... This album is of course "Blood on The Dance Floor".
THE CASE
We'll start with the first thing you'd see when buying this album; the case. In all honesty, it's nothing spectacular. The basic cover is black. On the front is a picture, showing a large city in background, with an over ... Read review
compositions, Blood On The Dancefloor tastefully mixes old sounds with new. The new songs which open the album are led by the thrash-pop title track, which is reminiscent ...
compositions,Blood On The Dancefloortastefully mixes old sounds with new. The new songs which open the album are led by the thrash-pop title track, which is reminiscent of ...
Tyme Remix] Money [Fire Island Radio Edit] 2 Bad [Refugee Camp Mix] Stranger in Moscow [Tee's In-House Club Mix] This Time Around [D.M. Radio Mix] Earth Song (Han...
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A review by Vspawn on Blood On The Dancefloor - Michael Jackson December 9th, 2003
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
Value for Money
Advantages:
Excellent remixes plus new tracks . Flows well .
Disadvantages:
Some new tracks are samey .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
INTRODUCTION
Michael's career has been a rollarcoaster one. It all started with a steep upwards slant and then seems to have gently come down over the more recent years. Indeed, I have come to expect that Michael's more modern albums would not be as good as those original classics, including "Off the wall" and "Thriller". To be fair, his more recent work has been of a very good standard but has failed to break that trend. However, there is one album that I feel stands out in its own right as a superb masterpiece. Criminally underrated and undersold, in my mind, this album represents the very best of Michael's latest style of music along with some truly inspiring remixes of previous releases. This album is of course "Blood on The Dance Floor".
THE CASE
We'll start with the first thing you'd see when buying this album; the case. In all honesty, it's nothing spectacular. The basic cover is black. On the front is a picture, showing a large city in background, with an over depiction of a dance floor, with black and white squares. In the centre of this, at the front is a picture of Michael that looks as if it has been painted to look as realistic as possible by an artist. His stance portrays him with his right leg lifted up slightly and both arms thrust out sideways, towards his right, with his head tilted to face the same direction and he looks as if he is in the middle of belting out a song. Nice. The sky is a somewhat eerie darkish blue, with large golden clouds billowing over the city. On the top in scrawled red writing is the album title. It's a nice enough cover but nothing to write home about. The content is good though. Plenty of pictures of the star himself, alogn with song words and plenty of interesting info. Anyway, what matters most is the music. So here we go!
THE MUSIC
"Blood on the Dancefloor" is a mixture of Michael's newer songs and remixes of songs from the modern section of his "HIStory" album. The result is a rather pacey, exciting album that gives interesting new riffs and beats to established favourites, whilst interjecting with his new songs. I have reviewed several but not all the tracks here, just to give a general idea of the album.
THE TRACKS
Kicking off the preceedings is the title track itself: "Blood on the Dancefloor". Instantly setting the pace with a strong beat and some great sounds, the track seems to lull into low-tone verses with an almost sinister feel, inkeeping with the lyrics of the track. The words are very pronounced in order to help endorse this effect. It then builds into the chorus, where the beat builds to an even higher level, with a great riff to the song pushing through. The track continues in this slightly fluctuating tone and style, with the strong beat keeping the pace throughout. This song really is a credit to Michael and is very enjoyable to listen to. Towards the end, the chorus is repeated more often, while Michael interjects with his trademark yips and yelps which do compliment the chorus well. At the very end, the music subsides as the beat remains, still belting as strong as throughout the track, to then fade away and end a superb song.
"Morphine" is a rather odd track. It starts with an electricity sound effect. The beat is very industrial but there doesn't seem to be a tune as such. Instead, it feels as if Michael is shouting. It is obvious that this song was designed to make a point concerning Michael's real life but it's a shame that it fails to deliver anything more then what is a painfully average and lost track. Occasionally a tuneful part pushes through but quickly subsides. The track does not flow well at all. It fluctuates to an extreme that makes it somewhat disorientated and confusing. Tunes that do manage to push through are not consistent and this song just seems to feel like a collection of bits of other songs, with an electrical surging sound passed through. A plethora of yips and yelps have also been thrown in but seem to sound a bit "alone" or "lost" within a track that itself seems to have no direction.
