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| rev4 = ''[[Daily Mirror]]''<ref>http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/michael-jacksons-xscape-lovingly-restored-3332961</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Daily Mirror]]''<ref>http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/michael-jacksons-xscape-lovingly-restored-3332961</ref>
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}
| rev5 = ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]''<ref>http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-michael-jackson-xscape-review-20140510-column.html</ref>
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}
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Prior to the album release, ''Xscape'' was played for critics at exclusive album listening parties in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/04/michael-jackson-album-xscape-does-not-suck|work=Complex|publisher=Complex Media|title=News Flash: The New Michael Jackson Album "Xscape" Does Not Suck|first=Rob|last=Kenner|date=April 9, 2014|accessdate=April 26, 2014}}</ref> Bernadette McNulty from ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' praised the album as "pristine", calling it the "front-and-centre presence of Jackson's voice in the mix".<ref name=tele /> Michael Cragg from ''[[The Guardian]]'' said ''Xscape'' feels "like an album created to showcase a handful of Jackson songs that on the whole deserve to be heard".<ref name=guardian /> Richard Suchet from ''[[Sky News]]'' thought the album "sound more like modern-day remixes".<ref name=skynews /> Nick Stevenson from ''[[Mixmag]]'' believed the album "more like a collection of B-sides from ''[[Off the Wall (album)|Off the Wall]]'' than a follow-up to ''[[Invincible (Michael Jackson album)|Invincible]]''".<ref name=Mixmag>{{cite journal|url=http://www.mixmag.net/words/reviews/tunes/is-the-new-michael-jackson-album-any-good|title=Is the New Michael Jackson Album Any Good?|date=2014-04-01|accessdate=2014-04-01|first=Nick|last=Stevenson|periodical=[[Mixmag]]|publisher=Development Hell|location=London, England}}</ref> Michael Arceneaux from ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' said "the upcoming project 'from' the late singer sounds like a recipe for legacy tarnishing".<ref name=ebonyreview>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/the-weekly-read-leave-michael-jackson-alone-032 |title=Leave Michael Jackson Alone |periodical=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]] |date=2014-04-01 |accessdate=2014-04-05 |first=Michael |last=Arceneaux |publisher=[[Johnson Publishing Company]] |location=Chicago, USA}}</ref> Elysa Gardner of ''[[USA Today]]'' said that the producers on the album "ensure that Jackson's enduring strengths as a singer are represented, layering in modern electronic textures without overwhelming the distinctly slinky, shivery vocals or overall structure of the tunes."<ref name="USA Today">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/04/21/first-listen-michael-jackson-posthumous-xscape/7553229/|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|accessdate=April 26, 2014|date=April 21, 2014|title=First listen: Michael Jackson's posthumous 'Xscape'|first=Elysa|last=Gardner}}</ref>
Prior to the album release, ''Xscape'' was played for critics at exclusive album listening parties in [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2014/04/michael-jackson-album-xscape-does-not-suck|work=Complex|publisher=Complex Media|title=News Flash: The New Michael Jackson Album "Xscape" Does Not Suck|first=Rob|last=Kenner|date=April 9, 2014|accessdate=April 26, 2014}}</ref> Bernadette McNulty from ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' praised the album as "pristine", calling it the "front-and-centre presence of Jackson's voice in the mix".<ref name=tele /> Michael Cragg from ''[[The Guardian]]'' said ''Xscape'' feels "like an album created to showcase a handful of Jackson songs that on the whole deserve to be heard".<ref name=guardian /> Richard Suchet from ''[[Sky News]]'' thought the album "sound more like modern-day remixes".<ref name=skynews /> Nick Stevenson from ''[[Mixmag]]'' believed the album "more like a collection of B-sides from ''[[Off the Wall (album)|Off the Wall]]'' than a follow-up to ''[[Invincible (Michael Jackson album)|Invincible]]''".<ref name=Mixmag>{{cite journal|url=http://www.mixmag.net/words/reviews/tunes/is-the-new-michael-jackson-album-any-good|title=Is the New Michael Jackson Album Any Good?|date=2014-04-01|accessdate=2014-04-01|first=Nick|last=Stevenson|periodical=[[Mixmag]]|publisher=Development Hell|location=London, England}}</ref> Michael Arceneaux from ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' said "the upcoming project 'from' the late singer sounds like a recipe for legacy tarnishing".<ref name=ebonyreview>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/the-weekly-read-leave-michael-jackson-alone-032 |title=Leave Michael Jackson Alone |periodical=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]] |date=2014-04-01 |accessdate=2014-04-05 |first=Michael |last=Arceneaux |publisher=[[Johnson Publishing Company]] |location=Chicago, USA}}</ref> Elysa Gardner of ''[[USA Today]]'' said that the producers on the album "ensure that Jackson's enduring strengths as a singer are represented, layering in modern electronic textures without overwhelming the distinctly slinky, shivery vocals or overall structure of the tunes."<ref name="USA Today">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/04/21/first-listen-michael-jackson-posthumous-xscape/7553229/|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|accessdate=April 26, 2014|date=April 21, 2014|title=First listen: Michael Jackson's posthumous 'Xscape'|first=Elysa|last=Gardner}}</ref>

