When the stakes are too high for a band to take

[Blazer]

I bought the 25'th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and was instantly reminded why this album has become such a classic. Stellar songwriting, stellar production, stellar musicianship and hooks big enough to haul in a blue whale. It just will NEVER sound dated, not matter at what point in time you put it on.

The ironic thing is that the very year after Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was released, Jackson also was involved in something that sounds EXTREMELY dated. The Jacksons' album "Victory"


The very sound of this album just screamed "Eighties" and to be precise "BAD eighties" with the gated overall sound, synth bass and "Bad quack" guitar sound. The Jacksons knew how to do it, their previous albums "Destiny" and "Triumph" were inspired efforts, with good songs, good production and an audible enthusiasm that just  whipped one in the face.

So what went wrong? First of all with Michael's "Thriller" having been released only a year prior and it doing so enormously well, it was too hard to follow, Michael himself didn't have much to bring forwards with new songs since most of it was already used. And perhaps the biggest factor of all, his brothers wanted a piece of the action and so all of the other Jackson brothers sang lead on at least one or two tracks. Not really surprising was the fact that the ones that Michael sung were the best of the album.

If anything, this proved to Michael that he was better off without his brothers and his next release "Bad" also proved that for the rest of the world. When the Jacksons released the follow up: "2300 Jackson street" both Michael and Marlon were out of the band.