really is underrated, honestly on par with the last three, I love how much more blissful and soothing this one whilst still contacting that bop energy in it’s arrangement and tone that is really addicting and though not as dire as Billie Jean, it’s still as confidently portrayed as that track, being a really great track.
“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”
Another pretty solid track, it’s not as great as our last four, but it doesn’t really ruin the streak of amazement, it’s got a really good mix with enough creative sound work, a great instrumental overall (even if it’s a little standard from this album), and a decent enough flow to it. It doesn’t really stick out, yet it’s still a fun bop like the others, just solid overall.
“The Lady In My Life”
I’m going to be so for real for this…I think this is the best song on this album, this is easily what I believe to be the most underrated Michael Jackson ever, the fact this isn’t even like one of his most popular is insane to me, this is an incredible album closer, from the really fantastic progression, the incredible dynamics, and easily a peak of his vocal range, it contains the best of Billie Jean’s dire writing and rhythm with the most soul pop-inducing melody of every other track, this is easily an incredible song and a great way to close the album.
CONCLUSION
Well, we made it to the end of this review, and yet…did Michael Jackson achieve his goal? To me…pretty much. Don’t get me wrong, as much as how highly successful and iconic this album, it’s not a 10, it only has two minor flaws in that lyrically speaking every song starts meshing together and though every song is listenable, Girl Is Mine sticks out like a sore thumb and not every song is as “killer” as MJ wanted it to be…that does not change just how incredibly masterfully crafted this album truly is from it’s overall soul Pop atmosphere that is both kinetically fun, yet thought-provoking with some of the most iconic songs of all time, both classic and even in my eyes, hella underrated from “Thriller” all the way to “The Lady in My Life”. Jackson’s vocal range and overall execution of this album is truly passionate, managing to really put his all into it and the result being an incredible listen experience, with some of the most stylish production, hitting rhythms, song staples, and overall emotion I’ve ever seen in Pop music that will forever be timeless and generational. In my eyes, it may have some hiccups, and it’s still an iconic album where it’s flaws are really nothing to it’s achieving heights. Hope you enjoyed reading this review, go check out this album (if you haven’t, the fuck r u doing), and I’ll see you peeps around. It’s been Sonny and so long, farewell, and goodbye. <3
“Even when we’re old and gray, I will love you more each day”
