Okay, so it’s the biggest selling artist album of all time; won more awards and accolades and had more singles lifted from it then any other. stop me if you’ve heard enough of the preamble. ‘Thriller’ was a landmark recording like no other, and defined a generation and boy star into the world’s number one entertainer. 25 years after it first hit the racks not only has the man changed beyond recognition, but so has the public’s perception of him; on matters we will not dwell. This deluxe expanded edition now comes with five additional reworkings featuring Fergie (‘Beat It’), Akon (‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin”) and Kanye West (‘Billie Jean’), while will.i.am replaces Paul McCartney on the reworded ‘The Girl Is Mine’ and pops up on ‘P.Y.T.’ too. In all honesty they’re not bad, but then again, they’re not great either. Adding very little by way of innovation to standards that are impossible to better; a thankless task whatever way you look at it. Of the five Akon’s contribution is perhaps the most suited and adds a nice twist by starting out with just piano to a downtempo melody before notching it up the gears. The inclusion of the ‘Human Nature’-like ‘For All Time’ Ð a track that failed to make the cut for the original ‘Thriller’ album probably for that very reason Ð and a DVD of videos and a live performance, will no doubt be an essential purchase for the devotees; of which there are many. But I doubt this will find many new takers outside of the curious, and those replacing their well-worn vinyl copies for CD for the first time.
5 Out Of 5 (for the Original album)
3 Out Of 5 (for Thriller 25)
4 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Lewis Dene
