Week 39: 50 Albums That Changed Music

[DariusNYC]

Well, I'm sure many won't be surprised by the selection this week, but while I would agree that it's a pretty good record, I'm not so sure it was terribly influential musically as much as it was stylistically. And the record is Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)

Pure, startling genius from beginning to end, Michael Jackson and producer Quincy Jones seemed hellbent on creating the biggest, most universally appealing pop album ever made. Jones introduced elements of rock into soul and vice versa in such a way that it's now no surprise to hear a top record that mashes up more marginal genres into a form that will have universal relevance. Without this...no megastars such as Justin Timberlake or Madonna, no wide-appeal uber-producers such as Timbaland or Pharell Williams.

Gee, I didn't realize JT was a megastar, or that MJ was responsible for Madonna, but I need to thank these people for pointing that out. Look, it was a very good record, but tell me who it influenced....please?

Swish

I'm sorry, Swish: I agree that it's a very good record, but I'm not sure where you're coming from on the "who did it influence?" question. It's all over most pop records that have been released since. Talk about an album with wide and comprehensive influence in the last 30 years, and you have to mention this one as one of the tops; up there with the mid-80s records from Madonna, Bruce, R.E.M. and others, but probably more than any of those. Madonna is actually a quite correct reference by this silly magazine, given that Like a Virgin came out two years later, was huge, and took a lot from the Thriller playbook. And Thriller also, together with Prince 1999 and Purple Rain, was one of the first black records to get big play on MTV. And how exactly is Justin Timberlake not a megastar? The zillion-selling records, huge singles, big tour, grammys, critical raves, smash SNL appearance; I think he sorta qualfies as a megastar. Listen, I long for the period when there was less genre-balkanization and self-segregation of the pop landscape, so that when someone like MJ was huge everyone actually knew about it -- but in our less exalted times JT is about as close to megastar as it comes. So, from my persective, whereas they've listed a lot of great albums where I couldn't really see I wide influence, despite their quality, for this one I have absolutely no problem. Maybe it's because I'm the right age and I grew up with this stuff in the 80s. But I also think that people tend to highly undervalue the influence of pure pop records like this and tend to wildly overestimate the influence of indie or alternative or other more "legit" acts. Even London Calling by the Clash is a great example. Stupifyingly great album, I admit -- but direct influence of anyone major? I'm ready to believe it, but it's certainly much less than an album like this. So that's my perspective. Cheers.

[Swish]

I'm sorry, Swish: I agree that it's a very good record, but I'm not sure where you're coming from on the "who did it influence?" question. It's all over most pop records that have been released since. Cheers.

...but there you were, lurking in the shadows. Nice job.

Swish

[likeitloud]

Back in the day, when any of these songs came on, I changed the channel, quickly,
except for 1 track, "Beat It". Edwards lead break is outrageous. And he did it for free
as a favor.

[nobody]

This is one of those that falls under the category of records that I admit were influential but that I never liked and tend not to like much of what it influenced. Heck, I liked a few of the songs he had on Off The Wall way better than his Thriller stuff. Yes, sold by the boatloads, was incredibly popular, and influenced a whole slew of other acts whose primary goal was selling similarly obscene numbers of records; but that don't mena I gotta like it.

[Jim Clark]

I've never owned a single record by any Jackson. While far from an authority I'd surmise that almost any of the earlier Jackson 5 albums would be far more important from an "influence" standpoint. That's just someone from the outside looking in though and I certainly couldn't support that theory in a J or Darius debate. May be that I just see more redeeming qualities in the older stuff.

I'd agree that Justin T is a megastar. I'm not sure how or why but it seems to be a pretty safe bet that he's wildly popular at least in this country.

"Without this...no megastars such as Justin Timberlake or Madonna, no wide-appeal uber-producers such as Timbaland or Pharell Williams." if only. Times like these I realize just how far out of the mainstream I am.

jc

[Swish]

I've never owned a single record by any Jackson. While far from an authority I'd surmise that almost any of the earlier Jackson 5 albums would be far more important from an "influence" standpoint. "Without this...no megastars such as Justin Timberlake or Madonna, no wide-appeal uber-producers such as Timbaland or Pharell Williams." if only. Times like these I realize just how far out of the mainstream I am.
jc

I never heard of Timbaland or Pharell Williams, and JT doesn't appeal to me in the least.I know he's a pop star and all that, but I think the majority of his fan base is made up of teenage girls and those who never grew out of that phase. Yes, he sells millions of records, but McDonald's sells billions of hamburgers, and not because they're the best.

Swish