Review Summary: This album has some great material but too much filler. A shame it didn't get promoted properly.
Invincible was MJ's last LP. It came out in 2001 and hardly got any promotion because MJ and Sony were beefing. It was MJ's least successful album since it got no promotion and soon thereafter the next wave of child molestation allegations struck. It was panned by critics as not being up to par for his standards and is the least known MJ album.
So, I guess I will start the review. Keep in mind this is my review of the album and music, like movies, is incredibly subjective to the person watching or listening.
1. Unbreakable- A hip-hop/R'B up-tempo duet with the dead Notorious BIG. It was produced by Rodney Jerkins, I think. The lyrics are defiant, with Jackson snarling that his haters can't bring him down because he is unbreakable. The hip-hop beat is undeniably catchy and the chorus is powerful. Jackson snarls his words, like he did in HIStory, and is convincing in his vocal delivery. Biggie's verse is well-suited for the song. It is a little long, but Jackson's ad-libs at the end are solid. The production of the song is what made it such a highlight for me. It hooked me in. I give it a 4.5/5
2. Heartbreaker- An electronic/funk/dance-pop banger. Jackson sings about a girl who has broken his heart and collaborates with rapper Fats. The production is amazing and the complicated, layered beat is unique and Jackson sings with sassy defiance. The chorus is definitely memorable. I didn't particularly care for the rap verse and it felt shoe-horned in, but the end of the song was memorable and electronically constructed. A fine song and I give it a 3.5/5
3. Invincible- A hip-hop/R&B song with an unusual drum beat. Another song with Fats. Jackson sings about competing for a girl's affections with another guy. The chorus is simple but incredibly effective. Jackson sings much the way he sang Unbreakable And Heartbreaker and it works effectively. I liked Fats's verse more in this song and it fit in well with this song. I enjoyed Jackson's falsetto ad-libs a lot and it is the only song in which he sings "hee-hee". The drum beat can grow hard on the ears and there is an annoying background instrument that follows the piano chord progression. I really dug this underrated gem- 4/5.
4. Break of Dawn- a R'B ballad, featuring excellent Jackson vocals. Jackson sings about making love with the girl of his choice and his voice really shines in this song. Jackson sings with a lot of passion and power and is, surprisingly, completely convincing in the lover-boy persona. The ad-libs are amazing and this song reminds me very much of The Lady in My Life, probably my favorite song of Thriller. A beautiful love song and I give it a 5/5
5. Heaven Can Wait- another R'B ballad with exquisite Jackson vocals. The song starts of really well and Jackson sings about wanting to be with his lady love more than wanting to be in heaven. Jackson's voice is amazing and ultra-passionate when he is singing the second verse and ad-libbing with the chorus.
This is one of his most powerful vocal performances ever; it is reminiscent of The Lady in My Life. The only problem I had with this song was that the lyrics at times were pretty ordinary and simple. I give it a 4/5.
6. You Rock My World- an up-tempo funk/disco banger that is very reminiscent of Off the Wall songs. The bassline is Billie Jean-esque. Jackson sings about the love of his life again. Features excellent Jackson vocals, especially at the end, and a unique drum beat ending with Jackson singing with power and passion. The production is top-notch and ultra-catchy and the chorus is classic Michael Jackson. Really a great song that ranks with his best Off The Wall material. I give it a 5/5
7. Butterflies- Another romantic ballad about unrequited love and some girl giving MJ butterflies. Jackson's falsetto here is stunning and the woman who he is singing with at the end sings beautifully and their voices really blend amazingly. The production is simple and effective, growing on you. The last minute and a half of this song are heaven really. Jackson's vocal performance is just sensational ('I wanna be with you girl " and "you tonight") and the chorus is fine and distinct. This song is ultra-romantic and tender and is probably in the running for my favorite MJ song of all time and the best song on the album. I give it a 5/5
8. Speechless- another gospel/soft rock influenced ballad with religious undertones. The production is simple and slow and MJ's vocals are supple and powerful. The chorus is powerful and distinct. The problem I have with the song is its song-writing. The song is a bit too sugary and sickly sweet. The acapellas are great, but the ending is super cringey. It felt a bit like Childhood for some reason. It is also kinda short and underdeveloped. I understand that other people like this song a lot, but I didn't care much for it. I give it a 3/5
9. 2000 Watts- a Teddy Riley electronic funk/new jack swing track. Unlike any other MJ record. Jackson really hits his low notes. The lyrics are unusual and unique. I don't know what they mean, but I heard somewhere that the song was a metaphor for sexual prowess, which is really interesting. The beat gets on my nerves tho. I give this song a 2.5/5
10. You Are My Life- a Babyface collaboration. The beat is slow and Jackson sings about the positive effect his children have had on his life (just my opinion). It is a heartfelt song, but the verses are just too sappy and really bring the song down. The chorus is sweet, tender, and memorable and the ad-libs at the end are top-notch as usual. This song is really a mixed bag for me since I love the chorus, but dislike the verses. The production isn't really too memorable either. I give this song a 2.5/5
11. Privacy- slow funk/hard rock collaboration with Slash. Probably the worst of his collabs with Slash. Slash's solo is amazing as usual and the lyrics are solid enough it is just the production that is unmemorable. The song never really gets going. Compared to Tabloid Junkie and the furor of Scream, this really is a step down. Jackson sings with spite, but again his vocal performance in the former songs was generally much more passionate. The chorus is okay, not really that special. I give it a 2.5/5
12. Don't Walk Away- a soft-rock/gospel/R'B ballad with romantic undertones and country twang. MJ's vocals here are ultra-emotional and powerful (I won't forget you girl) and the lyrics are endearing without being too sappy. The song starts of a little slow but builds up really well and the background vocals are great and particularly memorable. A very good song that builds on you. I give it a 4.5/5
13. Cry- a Man in the Mirror type of R'B/gospel ballad. Jackson's vocals are okay, but for the nature of the song should have been more powerful. The song is kind of slow and the chorus isn't really memorable. It's okay, but really bland to me. You Are Not Alone is much much better and I was disappointed in this MJ/Kellz collaboration. 2/5
14. The Lost Children- A gaelic folk record by MJ. I like this song even though it is a bit sappy. The lyrics are sensitive and sweet and Jackson's vocals are earnest. I think the children's choir in the middle of the song. I give it a 3/5.
15. Whatever Happens- a fusion of Latin rock and soul music. This song is MJ's collaboration with Santana. MJ is singing about a couple facing an ominous, unidentified threat. His vocals are amazing in the song and Santana's playing is amazing. MJ sings in a deep voice and his ad-libs really soar. The female background vocalists are great and the "shanana" is perfect and well-time. The track is amazing as well and the chorus is solid and builds on you. Really a perfect song and one of the highlights on the album. 5/5
16. Threatened- a modern Thriller. An electronic/funk/new jack swing produced by Rodney Jerkins. The song is very which a continuation of the Blood on the Dance Floor album and deals with the supernatural. The chorus is straight up fire and the electronic distortion of the song at the end is similar to Heartbreaker. Jackson assigns supernatural powers to himself and the sound effects from the twilight zone, for once, are in good taste. A great Halloween-style song overall and an excellent ending to the album. I give it a 4.5/5
