Michael Jackson

After months of speculation and hype, the "final" batch of recordings from the self-proclaimed "King of Pop" is finally available for the public to digest, celebrate and criticize. Collecting ten tracks, some dating back to the Thriller era, Michael demonstrates what can be accomplished when the promise of a payday looms. It's no secret that much of the album's material began as skeletal song sketches that Michael certainly would not had wanted released, such as 50 Cent duet "Monster" and the high-concept/low-rent "Breaking News." But it's also no surprise that parts of Michael contain some standout performances, like the innocence of "(I Like) The Way You Love Me," the pre-/post-new-jack swing of "Behind the Mask" and the early '80s swoon of "Much Too Soon." The sad reality is that Michael Jackson has been treated as nothing more than a moneymaking entity by his business associates and family for quite a while now. And Michael only cements this.