"Superfly Sister" is a generally rather brilliant track. It starts off with a gentle clinking sound, where a beat is then implemented with a great basic tune. Percussion is also added in to deepen the ever building sound. The verses are distinctly average but do keep an exciting pace and the background tune still manages to express itself in a low-key way. The chorus is fantastic, with Michael's voice taking on an almost "double" sound. The riff is also more prominent here. The track is consistent but introduces variation on the beat in order to vary the track, as slightly longer intervals are created between verses and the chorus. Towards the middle of the track, a guitar is used with a different tune which still compliments the track perfectly well. Nearer the end, the chorus is repeated with different lyrics and seems to continually be interupted by variations on the tune and beat with more percussion and varying sections of lyrics from Michael. The whole track offers quite a variety within a contained style that keeps the track flowing. The basic tune is frequently referred to in the track to keep a sense of orientation. Finally the track ends with the beat subsiding and Michael singing a few last lyrics. A great song!
"Scream Louder (Flyte Tyme Remix)" is a remix of "Scream" from the HIStory album. This new version starts off with a gentle tune that is then broken into by a periodically burst of sound, where Michael lets out a scream to the appropriate backing of instrumental sound. the beat then quickly jumps in, building faster and faster to launch into a very pacey and exciting track. The new re-mix riff at first sounds like it would make as suitable a combination with "Scream" as Jive Bunny and the megamixers would with "ABBA" but once it gets going, it seems to sound fantastic. The tune stays in the backing as Michael and Janet share loud and passionately presented verses. The basic beat keeps the whole thing moving, while the verse seems to merge into the chorus with an over-voice of Michael humming in the background, with the verse growing louder. The chorus is a blast of what was a building beat and atmosphere, with a repeat of the words: "Stop Pressuring Me". The beat also seems to introduce the sound of breaking of glass when it builds up. It may sound slightly odd but works into the track beautifully. In the middle, the song takes a plunge into what is almost silence while it then instantly regains itself while introducing a variation on the beat and tune, accompanied by Michael's freely applied yelps. The chruses then build to greater heights and repeat as the track takes a turn into it's final moments. It ends suddenely, with the beat bursting to an explosive end. This is one of the best tracks on the entire album. Personally, I find it much better then the original, since it seems to have a little more depth and direction.
"Stranger is Moscow (Tee's In-House Club Mix)" is another remix from the "HIStory" album. It starts off with a thumping beat and also rather contraversially starts playing one line from the chorus. This is then switched over to another line from the chrous, while the beat is deepened with a background sound. After switching to yet another line, the track kicks off into its normal routine after a brief quietening. The verse has a magnificent tune, while the beat doesn't change too much. It then moves into the chorus, where more piano sounds are brought in. This track does particular credit to Michael's voice. The interlude where just the beat and a variation on the basic tune is played has a brilliant effect in what is a truly remarkable track and in my mind is easily an improvement on the original. Towards the end, the lines from the beginning are sung in their proper context to add a brilliant variation but yet refer back to something from the beginning which dually gives the track variety and also keeps it consistent. After this, the tune dies off as the basic beat thumps its last beats. My only criticism is that the beat remains pretty much the same throughout but overall it hardly matters in what is a terriffic song.
