The Essential Michael Jackson

iTunes Review

The myth of Michael Jackson has been overshadowing his music for some time now. After several fumbled attempts (such as the overblown HIStory), the task of putting his work in context has been accomplished on The Essential Michael Jackson. This retrospective gives a sense of how the preteen star of the Jackson 5 transformed himself into a dazzling multi-media icon by his early 20s. Michael’s initial hits with his brothers — especially “I Want You Back” and “ABC” — have a zest that lifts them beyond mere bubblegum. After a few innocuous solo hits (“Ben,” “Rockin’ Robin’”), he fully gains altitude on his own with the infectious “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Off The Wall.” The tracks taken from Thriller and Bad — especially “Billie Jean” and “Man in the Mirror” — capture Jackson at his apex, swerving effortlessly from honeyed balladry to sweat-drenched dance tracks. Such early ‘90s tunes as the New Jack Swing-ing “In the Closet” and the inspirational “Heal the World” find his talent transcending the controversies swirling around him. Forget the tabloid rumors; these tracks speak for themselves. If anyone doubts why Jackson became a legend, the evidence is here in this well-selected anthology.