Akon

This one took me by surprise, why? Because the translation of the word "remix" in my mind is "avoid". So I set my expectations on "bottom" and pressed play,...

The first track didn't do much for me, but it also wasn't cluttered with a lot of ego-rapping all over it, so I went to the next track an...mored was instantly happy with the direction that The Neptune's took with "Never Can Say Goodbye", but the throwaway talk added to the track ruined the song for me, so on to the next track, Dallas Austin's take on "I Wanna Be Where You Are", I loved it, the next track, Polow's "Dancing Machine" sold me! Polow takes one J5's signature hits and firmly shapes it with a contemporary sound (Wow speaking about contemporary remixes, Benny Blanco's remix of "Ain't No Sunshine" is so epic in it's feel that it could be expanded across a series of albums.), and then Salaam Remi's remix of ABC--yes! I began to realize that this was not just a good collection, it was crucial. For example Emile Haynie mix of "Maria" gave legs to a song that I would usually pass up in it's original version. and then I listened to the next and the next and now I'm here recommending it.

I understand this album was just the tip of the Michael Jackson Remix iceberg, I hope the other additions are as exciting as this one. Thank you Motown.