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Post by Russg on Jun 1, 2019 9:33:38 GMT
This may be something of a controversial opinion, but I've often thought Thriller was the weakest of his adult solo albums. Yes, thats right, I would even take Invincible over Thriller.
Thriller to me, is just three killer singles (BJ, Beat It, Thriller), two good album tracks (Startin Somethin and Human Nature) and four tracks of filler (the rest). That's five keepers and four forgettable tracks of bubblegum fluff.
The album tracks such as Baby Be Mine, The Girl Is Mine and PYT have aged horribly and sound really corny and twee in 2019. OTW sounds fresher than Thriller, even though it was recorded in 1979!
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Post by MattyJam on Jun 1, 2019 9:42:06 GMT
No.
Sure, the album was a product of its time to some extent, but name me an album from 1982 that hasn't aged in the production department!
Btw, WBSS and Human Nature were both singles, so even by your own reckoning, that's five killer singles! In 1982 that was unheard of. I think it's very easy in 2019 to take some of that stuff for granted, but the music industry was a very different place in 1982 than it is today.
And don't forget, we're not just talking "killer singles" here, songs like Billie Jean, WBSS, Beat It and Thriller are amongst the best pop songs ever written. Four of the best pop songs of all time on one album. Let that sink in for a minute.
And even outside of that, you have gems like Human Nature and Lady In My Life, which sound as soulful and sensual today as they did back in '82.
I've never been a big fan of PYT and TGIM would be better without Paul's corny-ass vocals all over it, but I'm really nitpicking here.
Thriller was most definitely not overrated.
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Post by mjjfan810 on Jun 1, 2019 9:51:54 GMT
When compared to the other albums that are usually considered as top classics in the the world of rock'n'roll, it doesn't seem over-rated at all. As a matter of fact, it seems pretty damn near perfect.
Second only to Bad, it is MJs best album of all time. I think people try to be too hip and just want to be against it to be different. From the opening chords of Startin Somethin, MJ was saying I'm going to kick some serious motherfucking ass!!
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Post by HIStoric on Jun 1, 2019 10:45:09 GMT
In terms of musical quality, no. It's a really fucking great album. Very well produced, very consistent, very tight. From the general public on what the best MJ album is? Yeah a bit, in the sense of when people talk about what the best MJ album is. It's almost always Thriller. Now if they believe it is his best album, I can respect that, but personally I think Bad and Dangerous are better albums.
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TonyR
The Legend Continues
Posts: 8,413
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Post by TonyR on Jun 1, 2019 11:11:01 GMT
I struggle with the concept that Thriller is overrated.
It’s like saying First Man on The Moon or the invention of the light bulb is overrated just because bigger things have happened since then.
Plus, I’d say if you just listen to Thriller without any preconceptions and just lay back and listen, it’s pretty much perfect.
Yes, there’s the stunning songs like BJ and Beat It, and I’d say WBSS should be included also. Plus Himan Nature, Thriller and I think PYT, TGIM and Lady in My Life are all brilliant also. All genre defining, all sung beautifully. Sequentially it all just works to make 40 odd minutes of just taking life to another level.
Yes, he was to surpass it but I’d argue that as a single album of life enhancing music, it’s perfect and fully deserves its place as the best selling album of all time.
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Post by MattyJam on Jun 1, 2019 13:17:45 GMT
I struggle with the concept that Thriller is overrated. It’s like saying First Man on The Moon or the invention of the light bulb is overrated just because bigger things have happened since then. Plus, I’d say if you just listen to Thriller without any preconceptions and just lay back and listen, it’s pretty much perfect. Yes, there’s the stunning songs like BJ and Beat It, and I’d say WBSS should be included also. Plus Himan Nature, Thriller and I think PYT, TGIM and Lady in My Life are all brilliant also. All genreb defining, all sung beautifully. Sequentially it all just works to make 40 odd minutes of just taking life to another level. Yes, he was to surpass it later on with Invincible, but I’d argue that as a single album of life enhancing music, it’s perfect and fully deserves its place as the best selling album of all time. I'm shocked to hear you say this Tony. You know I love Invincible, but better than Thriller? Really? This is a bit much, no?
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TonyR
The Legend Continues
Posts: 8,413
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Post by TonyR on Jun 1, 2019 14:49:21 GMT
I struggle with the concept that Thriller is overrated. It’s like saying First Man on The Moon or the invention of the light bulb is overrated just because bigger things have happened since then. Plus, I’d say if you just listen to Thriller without any preconceptions and just lay back and listen, it’s pretty much perfect. Yes, there’s the stunning songs like BJ and Beat It, and I’d say WBSS should be included also. Plus Himan Nature, Thriller and I think PYT, TGIM and Lady in My Life are all brilliant also. All genreb defining, all sung beautifully. Sequentially it all just works to make 40 odd minutes of just taking life to another level. Yes, he was to surpass it later on with Invincible, but I’d argue that as a single album of life enhancing music, it’s perfect and fully deserves its place as the best selling album of all time. I'm shocked to hear you say this Tony. You know I love Invincible, but better than Thriller? Really? This is a bit much, no? FAKE NEWS
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Post by respect77 on Jun 2, 2019 3:47:02 GMT
WBSS and Human Nature are "two good album tracks"? WBSS is one of my favorite songs by any artist ever. It's simply genius. It definitely is a better song than Beat It or Thriller. Just because they had videos it doesn't make them the better songs.