Revision as of 11:04, 10 May 2014

Untitled

Xscape is the second posthumous compilation album[3] of previously unreleased tracks by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It will be released on May 13, 2014 by Epic Records and MJJ Music. It is the second album of new material that the estate has released in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, since Jackson's death in late June 2009. L.A. Reid, chairman of Epic Records, curated and executively produced the album, enlisting Timbaland to lead a team of record producers to re-tool and contemporize the eight recordings selected to complete the album. Producers who worked on the album include StarGate, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, John McClain, and Rodney Jerkins. Jerkins produced the title song and also is the only original song producer to work on the final productions.

Xscape was promoted across the Sony group of companies; Sony Mobile used a snippet of "Slave to the Rhythm" in their advertising campaign for the Xperia Z2 mobile phone. Early reviews have garnered mixed to positive reviews for the album with critics divided over the quality of the records. "Love Never Felt So Good" was announced as the official lead single to premiere on May 1, 2014. A deluxe edition of the album will also include all of the songs in their original forms as well as one bonus track and two videos.

Background

Officially announced on March 31, 2014, Xscape will feature 8 tracks.[4][5] It is the second such album of posthumous material to be released by Epic Records since Jackson's death in 2009.[6] The title track "Xscape" was recorded in 2001 for Jackson's Invincible.[7] American hip-hop producer Timbaland and Epic Records chairman L.A. Reid executively produced the album, with addition production from Rodney Jerkins, StarGate and John McClain.[8] Timbaland said that Reid had personally approached the producer at his home to discuss the new Jackson project.[9] Jesse Johnson, former lead guitarist of the American band The Time revealed that he had worked on elements of one song that featured Mary J Blige, Questlove, and D'Angelo.[10] Reid said that they wanted to honor Jackson's legacy when naming the album, "the title of this album honors Michael's album naming process. He always chose a song from the album to name his projects and, beginning with Thriller, used only one word titles, each with an edgy quality to them (Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory and Invincible). This is true of the new project."[11]

Pre-release response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[12]
The Sydney Morning Herald[13]
Daily News[14]
Daily Mirror[15]
The Los Angeles Times[16]


Prior to the album release, Xscape was played for critics at exclusive album listening parties in New York City.[17] Bernadette McNulty from The Daily Telegraph praised the album as "pristine", calling it the "front-and-centre presence of Jackson's voice in the mix".[18] Michael Cragg from The Guardian said Xscape feels "like an album created to showcase a handful of Jackson songs that on the whole deserve to be heard".[19] Richard Suchet from Sky News thought the album "sound more like modern-day remixes".[20] Nick Stevenson from Mixmag believed the album "more like a collection of B-sides from Off the Wall than a follow-up to Invincible".[21] Michael Arceneaux from Ebony said "the upcoming project 'from' the late singer sounds like a recipe for legacy tarnishing".[22] Elysa Gardner of USA Today said that the producers on the album "ensure that Jackson's enduring strengths as a singer are represented, layering in modern electronic textures without overwhelming the distinctly slinky, shivery vocals or overall structure of the tunes."[23]

Promotion and singles

In February 2014, Sony and Jackson's estate announced a partnership with Sony Mobile that saw the release of an ad incorporating a new version of the track "Slave to the Rhythm", which has been confirmed as one of the album tracks.[24] The commercial advertisement was for Sony Mobile's Xperia Z2 mobile phone.[25] The album had been aired to the UK media in the basement of a Knightsbridge hotel on March 31, 2014. The journalists were permitted to hear the album once without any electronic devices, and song titles were kept secret.[26] The entertainment correspondents for some UK media, such as Sky News,[20] London Evening Standard,[26] The Daily Telegraph,[18] Mixmag,[21] The Guardian[19] and Digital Spy[27] were invited.

