Thursday, January 26, 2012

Final Grade: A

It would probably be illegal to give this album any less of a grade, but it most definitely deserves it.  Seeing as this is the same team as Off the Wall, I am in no way surprised that it is just as good.  Some seriously serious all-time classics on this album.  The fact that Quincy has a a plaque with DIAMOND (not literal, of course) record on it - that is absolutely ridiculous.  These guys knew how to write disco, funk, dance, and ballads like no other.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Human Nature

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)


Lady In My Life

Songs of the Day

Human Nature:  This is such a classic ballad.  I love how soft this song is - everyone is nice and low, building off one another.  Quincy and Michael really got their "mellow track with a heavy backbeat" thing down.  The simplicity of the guitar is what really gets me - it's so minimal, but it's just the thing the song needs.  Of course, everyone loves the "why" in the chorus - so sweet.  John Mayer's rendition of this at Michael's memorial was actually my favorite performance, and I think that's because he kept to the simple format of the song.  Great melody and lyrics.  So solid.

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing):  This is one of my favorite Michael songs - how can it not be with this groove??  Can't help but listen to it only once.  Everything about this groove is so funky, I can't even stand it.  The chorus gets me going every time, it's just beyond funky.  Gotta love the B section with the call-and-response.  Hands down one of my favorite dance songs.

The Lady In My Life:  I'm glad this is both ending on a ballad, and on a track that I'm fairly unfamiliar with.  Very nice, smooth groove, mainly held down by the keys until the pick up in the middle of the verse.  Really dig the pick up into the chorus - starts to get a cool, funky feel.  I like that that funkiness keeps throughout the rest of the song.  The bridge section is oh so funky - gave me such a stank face.  The guitar line is really what's holding it down.  Damn...this is some seriously smooth shit.