Review Summary: Off the Wall, while not as popular or successful as Thriller, is still a masterpiece in it's own right, sporting several excellent hits and underrated classics that aren't hindered too much by a few weaker filler songs.
In 1979, child superstar Michael Jackson, now 21, released this album, and transformed his musical career. After Off the Wall, less and less people considered him a child star, and instead considered him a fully mature music artist. While his status as one of the most iconic singers of all time wouldn't be established until he released Thriller, which would become the bestselling album of all time, Michael Jackson's first non-Motown solo album is just as good, maybe even better, featuring a few popular, iconic smash hits, and several severely underappreciated album tracks.
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough: This song is great. That's really all that needs to be said about it. Penned by Jackson himself, it starts off with a spoken intro, as a funky bass part plays in the background. Jackson sounds uncertain and shy, until he lets out one of his signature "Aow"s, and the song erupts into a funky dance track with a killer bassline. Jackson's vocals are quite impressive, as he sings the lyrics in a very high voice. It gives the song a unique feel, and it sounds very appealing. While the song does get a bit repetitive after a while, overall, it's a very cool song, and definitely one of the best on the album.
Rock with You: Probably the most iconic song on Off the Wall, Rock with You is also one of the best. It conveys an atmosphere unlike any other song on the album. It's got a definite disco style, but it's slower, and much more peaceful. Jackson's vocals are alluring and mysterious. With an incredibly catchy chorus, an awesome bridge, and great instrumental accompaniment, this excellently crafted track is most definitely a highlight.
Working Day and Night: Another song written by Jackson, Working Day and Night is one of the less memorable songs on the album. It's similar to Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, with Jackson singing in a very high pitched voice, but it's simpler and much more relaxed, while still upbeat and fun. It's a perfectly good, fun song, and the lyrics tell an intriguing, surprisingly complex story of a cheating partner, despite the upbeat atmosphere. However, it's not really anything special, although I personally quite like it.
Get on the Floor: A personal favorite of mine, this spectacular song really deserves more attention. It's a masterpiece. It comes in swinging with a kick ass bassline, which gets you in the mood to dance. Then, Jackson begins to sing the chorus, and it's downright incredible. It's hard to listen to this song without busting a move or two. Jackson demonstrates his full vocal range as he hits low notes, high notes, and everything in between. While the bassline is awesome, what really sells this song is Jackson's vocal performance. Something that's lacking in some of his later albums is the sheer, incredible energy that possesses Jackson when he sings this song. During the bridge, he chants "Get up! Won't you goin' down? Shake your body won't you goin' get down" and slowly builds up before exploding back into the chorus. It's truly an amazing song.
Off the Wall: As much as I love Get on the Floor, Off the Wall is the best song on this album. I will admit that the intro is rather bizarre, and almost Thriller-esque, featuring a few ominous chords, and a cackling, sinister sounding laugh. It only lasts a couple of seconds, however, before the bassline begins. Like basically all the songs on the album, it's got a solid bassline. The first verse of the song is quite simple, but the chorus is where this song shines, as Jackson encourages workaholics to take a break and have some fun, singing "So tonight, gotta leave that nine to five up on the shelf, and just enjoy yourself, groove, let the madness in the music get to you! Life ain't so bad at all, if you live it off the wall". Like Get on the Floor, the song is so perfectly crafted that it's almost impossible not to dance. It's the perfect song to represent the album, and one of Jackson's greatest masterpieces.
Girlfriend: Sadly, after Get on the Floor and Off the Wall, the quality of songs drops a bit with Girlfriend, the worst song on the album. It's not a terrible song, it's just kind of... meh. It suffers in particular from the fact that it follows the two best songs on the album, making it seem worse in comparison. It seems innocent enough, with a decent intro, but the problems start when Jackson starts to sing. His singing isn't as strong here as it is on the other songs. But the main problem comes from the lyrics, which appear to be about... convincing a girl to tell her boyfriend she's cheating with the singer? It doesn't make much sense, and the song itself is still so-so.
She's out of my life: Here, the album takes a very different turn. She's out of my life is a deep emotional ballad that's anything but upbeat and danceable. The change is so sudden it's actually quite jarring, especially since the song itself is absolutely heartbreaking. It's very simple, and Jackson's excellent singing takes the spotlight. He sounds genuinely heartbroken, and the painful ballad is guaranteed to break a few hearts itself. Since it's such a sad song that comes out of nowhere, I often skip it when I listen to the album, but only because it's so painfully sad, because it is beautifully crafted.
I Can't Help It: After the absolute heartbreak that is She's out of my life, I can't help it is the perfect song to follow. It's quite slow, and not much of a spectacle like Get on the Floor. But it's pleasant and happy, and a nice enough song overall. The chorus in particular is very catchy, but the song overall isn't too memorable overall, due to it's slower tempo and less extravagant style. It's not the best song, but it's a worthy addition to the album.
It's the Falling in Love: While some people think this pop-style song is a bit plain and a weak addition, I actually really like this one. It's got some pretty melodies, and it's quite upbeat and happy. It's not anything particularly special, but it's a good song. Overall there's not much to say about this one, but it's a good, fun song.
Burn this Disco Out: The album closes with this appropriately named dance track, which feels like a slightly toned down version of Off the Wall. It's got a nice trumpet accompaniment that suits the song quite nicely. Jackson delivers once again with some excellent singing, and there's some nice dance grooves here. The verses are quite catchy, and the chorus, while short, is pretty cool. It may not be the most individually exciting song, but it's a great final track that brings this spectacular album to a close.
