Yo, this album is surprisingly really good! Imma do a quick review for anybody curious or sleepin. I copped the deluxe edition, which is kinda cool because it gives you the original tracks and the remastered/remixed ones. I'm basically gonna compare each one side by side...
Love Never Felt So Good - The single. Most probably already heard it. There are actually 3 different versions. The remixed one is dope...so is the one with JT. But the original...mayne. Smooth piano ballad. MJ kiilin it vocally (which is true of the entire album). You can't go wrong with any of them, but the original gets the slight edge.
Winner: Original
Chicago - The two different versions of every song on the album really boil down to uptempo/fast (the remixes) versus the midtempo/slower originals. In this case, I think Chicago works better as an uptempo track. Hard to compare it to any previous MJ stuff. Nice little banger. Chorus is dope with MJ laying two different singing styles on top of one another.
Winner: The Remix
Loving You - Just like "Love Never Felt So Go", the remix is pretty dope...until you hear the original, and then its kind of a no contest. You can't go wrong either way, but the original is just straight vintage MJ. Sounds like something straight from "Off The Wall". Maybe even a little bit of a Human Nature kinda vibe. Real nice instrumental hook.
Winner: Original
A Place With No Name - Something about this one is really interesting to me. Just the subject matter and lyrical content in general on all the songs is a breathe of fresh air compared to today's music. The remix sounds like something that could've easily been on the "Bad" album. Think "Leave Me Alone". The original tho, again, always slower and more mid-tempo, is carried by an acoustic guitar. To draw a vague comparison, its like the difference between Aloe Blacc's "Wake Me Up" original version vs. the remix. You'll either be drawn to the more techno, throwback (for MJ) sounds of the remix, or the more simple instrumentation of the original. Neither is really better than the other. They both work just depending on your mood. Great track.
Winner: Tie
Slave To The Rhythm - The remix takes this one. Sounds sort of like a slowed up, watered down "Miami Bass" song from the early-mid 90's. That's not really a bad thing, but that's the closet approximation I can really make. The original is just sort of forgettable.
Winner: The Remix
Do You Know Where Your Children Are: LOL. Yea, this one. I guess he is kinda asking for with the song title. The track in general is kind of odd, but not bad. Its just this is obviously one of his signature "Think of the children" songs, but both the remix and original are pretty uptempo considering the subject matter. I'll go with the remix again tho, still the more upbeat of the two. The production is just better and pretty unique overall. Dat keyboard.
Winner: The Remix
Blue Gangsta - Three in a row for the remix being superior. MJ switches between a few different vocal styles, even his deeper singing voice. The production on the remix just keeps up better and matches the transitions more. Sounds like it could've been on the "Dangerous" album. The original sounds kind of boring by comparison.
Winner: The Remix
Xscape - I'm just really not a fan of Darkchild and MJ collabos. Both the original and remix sound dated, then and now. Its an Invincible throwaway that should've stayed that way. If I had to choose...
Winner: The Original