Michael Jackson - Invincible (2001)

“Invincible” is the tenth and final studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on October 30, 2001, by Epic Records. The album was the first release of new Jackson material since “Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix in 1997”, the first studio album in six years since “HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I” in 1995, and the first studio album of all new material since “Dangerous” in 1991. Jackson, Rodney Jerkins, R. Kelly and Teddy Riley received producing and writing credits, among others. Similar to Jackson's previous material, Invincible explores themes such as love, romance, isolation, media criticism, and social issues. Invincible received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. Largely due to disputes between Jackson and his record label, the album saw little promotion. Four singles were released from the album, although all had limited releases. The lead single "Speechless" was released in radio airplay in Korea, the second single "You Rock My World" was only released to radio airplay, consequently only reaching number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, where it was given a commercial release, the song was more successful, reaching the top five on several charts.  The third single, "Cry", was not released in the United States at all and had a moderate chart performance overall. The final single "Butterflies" was only released in the United States to radio airplay, consequently only reaching number fourteen on the country's singles chart.

Ultimately, the record runs too long, losing steam halfway through, as it turns to a series of rants about "Privacy" or a deadly stretch of uncomfortably treacly, sub-"Man in the Mirror" songs about "The Lost Children," or when he says that he can't change the world by himself on "Cry." Fortunately, Jackson was clever enough to front-load this record, loading the first seven songs with really good, edgy dance numbers even the opening "Unbreakable" isn't sunk by the creepy resurrection of Biggie Smalls and lovely ballads, highlighted by "Break of Dawn" and "Butterflies" with its Bacharach-styled horns.  Even if these are too self-conscious and a little mechanical (which they are), they still have a spark and sound better than anything Jackson had done since “Dangerous”. That's not enough to make “Invincible” the comeback Jackson needed he really would have had to have an album that sounded free instead of constrained for that to work but it does offer a reminder that he could really craft good pop.

Track listing

01. "Unbreakable"  (feat. The Notorious B.I.G.)  (M. Jackson, R. Jerkins, F. Jerkins III, L. Daniels, N. Payne, R. Smith, C. Wallace)  - 6:26
02. "Heartbreaker"  (feat. Fats)  (M. Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, M. Butler, N. Gregg)  - 5:11
03. "Invincible"  (feat. Fats)  (M. Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, Gregg)  - 4:46
04. "Break of Dawn"   (Dr. Freeze, M. Jackson)  - 5:32
05. "Heaven Can Wait"   (M. Jackson, T. Riley, A. Heard, N. Smith, T. Beal, E. Laues, K. Quiller)  - 4:49
06. "You Rock My World"   (M. Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, Payne)  - 5:39
07. "Butterflies"   (A. Harris, M. Ambrosius)  - 4:41
08. "Speechless"   (M. Jackson)  - 3:21
09. "2000 Watts"   (M. Jackson, Riley, T. Gibson, J. Henson)  - 4:25
10. "You Are My Life"   (M. Jackson, Babyface, Carole Bayer Sager, J. McClain)  - 4:33
11. "Privacy" (feat. Slash)  (M. Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, B. Belle)  - 5:05
12. "Don't Walk Away"   (M. Jackson, Riley, R. Stites, R. Vertelney)  - 4:24
13. "Cry"   (R. Kelly)  - 5:00
14. "The Lost Children"   (M. Jackson)  - 4:00
15. "Whatever Happens"  (feat. Carlos Santana)  (M. Jackson, Riley, G. Cang, J. Quay, G. Williams)  - 4:58
16. "Threatened"   (M. Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels)  - 4:20

Credits
Michael Jackson - vocals, programming, background vocals
Brandy - vocals, background vocals
Sue Merriett, Tim Fulford Brown, Laquentan Jordan, Alice Jean McRath, Judy Gossett, Valerie Doby, Zaneta M. Johnson, Tenika Johns, Late Great Daniel Johnson, Harold Green, Zandra Williams, Voncielle Faggett, Howard McCrary, Sam McCrary, Gloria Augustus, Kristle Murden, Linda McCrary, Maxi Anderson, Andraé Crouch, Patrice Morris, Angela Johnson, Ron Taylor , Sandra Crouch, Kevin Dorsey , Yvonne Williams - vocals
Marsha Ambrosius, Mischke, Richard Stites, Dr. Freeze, Mario Vasquez, LaShawn Daniels, Mary Brown, Nora Payne - background vocals
The Notorious B.I.G. - rap vocals
Carlos Santana - whistling
Michael Hart Thompson , Michael Landau, Michael Thompson , Rick Williams - guitar
Babyface - acoustic guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drum programming, background vocals
John Wittenberg, Robin Lorentz, Kristin Fife, Gina Kronstadt, Kirstin Fife, Peter Kent, Rob Lorentz - violin
Thomas Tally, Novi Novog - viola
Matt Cappy - horns
Brad Buxer - keyboards, programming, keyboard programming, drum programming
John "J.R." Robinson ,Emanuel Baker, Gerald Hayword - drums
Paulinho Da Costa - percussion
Rodney Jerkins - programming
Producer (s): Michael Jackson, Rodney Jerkins, Teddy Riley, Andre Harris, Andreao "Fanatic" Heard, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, R. Kelly, Dr. Freeze

Notes
The rap verse by The Notorious B.I.G. in "Unbreakable" was originally from the song "You Can't Stop the Reign" by Shaquille O'Neal.
Recorded - October 1997 – August 2001 Recording information: Barking Doctor, Mt. Kisco; Brandon's Way Recording, Los Angeles, CA; Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Criteria, Miami, FL; Dark Child Studios, Pleasantville, NJ; Future Recording Sutdio, Norfolk, England; Marvin Room Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Marvin's Room Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Record One, Los Angeles, CA; Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; Sony Studios, New York, NY; The Hit Factory, Criteria, Miami, FL; Touch Of Jazz Studios, Philaelphia
Genre:  R&B, Pop, Dance-Pop
Length: 77:10
Label:  Epic Records

© 2001