"Earth Song (Hani's Club Experience)" is yet another remixed HIStory hit. Most people will be familiar with the original. This remix is very different. The tune and verses are the same, although a whole new (and all too familiar) beat has been added. It starts off with the classic "jungley garden" sound, with a gentle sound pulasting through. The beat then slowly starts to build with percussion and clapping sounds, but remains low-key. A new sound that sounds like bongos is then added to the mxiture to create a variety of sounds that forms a very pleasant sound. Having established itself, this sound is finally broken by the piano-like sound at the start of Earth Song, with the basic beat then returning to re-build itself. All this then subsides with the first verse. The tune is excellent here, as different sections of the original backing sound return. The classic chorus (which has no actual words) but instead comprises of "aaaahhhh" then comes in with the backing beat and sounds in full swing. This track is very mellow and rather less fluctuating then the original. It never actually goes into the latter stages of the original but instead keeps to the former stages, with the new mellower sound. The result is a truly brilliant slant on a great hit. After a couple of choruses, the track starts to tone down, only to break back into another chrous, with the beat instantly building back up stronger then before. After this very pleasant chorus, the track starts to tone-down towards the end, bringing back the original piano-like tune which seems to compliment the ending perfectly. All in all, this track is very different to the original and I neither prefer it or not like it as much. I feel that it is a good track in its own right and deserves to be treated as such.
"HIStory (Tony Moran's HIStory Lesson)". This is another track that is very different to the original. Infact more so then any other remix. The song begins with a very deep and frequent beat that starts growing with interjections of sound and vocalistic expressions from Michael. These expressions become more frequent as the beat becomes louder and more prominent. The track then breaks into a very catchy and exciting tune (not found in the original), almost sounding like a dancey techno track. The chorus then kicks in with the basic beat accompanying. The chorus is much more pacey and has a lot more oomf then the original, with the dance-like tune returning to add depth. The whole track seems a lot less disorientated then its predecessor and seems to keep a consistent pace and style, with a brilliant new beat and tunes. Various aspects of the original, including what sounded like snippets of an old news broadcast have not been included in the remix, which in my opinion is not a bad idea, since it allows the track to freely flow and build itself up. Later on, more phrases are repeated to a very strong and repetitive beat, only to be interjected with the chorus again or a new part of the tune. This track incorporates many different tunes and beats that all fit together like a very large jigsaw. The result is a highly original, unique and mindblowing remix of the original song that delivers excitement, pace and inspiration. Stunning!
CONCLUSION
For many years Michael has set the standard in pop and rock and this album is very fitting for such an artist. To be fair, some of the new tracks don't seem all too brilliant and just feel like something that Michael whipped up in a hurry to fill space. Others are truly unique and excellent and I can safely say that nearly all of the remixes are superb. The whole album is generally very pacey and there aren't really any gentle songs. Some of the tracks feel like they all have the same thumping beat which can let down the overall impression. However, I would have to say that I whole heartedly recommend this album. For any MJ fans, this is a must-have. "Ghosts is one track that I have not reviewed in this review but is actually my favourite on the entire album. I have, however, written a review on it seperately as an individual track, so if you liked this review I can recommend the "Ghosts" review also. I actually bought this album on special offer at £5 from HMV. In fairness, it does comprise of many remixes of songs from HIStory which lends the idea that this album doesn't have much new to offer. However, I would say that all the remixes are brilliant interpretations of the originals and many of the new songs are great. All in all, this is a wonderful album that in my opinion (unlike Invincible and HIStory) was very underrated and undersold. If you haven't heard it before, you're definitely missing out!
Advantages: You Are Not Alone is bearable Disadvantages: Money making exploitation
When this album was released in 1997, I was at a loss as to why it was made, as it is essentially an album full of past songs (mainly from the HIStory album) remixed by various people, althouh there are some brand new songs on there which had not been released prior to appearing on this album. Maybe Michael Jackson wanted to make his mark on the modern day dance music scene in the same way that he did with 70's and 80's disco. I will put my initial ... ...you in my honest opinion whether this change in image and direction worked.
The opening track is also the title track, and to be frank it does not bode well. Here Jackson sings about a woman he meets then she betrays him. His experience of this kind of experience is surely limited and the conviction is just not there.If you can bring yourself to listen to the lyrics, it is obvious that he is trying to show his dark side, but try as I might I just ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Lyrically brilliant Disadvantages: Nothing special, initially put off by being mostly remixes
...as Michael Jackson, this album, Blood On The Dance Floor, consists mainly of remixed and covered versions of some of his previous tracks. The first 5 feature newer songs, ones we haven't seen before, but from there on in, we get to hear remade versions of other MJ songs, some hits, some not.