On April 30, it was revealed that "Love Never Felt So Good" would be unveiled at the iHeart Radio Music Awards on May 1 as the album's first single, putting statements by Timbaland that suggested that "Chicago" would be released first to rest.[9] It was co-written by Canadian singer-songwriter Paul Anka,[28] and features Justin Timberlake.[29] "Love Never Felt So Good" was previously recorded by American entertainer Johnny Mathis.[30] The digital download for the single became available on iTunes at 0:01 EDT on May 2, 2014 for the album version and the duet version with Justin Timberlake.[31] The release date of the single to urban radio stations confirmed as May 6, 2014.[32] On May 4, the track "Chicago" became available to Music Unlimited subscribers, being followed by "Loving You", "A Place With No Name", "Slave to the Rhythm", and "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" in the succeeding days.[33]

Track listing

Xscape - Standard Edition (catalog number 88843053662)[34]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Love Never Felt So Good"
3:54
2."Chicago"Cory Rooney
4:05
3."Loving You"Jackson
  • Jackson
  • Timbaland
  • Harmon[a]
3:15
4."A Place with No Name"
5:35
5."Slave to the Rhythm"
  • Reid
  • Babyface
  • Timbaland[37]
  • Harmon[a]
4:15
6."Do You Know Where Your Children Are"Jackson
  • Jackson
  • Timbaland
  • Harmon[a]
4:36
7."Blue Gangsta"
  • Jackson
  • Dr. Freeze
  • Jackson
  • Dr. Freeze
  • King Solomon Logan
  • Daniel Jones
  • Timbaland
  • Harmon[a]
  • Perry Jimenez
  • Brandon Jones
4:14
8."Xscape"
4:04
Total length:34:25
Deluxe Edition bonus tracks (catalog number 88843066762)[38]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
9."Love Never Felt So Good" (original version)
  • Jackson
  • Anka
 3:19
10."Chicago" (original version)Jackson 4:43
11."Loving You" (original version)JacksonJackson[37]3:02
12."A Place with No Name" (original version)Jackson 4:55
13."Slave to the Rhythm" (original version)Jackson
4:35
14."Do You Know Where Your Children Are" (original version)Jackson 4:39
15."Blue Gangsta" (original version)Jackson 4:16
16."Xscape" (original version)
  • Jackson
  • Jerkins
Jerkins[27]5:44
17."Love Never Felt So Good" (with Justin Timberlake)
  • Jackson
  • Anka
4:05
Total length:73:43
Deluxe Edition Bonus DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Xscape Documentary"23:18
2."Xscape Documentary Outtakes"2:39
Total length:25:57
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer

Release history

Region Date Label Format
Germany[39] May 9, 2014 Sony Music CD, Digital download
Denmark
Spain[40]
France[41] May 12, 2014
United Kingdom[42] Epic Records
Italy[43] May 13, 2014 Sony Music
Canada[44]
United States[45] Epic Records, MJJ
Mexico[46] May 15, 2014 Sony Music
Japan[47] May 21, 2014 Sony Music Japan CD
India[48] May 29, 2014 Sony Music
United States[49] June 10, 2014 Epic Records, MJJ LP

