Michael Jackson

November 25, 2004 4:00AM

[
          {
            "name": "Related Stories / Support Us Combo",
            "component": "11171270",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "6"
          },{
            "name": "Air - Leaderboard - Inline Content",
            "component": "13002605",
            "insertPoint": "2/3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7"
          }
          
          ,{
            "name": "R1 + Mini Banner",
            "component": "15420148",
            "insertPoint": "8",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "8"
          },{
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "11034510",
            "insertPoint": "12",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          },{
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "11034510",
            "insertPoint": "4th",
            "startingPoint": "16",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          }
          
            ,{
              "name": "RevContent - In Article",
              "component": "12571913",
              "insertPoint": "3/5",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "5"
            }
          
        ]

The power of association cannot be denied. Whether Mikey likes it or not, the prevalence of tabloid headlines and news reports about his allegedly scandalous behavior makes it impossible to assess this four-CD boxed set objectively. After all, nearly every song invites a double reading -- not only "Bad" and "Smooth Criminal" but also "Childhood," replete with lines such as "Before you judge me, try hard to love me." And while including a bonus DVD was a good idea, choosing one from "The Dangerous Tour" doesn't qualify as canny marketing. I mean, how literally does M.J. want parents to take that old maxim about locking up their kids before the pop star comes to town?

Many tunes on Ultimate sound as good as ever -- among them the Jackson 5's fare (especially "Dancing Machine") and many early solo smashes ("Off the Wall" really is). Most of the overplayed stuff, from "Billie Jean" to "The Way You Make Me Feel," holds up OK too. Unfortunately, disc four catalogs a decade-plus decline; the name of the final cut, "We've Had Enough," feels entirely appropriate. Someday, we may be able to appreciate these latter-day offerings instead of seeing them as indicative of a once-laudable artist's sad decline into creepiness. But today is not that day. -- Michael Roberts

KEEP NEW TIMES BROWARD-PALM BEACH FREE... Since we started New Times Broward-Palm Beach, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we'd like to keep it that way. With local media under siege, it's more important than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" program, allowing us to keep offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food and culture with no paywalls.

Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1.

Trending Music

Latest Stories

Keep Scrolling or Click to Read:

Michael Jackson

Trending Music

Latest Stories

This Week's Issue