First up: of the original songs, there is some impressive stuff, with the best, lyrically and emotionally, being Superfly Sister, which is written about his ... ...track indeed. The title track, Blood on the Dance Floor, again very melodic and reminiscent of some of his earlier work. You can't help look at a lot of the lyrics here and marvel at the way he operates. A lot of people say he is extremely reclusive, but if you look at the lyrics of his work, then he is far more open about things, and this is reinforced with the rest of the album, the remixes.
When I bought 'History' in the mid-90s, I was impressed ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
Value for Money
very helpful
18.06.2009
Far from bad Review ofBlood On The Dancefloor - Michael Jacksonby
paulc20001
Advantages: 76mins of pure indulgence Disadvantages: wont be everyones cup ot tea
There are few things in life that I really, really enjoy. Stephen King novels, watching Sky movies 24/7, the company of my mates, writing for Ciao!
AND THIS DANCE ALBUM!!!!
As a very big fan of dance music, although not a die hard Michael Jackson fan, I was extremely surprised as to the content of this album. "Blood On The Dancefloor" is an absolute gem of an album to listen to, be your thoughts on Mr. Jackson good, bad, or indifferent.
"Blood ... ...works. Simple as that. In total there are 13 tracks (8 re-mixes and 5 new releases), and a whopping 76mins long to boot. Re-mixes include :
Stranger in Moscow (brilliant)
You Are Not Alone (really brilliant)
Earth Song (sheer bliss to listen to)
History (tub thumpin kick ass mix)
Other mixes include the title track of "Blood On The Dancefloor" itself and his very successful (and expensive video to boot) duet with sister Janet with "Scream". ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Excellent Dance Music Disadvantages: One or two not so good tracks
...as good as Dangerous.
Blood on the Dance Floor is one of the best tracks, I also Like Superfly sister, Is It Scary, Scream, Money, Stranger in Moscow, Earth Song and You are not alone, although I prefer the first versions of the last two songs. My son is also a Michael Jackson Fan and when he saw that I had bought it he was so excited. He was sitting, listening to it with the headphones on, when much to my horror he announced that he didn’t ... ...asked me to tape it for him so he can listen to it upstairs. I think it has grown on him. I don’t think it’s boring but I know that the reason he said that is because he likes to hear the words and complained that he couldn’t hear them properly.
This is Excellent Dance Music, Michael is the Master of Dance. I also use it for my exercises, as you don’t want to stop. ...
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This album contains five new songs and the rest are new remixes of previous hits from Michael Jackson. I’m not a particularly big fan of remixes, but as far as they go, these remixes are good. However, the main attraction here has to be the new songs. The first time I listened to the new songs, I was totally stunned. These songs sound totally unlike anything Jackson has previously released and they are truly stunning. I was particularly impressed ...
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Advantages: Pacey, great tunes and sounds, great effects, lavish video... Disadvantages: None I can think of.
...INTRODUCTION
Can a single from MichaelJackson be bad? Well unless you're talking about the title track of his third album then surely not. But when we're dealing with such an acclaimed and truly remarkable artist as MichaelJackson, we have to consider the good, the excellent and the downright stunning.
MichaelJackson's "Ghosts" single falls into the latter category mentioned above. Claiming the title of his second most expensive video, with work contributed from the famous author Stephen King, this track was obviously designed to be a landmark on his "Blood on the Dancefloor" album.
After "Dangerous", MichaelJackson's career started to veer towards becoming just that. With continually falling sales for each new album released, things weren't looking too good. While sales for each album were remarkable by normal standards...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Good amount of tracks, Good Spread of Tracks, Compliment to Music Disadvantages: Only Bad publicity surrounds this masterpiece
...the music industry. But with what i believe to be false alligations began his fall which i hope will be redeemed.
