Although I've already posted in defense of this album is various other threads in the past, I figured I'd start a thread about it so I could sponge as many opinions as possible and then put the matter to rest once and for all.

My opinion is that this album is vastly underappreciated. I was actually shocked when a couple of orgers listed it as overrated in an "Overrated Albums" thread way back.

The complaint I've seen the most associated with the album is that it merely retreads old ground and doesn't leave room for much new. Musically, "Bad" sounds nothing like its predecessors and what he's doing on many songs is taking an old element and putting an entirely new spin on it. "Billie Jean" is a thumping, fuzzy, paranoid dance number about a stalker claiming paternity. "Dirty Diana" is a heavy-metal scorcher about a boy-band seductress. Just because he's re-using the groupie theme on the latter song doesn't mean it's a complete and utter rehash of the former.

Elsewhere, the title track is not a rehash of "Beat It", though it could be seen as a kind of funky (if campy) sequel. "Beat It" preaches anti-violence, while "Bad" conveys what it truly means to be.. well, bad (it's not simply a self-indulgent assertion of masculinity like many pass it off as; look closer at the lyrics later in the song). And "Speed Demon"? "Liberian Girl"? "Another Part Of Me"? "Man In The Mirror"? "Smooth Criminal"? "Leave Me Alone"? The direct theme of each of those songs I've never seen anywhere in his earlier material.

Next we have the popular view that the album is dated. I'm not going to argue much here seeing as how it is indeed rooted in the processed, synthesized sound of the late 80s. But other pop records utilized such production as well yet a good chunk of them, instead of receiving flack, get smiled upon. In my opinion, most of the songs from "Bad" sound as fresh today as they did in '87. "The Way You Make Me Feel" bubbles with the same pop perfection and joy, "Another Part Of Me" is still the same futuristically funky monster of a track, "Smooth Criminal" wasn't done justice by Alien Ant Farm, "Leave Me Alone" (and that classic video) still puts MJ's succeeding media-bashing songs and videos to shame, and "Man In The Mirror" is as soulful and powerful today as it was 18 years ago (those that think it's schmaltzy need to listen to later tripe like "Heal The World" and "The Lost Children" ).

Overproduced? Yes, there's a lot of heavy drum programming and overall musical layering, but I have to disagree and despite the less organic and natural production in comparison to previous releases, I hear so much melodic brilliance and so many quality hooks that I can shove aside that factor and just jam.

Furthermore, "Bad" is campy in places, but so are "Off The Wall" and "Thriller", most notably "Girlfriend" and a lot of the 'hey, let's hustle' sentiments in "OTW", and "Beat It", "The Girl Is Mine", and the title track in "Thriller".

And there you have it. While I would agree that MJ was at his vocal, organically musical, and aesthetic best from the J5 years to "Thriller", the "Bad" album and era are still what I'd consider vintage MJ (hey, at least he could still pass for a slightly attractive HUMAN being, unlike in the post-1991 years). If I would select an album/period which marked a downward spiral for MJ, it would be "Dangerous", but that's another subject entirely.

God I loved this album when it was out. I can't say it has stood the test of time for my ears, but there are great portions that I still like. Man in the Mirror and I Just can't Stop are probably the 2 highlights for me.

it's better than thriller and off the wall imo.

melodically and lyrically much more satisfying. He really got more creative. and I don't mind dated production. 1999 sounds just as dated, but it's still my favourite of P.

And Bad has Smooth Criminal, his most exciting song ever

Still I prefer Dangerous album

No, his most underappreciated work is Invincible.

I like Bad, but it's remains my least fave. I love half of it very much, tho.

The Way You Make Me Feel
Another Part Of Me
Man In The Mirror
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
Smooth Criminal

All good songs.

And the outtake Streetwalker...

Bad is still a great album. I dont see how an album that sold like 25 million can be consisdered underappreciated. I think most people had a problem with the fact it took five years to make, and wasnt quite as good as its 2 predecessors.

You consider in this time prince had released like 3-4 albums, it makes the release of Bad and its 11 songs look a little disappointing for 5 years work.

CrozzaUK said:

The album only took seven months to record, tho.

If only he worked at that pace these days.

Cloudbuster said:

how can you leave out Dirty Diana!

and i know you love Leave Me Alone.

OnThatOtherThreadCloudbusterSaid:

any-hoo, i rate Bad very highly.

TheFrog said:

I've never even listened to this album.

minneapolisgenius said:

It's a good pop album.


Can you kill Froggy for me?

Cloudbuster said:

With pleasure of course.

its the album thats dated the most, but its got the best single ranges on it..

Leave me alone and Smooth Criminal, Dirty Diana,, timeless tracks..

just have 2 say that The Way You Make Me Feel is my favorite MJ song of all time...& certainly 1 of my favorite songs by any artist. (no pun intended, but...)this song just has a feel to it; a groove that really draws me in.

Wasn't "Bad" the second most selling album of the 80s after "Thriller" also belonging to MJ?

Underappreciated, i don't think so.

Anyways, i like almost every song on this album, even though the song "Bad" has been outplayed, at least for me. It's not a song like "Billie Jean" which can never be played out.

Cloudbuster said:

I think Bad did fine for what it was. Maybe slightly overappreciated but certainly not underappreciated. Invincible is truly overlooked. While there were some tracks that could have been left off, there are quite a few that either vocally or composition-wise are some of the best he's done in awhile. It never reached it's full potential. If he had larger discography it would be one of those quiet underground gems that fans would cherish amongst all the other albums he released.

JackieBlue said:

JackieBlue said:

I never looked at it that way, but it sounds plausible. Just like some Prince albums.

Bad has one of the most moving pop songs ever made: MAN IN THE MIRROR.

It's is so powerful. To this day, whenever I hear it I stop what i"m doing and listen.

edit
[Edited 6/1/05 9:51am]

CrozzaUK said:

Seriously! Weren't there like 5 number ones off Bad? Not exactly underappreciated.

Well, what I meant is that today amongst a lot of orgers.. or heck, just a lot of music-lovers/people in general, it seems to be underrated/underappreciated.

Thanks for your replies, guys.

I LOVED Bad when it came out. When my mom got it for me a month after it came out, I just stared at it like I had a winning lottery ticket in my hand. It's in my top 3 MJ albums list. He was still making kick ass music and I agree that this album is totally underappreciated.

purplecam said:

I'm not trying to be rude, but do you mind elaborating as to why you feel it's underappreciated? I'm just really curious because i feel it's anything but.

jayaredee said:

That's cool. When I read threads on MJ albums, no one seems to mention Bad or if they do, it's like it's an afterthought to them for some reason. It was a big album and in general it wasn't underappreiciated, that's just been in some of the MJ circles I've been in. I should have been more clear on that.

purplecam said:

I hear ya. I don't know why people degrade the album on this site so much either. It was MJ's first big artistic endeavor, as he wrote nearly all the songs on the album. And the fact he got so many hits off this album goes to show you how great the songs were.
Even Just Good Friends which everyone seems to hate, is much more tolerable than "The girl is Mine."
I can't think of one bad song off the album.

jayaredee said:

Me either. I listened to it day and night for months. We can't forget that it was the last album he did with Quincey Jones and that right there made it a great album. They worked so well together and if MJ is acquitted, I'd like to hear MJ and QJ do at least one song together again.

LightOfArt said:

Ditto to it all. I remember u sticking up for me when I said "off the wall" sucked.

yeah "dangerous" is awesome.
[Edited 6/1/05 17:01pm]

Bad is his worst adult solo album.