See also

References

  1. ^ Elysa, Gardner (April 21, 2014). "First listen: Michael Jackson's posthumous 'Xscape'". Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  2. ^ "Michael Jackson's "Love Never Felt So Good" First Single From XSCAPE Premieres Tonight at the iHeart Radio Music Awards". May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  3. ^ Opam, Kwame (March 31, 2014). "New Michael Jackson album 'XSCAPE' will be released May 13th". The Verge. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  4. ^ "XSCAPE: NEW ALBUM COMING MAY 13TH". michaeljackson.com. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  5. ^ "New Michael Jackson album to be released in May". BBC News. 2014.
  6. ^ Chi, Chi. "Newsbeat - Michael Jackson new album Xscape: first listen". BBC. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  7. ^ Farrar, Leah (2011-10-18). "Michael Jackson new album Xscape release rumours". Glamour magazine. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  8. ^ Melissa Locker (2014-03-31). "It's a Thriller: New Michael Jackson Songs Coming in May on Posthumous LP Xscape". time.com. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  9. ^ a b Guardian music. "New Michael Jackson music to be produced by Timbaland". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  10. ^ Wass, Mike (April 2, 2014). "Michael Jackson's 'Xscape' LP Will Contain A Song About Child Abuse & High-Profile Collabs". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  11. ^ "XSCAPE-Long Awaited New Music From Michael Jackson - NEW YORK, March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/". Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  12. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/may/09/michael-jackson-xscape-review-tim-jonze
  13. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/review-michael-jacksons-xscape-is-an-album-that-should-not-have-come-out-20140508-37yq9.html
  14. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/stars-new-michael-jackson-album-article-1.1786008
  15. ^ http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/michael-jacksons-xscape-lovingly-restored-3332961
  16. ^ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-michael-jackson-xscape-review-20140510-column.html
  17. ^ Kenner, Rob (April 9, 2014). "News Flash: The New Michael Jackson Album "Xscape" Does Not Suck". Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  18. ^ a b McNulty, Bernadette (2014-03-31). "Michael Jackson new album Xscape: first listen". The Daily Telegraph. London, England: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  19. ^ a b Cragg, Michael (2014-04-01). "First listen: Michael Jackson's Xscape". The Guardian. London, England: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  20. ^ a b "Michael Jackson Xscape Album Due Out In May". Sky News. Yahoo! UK & Ireland. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  21. ^ a b Stevenson, Nick (2014-04-01). "Is the New Michael Jackson Album Any Good?". Mixmag. London, England: Development Hell. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  22. ^ Arceneaux, Michael (2014-04-01). "Leave Michael Jackson Alone". Ebony. Chicago, USA: Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  23. ^ Gardner, Elysa (April 21, 2014). "First listen: Michael Jackson's posthumous 'Xscape'". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  24. ^ "New Michael Jackson Album 'Xscape' to Be Released in May". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. March 31, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  25. ^ "THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON ENTERS PARTNERSHIP WITH SONY MOBILE". Sony Entertainment. michaeljackson.com.
  26. ^ a b Smyth, David (2014-04-01). "Michael Jackson's 'new' album Xscape gets its first hearing". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  27. ^ a b c d Corner, Lewis (2014-04-01). "Michael Jackson's new album Xscape: How good is it?". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  28. ^ Corner, Lewis (2014-04-30). "Michael Jackson's New Single 'Love Never Felt So Good' Gets Premiere Date". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  29. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2014/05/01/justin-timberlake-joins-michael-jackson-on-new-single-love-never-felt-so-good/
  30. ^ "Michael Jackson 'New' Single Written with Paul Anka Is Actually 31 Years Old". Showbiz411.com. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  31. ^ "Michael Jackson's "Love Never Felt So Good" First Single From XSCAPE Premieres Tonight at the iHeart Radio Music Awards". Epic Records. PR Newswire. 2014-05-01. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  32. ^ "Urban/UAC Future Releases - R&B, Hip Hop, Release Schedule and Street Dates". All Access. 2014-05-02. Archived from the original on 2014-05-01. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  33. ^ "Chicago on Music Unlimited". Sony. Sony. 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  34. ^ "Buy Xscape Michael Jackson, Pop, CD". Sanity. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  35. ^ "Love Never Felt So Good". BMI.
  36. ^ a b http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/michael-jacksons-love-never-felt-so-good-first-single-from-xscape-premieres-tonight-at-the-iheart-radio-music-awards-257596061.html
  37. ^ a b c http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6077455/michael-jackson-billboard-cover-story-xscape-full-album-details
  38. ^ "XSCAPE Deluxe Edition Tracklist & Contents Announced!". MichaelJackson.com. 2014-05-01. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  39. ^ "Xscape [Doppel-CD]". Amazon.com. Amazon.de. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  40. ^ "Xscape". Amazon.com. Amazon.es. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  41. ^ "Xscape - Edition Deluxe (CD+DVD)". Amazon.com. Amazon.fr. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  42. ^ "Xscape [Deluxe Edition]". Amazon.com. Amazon.co.uk. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  43. ^ "Xscape [Deluxe Edition]". Amazon.com. Amazon.it. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  44. ^ "XSCAPE (Deluxe Edition) [CD + DVD] [Deluxe Edition, CD+DVD]". Amazon.com. amazon.ca. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  45. ^ "XSCAPE (Deluxe Edition CD\DVD)". Amazon.com. Amazon.com. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  46. ^ "XSCAPE (CD + DVD + BNS TRKS) (DLX)". mixup.com. Mixup. 2014-04-27. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  47. ^ "エスケイプ デラックス・エディション(完全生産限定盤)(DVD付) [CD+DVD, Limited Edition]". Amazon.com. Amazon.co.jp. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  48. ^ "Xscape [Audio CD]". Amazon.com. Amazon.it. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  49. ^ "XSCAPE". Amazon.com. Amazon.com. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
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