Zack: After a short, two-album detour, we are once again
boarding the Nostalgia Express. This is the second Michael Jackson album we’ve
listened to. The first was Thriller, which we listened to on vinyl in Emily’s
parents’ basement, I want to say after a riveting game of Mario Kart (but don’t
quote me on that last part.) That was super early on, and if we were at Emily’s
parents’ house, it would probably be December 2010 or January 2011. So…I’m guessing
like 6 and a half years ago. Thriller is unassailable, so of course Off the
Wall doesn’t quite compare. But it’s still an excellent album filled with
timeless goodies. Michael Jackson truly was a singular talent, and Off the Wall
is just further proof of what we all already knew.
Favorite Tracks: Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough; I Can’t Help It; Rock
With You
Emily: Off the Wall was Michael Jackson's first album post-Jackson 5 and post-Motown. It was the first time he had some modicum of creative freedom to develop his own sound, and he used that freedom to explore pop ballads, up-tempo funk and disco, and now-classic R&B and soul. The album succeeds across all of these genres, all of which are tied together by Michael's one-of-a-kind voice. Off the Wall has some classics in its own right, and even more importantly serves as a starting point for the even-greater pop excellence of Thriller and Bad.
Favorite Tracks: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough; Rock With You; She's Out of My Life
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