MICHAEL JACKSON : Michael

Dec 12 2010 by Paul Cole, Sunday Mercury

MICHAEL JACKSON Michael (Epic)

wIT is the beginning of the end. Michael Jackson’s eponymous new album comes out tomorrow, boasting 10 new songs from the late King of Pop.

The surprise is that these aren’t dodgy rehearsal sessions discovered in dusty archives but complete songs recorded by Jackson before his untimely death.

And whilst there aren’t any classics in the making here, there aren’t any particularly awful moments either. For that we can be thankful.

The falsetto is still on form, the stadium howl and beatboxing bop intact.

Then there are guest cameos from Akon, 50 Cent and Lenny Kravitz to paper over any gaps. Single choice Hold My Hand proves to be a love song in the vein of Remember The Time, while Monster revisits Smooth Criminal.

In the end, it’s Behind The Mask that stands out, a great song set in a swirl of psychedelic R&B, and worth the price of admission alone.But let’s stop while we’re ahead. No more posthumous albums please. PC