Dangerous [Remastered] - Michael Jackson

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Funky, Cool, Good mix  -  Awesome !
Disadvantages:	The remastered album doesnt have any extras

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Michael Jackson's Dangerous was released in 1991, following the worldwide bestseller album BAD. It had to do a lot to out do its predecessor, and at the same time progress Jackson from the eighties to the nineties, proving that he was a transdescant artist and became more of an icon.

Dangerous is an awesome album, no doubts about it at all, but the so called "remastered" version lacks anything new. The other special edition remastered albums contained interviews and unreleased material. This only has a limited edition sleeve (which isnt really limited) and a new booklet inside with some different photos. This isnt that good.

For the album itself though, nothing more could be asked for. The album opens up with Jam, one of my personal favourites and creates the right kind of mood and tempo for the rest of the album to come. The lyrics are fast paced, and there is a nicely placed rap in the song. The only downside is that for a listening only track (one if your not dancing to it), it can become a tad repetitive and you'll feel the urge to move on just around the after rap part (about 3/4 through). Great song though!

Why you wanna trip on me is a much funkier song with a new groove, showing further artistic maturity and a willingness to try new things. The Rock-like start at the beginning is then ad-libbed into a poppier beat sounding something similar to what Justin Timberlake is doing on Futuresex/Lovesounds. But the beat progresses and further intensifies and is all around a good upbeat track. MJ starts to improvise at the end - after his lyrics its good to hear a little impro.

In the closet - a song with a lot of controversy - only performed on stage once, this song has been heralded as his 'raunchiest' song ever and with the video accompanying it i dont disagree too much! This song has an infectious beat and deserves all the credit it gets. Try not to think about the sexual element in the song, and take the song at face value with this one, then it sounds better!

Starting with a very dodgy but unforgettable sample beat at the beginning "She drives me wild" is a fantastic song. fairly aggressive vocals in the predominant layer of singing, MJ shows of his skills in the music field once again by layering his music with a mix of agressive vocals accompanied with a smoother vocal underneath. Superbly done again with the improvisation at the end is stylish and sounds really cool.

Remember the time - A fairly short song but not one to miss, this song is fantastic delivering a smooth range of vocals and a pulsing beat, a catchy chorus and an all round "feel good" song. The only thing that may annoy some people is the loud gasps heard between each breath like a metronome of sorts, "Do you remember *dah* when we..." keep an ear out for it, it appears on loads of songs such as bad and other songs on all his albums!

Cant let her get away -starts very JamesBrown-esque with the "da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-pow" you almost imagine a "get on upa!!" but the song is nothing like that, again MJ is building on old styles to create totally new ones making a successful song with the base sound track being his own beat box! Good lyrics and a top noch filler. My fave part being the "get intoooooooooooooo......" where the note really carries on over the beat box. A really different style of vocal of something you wouldnt have ever heard ever before like this really good use of staccato notes about 3/5 through the song.

Heal the world - the spearhead song at the heart of the charity campaign, but not great - some people would like this song but its nowhere near as good as the other gospelesque type songs on the album Heal the world has a sickly glossy aura around it which isnt a good thing! (I think thats something with the littler girl speaking at the beginning) the singing is really good and balladwise has real talent for it. Personally, not one of my faves.

Black or white is another good song, although typical of something you would hear on the credits on a disney film, its still many peoples favourites and did really well as a single (I think #1 in 10 countries). Cleverley written its a good upbeat song.

Who is it (is actually the song im listening to now) is a dark song with another beat boxed base accompanied with a tambourine and some actual instruments!! The song is well written, but some points can be seen as the whiney song of the album, as MJ always to have to have a whiney song in his albums post 1988! "I cant take it cos im lonely" Not sure if hes talking in generally or personally. lots of hee hee's of course and some good vocal tech's that you wont hear on any of his other songs "dont bother me , dont you do it daaaaaaaaw do daaaaw" you listen to it and you'll know what im talking about !!!!

Give into me is a excellent song, but steps away from traditional Jackson with a much harder rock edge (possibly to compete with the Nirvana album that was battling to take the #1 spot with its best selling album "Nevermind". It actually did manage to knock Dangerous off its 14 week #1 run, but only for 2 weeks, with Dangerous reclaiming the top spot!) Another special solo by slash - the vocals at some points seem REALLY strained and any attempt to sing like this from anyone else would shred their vocal cords!!!

Will you be there + Keep the faith are both gospely songs and heal the world is nothing on these two - will you be there has an extremely annoying choir verse at the beginning for 2 whole minutes! but the beat after that is very catchy and makes you want to swing your arms, or do what ever you want to do! Keep the faith starts off a lot more humbly but then becomes more upbeat as the song goes on! Both two keepers!

Gone too soon is a very disney like song and parts of it remind me of parts of toy story, im not too sure why! But a fantastic voice, and the only downside is that it seems too short a song - I guess thats for the best , theres no room for anything else in this song.

Dangerous - the song ive been waiting to get to! This is where my bias will probably come in as I think this song is the darkest funkiest grooviest song this side of the history of music, and in this style I dont think anyone could top it. Both live and on album this song is amazing its neary 7 minutes long (i heard from a source that the original recording of this song was ten times this length because it was a sung story of this "dangerous" girl - not too sure though). The lyrics are pure genius, and this has to be by far the best album closer Ive heard on any album MJ or not. The beat is awesome and the entire song is so tight and perfectely produced, sung and weaved is uncomprehendable. Its like the albums Bille Jean (in a different way) for the 1990's. and I dont think any artist has come out with a beat just as infectious. The only person that could top this is MJ himself and even I dont think that will happen (although this 2007 album is supposoed to be something spectacular...)

But overall, and wrapping it up fairly quickly as you are probably itching to hear the album now are two words that will point you in the direction "BUY IT!!!" there is nothing else to it. One of the best and essential albums that should be on your shelf. The remastered album doesnt reveal anything new, nothing instrumentally, nor vocally. Perhaps the sound is a little clearer but its not worth rebuying unless you want the new artwork and photos. Even if your not into Michael Jackson still get a copy, as an example at first hand being my friend who is into hard metal found 2-3 songs on this album that he quite liked! So its not an impossibility! The originaly album I didnt buy as I was only 3 when it came out, but the remastered version I picked up for £10 (probably cheaper now) Try it!