A really outlandish cover and design, with many different pictures and desgins covering it. Its strange yes, but its nice, very eye catching anyway, easy to find when you go and buy it after this review!
I recommend people who are either not a fan of MichaelJackson or who want to be but are worried because of his bad press to pick up the albums from play.com as they do very good deals on double albums, i believe this once is paired with "Blood on the Dancefloor".
In conclusion, i would like to say that MichaelJackson's album "Dangerous" should not be something that remains in the high street store under "Peadophile" or "Pervert". It should be flaunted as "Genious" and "Unforgettable". Forget his bad press, understand...
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Label / Distributor: MJJ Music / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 5099748750020
Catalogue Number: 4875002
Additional notes
Album Notes: Full title: Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory In The Mix. BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR: HISTORY IN THE MIX features eight remixed tracks from HISTORY: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE along with five new songs. Personnel includes: Michael Jackson (vocals, guitar, drums, percussion); Janet Jackson (vocals); John Forte (rap vocals); Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam (various instruments); Bryan Loren (guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion, programming); Slash, Wyclef Jean (guitar); Robert Chausow (violin); Juliet Haffner (viola); Larry Williams, Jerry Hey, Kim Hutchcroft (horns); Brad Buxer (piano, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion, programming); Teddy Riley, Doug Grigsby (keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Te-Bass (bass); Alex Breuer, Matt Carpenter, Andrew Scheps, Rob Hoffman, Jeff Taylor (programming); Andrae Crouch Singers (background vocals). Producers include: Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, R. Kelly. Engineers include: Teddy Riley, Dave Way, Mick Guzauski. BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR nearly snuck into record stores, preceded by a strange absence of hype. The implicit message of its five new songs, like that of the non-marketing campaign for the album, seems to be: enough already, let's get back to the music. The title song, a colder re-write of the Jackson classic "Billie Jean," draws you in, but Jackson quickly gets to the heart of the album with two astonishing songs that address his public image. "Ghosts" has an icy, metallic beat, while "Is It Scary" has the dramatic flair of a big pop ballad, but they feature nearly identical opening verses about ghosts and ghouls behind the walls and under the bed. In the former song, the ghouls are the paparazzi snapping pictures of Jackson's baby, and he asks of them, "Who gave you the right...Are you the ghost of jealousy?" In the next song, the ghosts turn out to be the many public faces of Michael Jackson, and he turns the image around, suggesting that ghoulishness is in the eye of the beholder: "If you wanna see eccentricalities/I'll be grotesque before your eyes...Is that scary for you, baby?" It's a declaration of self-confidence, and Jackson follows with feisty remixes of songs from HISTORY, including a version of "2 Bad" peppered with a sample of "Beat It," and a Madonna-like disco mix of "Stranger In Moscow."
Album Reviews: Q (6/00, p.122) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Tones down some of the original's more overwrought elements with 8 remixes from dance heavyweights such as David Morales, Frankie Knuckles and Todd Terry....Most bizarre, but most effective." Spin (8/97, p.113) - 6 (out of 10) - "...Jackson's stuttering thwocks and plunks have become an utterly unique form of funk. If the 47-minute HISTORY IN THE MIX part of this record--remixes from his flop 1995 album--fails almost entirely, it's because the remixers take out the best parts, Jackson's individualized beats..."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Blood On The Dancefloor
2.: Morphine
3.: Superfly Sister
4.: Ghosts
5.: Is It Scary
6.: Scream Louder (flyte tyme remix)
7.: Money (fire island radio edit)
8.: 2 Bad (refugee camp mix)
9.: Stranger In Moscow (Tee's in house club mix)
10.: This Time Around (DM radio mix)
11.: Earth Song (Hani's club experience)
12.: You Are Not Alone (Classic club mix)
13.: History (Tony Moran's history lesson)
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