Michael Jackson’s Xscape is a Feel-So-Good Record

It’s been five years since Michael Jackson passed away, but that hasn’t affected the release of new Jacko tunes. His first posthumous record, Michael, received lukewarm responses from fans and critics alike, but his latest release, the tragic yet fittingly titled Xscape, is a short-but-sweet offering that nearly every Jackson fan can appreciate — including the litany of pop stars involved with the record.

Barely breaking the 30 minute mark, and containing only eight tracks, Xscape is a collection of rarities packaged as new material. Most of the songs featured on the record are demos from Jackson’s lengthy career, with the oldest tracks going back as far as 1983. What freshens up this album, though, is the collaborations by many of today’s top musicians, including Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and L.A. Reid. Timberlake, who grew up idolizing Jackson, performs on the single, “Love Never Felt So Good,” but does so more as a primary feature rather than a supporting guest. And that’s the case with a lot of the tunes on Xscape, as they were all in need of updating and polish — not the easiest things to do when the main artist is no longer with us.

Still, while Xscape relies heavily on today’s pop phenoms, it also contains a hat-tip to another star of a previous generation. Paul Anka, one of Jackson’s favorite musicians from the bygone era, co-produced “Love Never Felt So Good,” and his influence shines throughout the track. There are plenty of moments throughout Xscape where the true Michael Jackson can be heard, and compared to Michael, this record feels a lot more like a Jackson-influenced release.

If you’re going to pick up Xscape, go for the deluxe edition, as it contains the original demos for all of the tracks. Listening to these early cuts gives a really interesting insight into how Jackson’s utilized his incredible talent — a talent that will be missed for many more generations to come.