MICHAEL JACKSON

Bad

(Epic)

By the time this appears everybody and their mama will already have had their say, answering those two pressing questions, a) is this a worthy follow-up to the best-selling album in the history of Western Civilization, and b) is this more than a worthy followup to the best-selling, etc. So I’ll get right down to it and give my version of the truth which is a) yes, and b) no. Meaning “yes,” given what must have been the awesome anxiety concerning whether he could produce something equal to the phenomenally successful Thriller, the kid didn’t choke up or dry up or become overtly psychotic or convinced he was the Messiah (or one of his beloved emissaries) or any of several other likely options. And “no,” meaning, as good as this is—tuneful, clever, infectious pop—he’s given us more of the same. A little tougher (post-Prince?), but not an advancement; and if it doesn’t move as many units as Thriller, well, there are always extra-musical considerations.