I can't be alone with that opinion because I remember when Madonna gave her eulogy to MJ, in that speech she said something along the lines how "we all envied the songs he wrote, we wished we would have written Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". Paraphrasing but it was something about her envying WBSS. LOL.
And Human Nature is a fantastic song too. I too many people consider it their favorite of the album.
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Post by respect77 on Jun 2, 2019 3:55:15 GMT
In terms of musical quality, no. It's a really fucking great album. Very well produced, very consistent, very tight. From the general public on what the best MJ album is? Yeah a bit, in the sense of when people talk about what the best MJ album is. It's almost always Thriller. Now if they believe it is his best album, I can respect that, but personally I think Bad and Dangerous are better albums.
Yes, that's the only way it is "overrated". That some casual listeners will just automatically name it as MJ's best album, often without having any clue about the rest.
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Post by Vega on Jun 2, 2019 5:01:39 GMT
Are the non-singles on Thriller any worse than the ones on Bad? I'd take Baby Be Mine or Lady in My Life over Just Good Friends or Speed Demon anyday.
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Post by respect77 on Jun 2, 2019 6:01:02 GMT
And what does "aged horribly" mean? That it doesn't sound like 2019 music? Thank god, it doesn't!
I always have a problem with this term because usually it is just meant to say something doesn't sound current - as if sounding current is a quality in itself. It is NOT!
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Post by HIStoric on Jun 2, 2019 6:45:04 GMT
And what does "aged horribly" mean? That it doesn't sound like 2019 music? Thank god, it doesn't!
I always have a problem with this term because usually it is just meant to say something doesn't sound current - as if sounding current is a quality in itself. It is NOT!
It can be an odd criticism indeed. The fact of the matter is that most forms of media age and have characteristics (to varying degrees) that are products of it's time. Doesn't make it bad.
Sure, a song might "sound" 1960s or 1980s or what have you, but if it's a great song with a great melody it won't really matter. It's why artists like Michael Jackson continue to be played. Yes, his songs absolutely sound like they're from the 80s, but they're still fantastic songs in their own right and that's why they remain so popular.
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Post by mjjfan810 on Jun 2, 2019 7:02:16 GMT
To really see why this album is not over rated you need to be in the mind of a 17 year old experiencing this on vinyl at the time of it's release. To see how good this is try and think of how many albums have a mind blowing work of art as a side 2 track 1. Short answer, no not over rated, Billie Jean alone is worth the rating, let alone Beat It, Wanna Be Startin Somethin, Baby Be Mine and Human Nature.
And what's with all the PYT hate? That record could have the best-produced chorus of all-time.
"I'LLLLLLL TAKE YOU THERE, TAKE YOU THERE"
My heart skips a heat every time I hear that part!!!
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Post by ghost on Jun 2, 2019 9:24:30 GMT
I kind of feel like any album that becomes the biggest selling of all time will forever have a noose around its neck and be critiqued more harshly. Pardon the pun, but isn't it human nature, when someone achieves something which goes down in the record books, inevitably people are going to poke holes in it and question whether it was deserved.
Most artists biggest selling or most famous albums aren't there best albums. Just as an example Let's Dance is David Bowie's biggest selling album but it's not his best. The Beatles Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album is their most famous album but it's not there best album.
Some albums are have a huge impact because they were released at the right time, ie when Thriller was released in late 1982 it people responded to it in a way they may not have in 1979-80.
Oh, and I rate Human Nature, WBSS and The Lady In My Life over what you listed as "the 3 monster hits".
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Post by respect77 on Jun 2, 2019 14:00:05 GMT
To really see why this album is not over rated you need to be in the mind of a 17 year old experiencing this on vinyl at the time of it's release. To see how good this is try and think of how many albums have a mind blowing work of art as a side 2 track 1. Short answer, no not over rated, Billie Jean alone is worth the rating, let alone Beat It, Wanna Be Startin Somethin, Baby Be Mine and Human Nature. And what's with all the PYT hate? That record could have the best-produced chorus of all-time. "I'LLLLLLL TAKE YOU THERE, TAKE YOU THERE" My heart skips a heat every time I hear that part!!! PYT is actually a hit on Spotify. 145 million listens - only Billie Jean, Beat It and the title track have more than that on Thriller.
I never understood the Baby Be Mine "hate". Actually, I think it came from Chris Rock's hating ass when he tried to put Purple Rain above Thriller by saying PR is perfect while Thriller has Baby Be Mine. How is that a bad song? I always loved it, it is such a fun song.
The only song on Thriller that I consider a bit sub-par is The Girl is Mine.
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