I like Michael Jackson's music, but Thriller just isn't that great.

Take away the classic #1 pop hits and you've got an album that while ahead of its time, has a lot of overly "cute" sounding, harmless fluff on it.

Off The Wall is so much better it isn't even funny.

PurpleKnight said:

I agree with U on ur view!

Still in my opinions Dangerous is the best MJ album...

PurpleKnight said:

Off The Wall is a better album no doubt, but Thriller wasn't overrated. And most of album was #1 pop hits, deservedly so.

During that time it was what it was. Of course with all that has transpired since now it seems overrated. Hmph, I personally thought Mike was more overrated at the
time.

PurpleKnight said:

Take away the classic #1 pop hits and isnt that half the album?

i do like OTW better, but wont discredit a record like Thriller

When were you born? you might probably think it's overrated because of it popularity and sales. Which is why I think ppl like Moonbeam think the Beatles are overrated. The sales are because of MTV, the moonwalk, and the general MJ fever of 83-84...and even 85. If you read the RollingStone reviews at the time, Off The Wall gets like 5 stars and Thriller 4. The writer said Black music had changed because of 1999. Off The Wall is a better record, but our artistic views of the record (Thriller) is skewed by it's commercial success.
[Edited 8/26/05 17:06pm]

Three things that made Thriller such an overrated album is: #1- The mainstream production, #2- The music videos and #3- MTV. I still feel that Quincy and Mike were trying to make this album more acceptable to an even larger audience by making its production the biggest and epic music production ever. Even though it doesn't sound that way when you listen to the album, it's possible. Another thing was Mike doing these "groundbreaking" music videos for the songs Thriller, Beat It, and who can forget Billie Jean? At the time Thriller was released, MTV had aired those music videos and I think the pop and rock fans loved it and they went out and brought the album and they adored it. I don't know if Thriller is Mike's best album, but you have to say it's his crowning achievement and a milstone in popular music. Off The Wall remains his best album for me because Quincy found a way to fuse disco with jazz and R&B rhythms and Mike had those breathtaking vocals and those excellent ideas and that's a great partnership.

Scrapluv said:

I should've been more specific. Take away the elite three monster hits in Thriller, Beat It, and Billie Jean and it isn't that great.
[Edited 8/26/05 20:00pm]

Thriller truly is a masterpiece. Even the filler on it, like PYT, Baby Be Mine and Lady In My Life are top-notch, as far as junk goes.


The only really dreadful track is the title cut itself, but even that's a classic. And if it catches you in the right mood, it can also hold its own.


Thriller is one of those albums that everyone has and has heard a hundred times to the point that it's become sonic wallpaper. You hear it, you don't usually think about it, you don't usually pay attention. But those times when you actually listen to it, pay attention to it, it's impossible to not be affected by how absolutely perfect it is. Even the relative low points....

Saturnyne said:

Lady In My Life is one of the highlights of that album. If you want to know if Mike ever did anything that was jazz and quiet storm R&B-influenced, listen to this one very closely. That's a classic tune!

Saturnyne said:

TELL IT LIKE IT IS!

I WISH THAT CD'S THAT ARE OUT NOW HAD FILLERS LIKE PYT, BABY BE MINE, ETC.

TOP NOTCH, CREAM OF THE CROP FILLERS!

yes, i agree. to me michaels done so much better work, bad, dangerous and history are all far superier, the only problem with them is much more songs. he needed to cut down on songs, if he did they all would be masterpiecs like thriller is considered. but michaels personal life overshadows them, and personally off the wall is my least fav album of his, even the not so great invincible beats it.

BlaqueKnight said:

Well imagine geting this album as a pre-release at the time..U wudda thought it was summa the best stuff u heard.

PurpleKnight said:

PYT, Human Nature, Wanna Be Startin Somethin, Baby Be Mine, Lady In My Life and Girl Is Mine are WONDERFUL

BlaqueKnight said:

Wow, what's your problem? I love plenty of old hit albums, from Innervisions to my fav album ever, Purple Rain.

I'm not really dissecting shit so much as saying that a lot of the songs on Thriller are generic and really not that good.

I really don't care how many copies it's sold or how important it was for the time, cause that's not what this thread is about. I'm just critiquing it like I would any other album I sat down and listened to a lot of times.

PurpleKnight said:

lets not get personal folks...blague voiced his opinion on the topic just like you did..

its all good..(i cant believe i just typed doog first..lol)...

PurpleKnight said:

old

overrated or not its still the biggest selling album of all time

PurpleKnight said:

Mmmhhh... And what about Human nature, Lady in my life, Wannab startin something, and PYT ???

lilgish said:

Thriller is his most acclaimed album to date according to this great website. It certainly isn't his best. I'd put it in 4th place in his discography.

Moonbeam said:

exact same with me, 4th place. history, bad and dangerous come before, and incincible then off the wall after it

Thriller's in 5th place for me, but it's still a classic.

Oh, and I rate Human Nature, WBSS and The Lady In My Life over what you listed as "the 3 monster hits".

Dangerous better than Thriller? Nah, too much flab, It's got Heal The World, hasn't it?

I listened to the album not so long ago and his voice is incredible on Wanna Be Startin Somethin', there's just so much energy like he's going to take on the. World. I have a problem with Michaels post Thriller work that he overworked his vocal performances to the point of being too sterile.

I actually prefer the album if I take out Thriller, Billie Jean and Beat It. I'd usually skip them. Human Nature is one of his best songs full stop. The Girl Is Mine is kinda cheesy, but I can handle listening to it, unlike Heal The World or Gone Too Soon. There's not one song that doesn't stand up.

I think it's easy to forget the impact of the Thriller video at the time. It was so far ahead of everybody else. In a way that actually can't be repeated. The industry has exploited content so much now that events having a similar impact have to do with delivery of content (the internet, mp3, ipods) than the actual content itself.

Thriller isn't Michael Jackson's best album, but it's still a brilliant album.

I think Sign 'O' The Times is overrated as it's quite patchy, and not Prince's best album.

Man, Thriller is just undeniable. It was a fucking unstopable monster & I can't diss it 'cause I spun it a lot But I do prefer Off The Wall. I think anytime you dominate globally it's gonna stick w/ people, just like PR ain't Princey's best album but it's the one people remember him for b/c it blew the fuck up like it did...

Most artists biggest selling or most famous albums aren't there best albums. Just as an example Let's Dance is David Bowie's biggest selling album but it's not his best. The Beatles Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album is their most famous album but it's not there best album.

Some albums are have a huge impact because they were released at the right time, ie when Thriller was released in late 1982 it people responded to it in a way they may not have in 1979-80. Michael's music video's and his amazing Motwon 25 performance of Billie Jean gave him an even bigger fan base which is why Thriller is his biggest selling album and the biggest selling album of all time. But though music videos helped Thriller become the success it is, Prince's movie Purple Rain also helped Purple Rain become Prince's biggest selling album and make him an interational superstar, which he wasn't before.

Isolar said:

You made a great point, Isolar!

silverchild said:

Man, I said the same shit!