Posthumously released music comes in many shapes and sizes, from finished songs left on the shelf to shamelessly embellished demos. Albums of Michael Jackson, who passed away in 2009, will probably continue to be released for days to come. The King Of Pop usually recorded dozens of songs per album and that is why there is still a lot in the archives. The posthumous album Michael (2010), filled with
… dubious songs, was sadly disappointing. Second attempt Xscape (2014) is a lot easier to handle. Contemporary producers led by Timbaland have turned eight demos and unfinished recordings into a Jackson-worthy product. The swinging single Love Never Felt So Good is exemplary. Jackson's 1983 demo consisted only of vocals and some piano from co-author Paul Anka. The Dutchman Giorgio Tuinfort added funky instruments to this. Since Jackson's source material is often good and the producers work in his mind, it works out well. (JE)more
