This is probably my favorite MJ cd ever. It's packed with hard hitting dance hits, SFX, heartfelt lyrics, touching melodies and beautiful harmonies. It's a perfect capture of the MJ persona. It also sports one of the greates album covers of all time. Not only is it visually stunning to look at, but it can be read as a psychological exam of MJ himself! Notice that all the flash is a mask, hiding the real MJ behind it.

This special edition is remastered, given a booklet with 6 new photos (one featuring Eddie Murphy and Iman from the Remember The Time video) and a cardboard keepsake case. Dangerous was recorded with the best technology available when it was first released and this special edition doesn't sound that much better. Actually, as special editions go, it's pretty flimsy, but seeing that the original album is packed with 77 minutes of some of the best music from the 90's you can hardly complain. This cd is packed to the teeh already! Yes it would be nice to have a picture disc, a photo underneath the clear cd tray, a bonus song or two, but look at what you do get.

JAM - A slammin dance track that says all the worlds problems aren't enough to get MJ (and hence us) down. He can still jam!

Why You Wanna Trip On Me - A very personal song that still gets us to dance. Listen to that rock lick in there!!

In The Closet - MJ sexiest song yet! There is such a sexual tension running through out.

She Drives Me Wild - Great companion song to 'Speed Demon' from BAD. Great use of SFX, and a kicking beat. MJ's on the prowl, watch out!

Remember The Time - Beautiful layerd vocals, a chorus that won't leave your head. It's a song about a failed romance but somehow manages to be uplifting. Always brings a smile to my face. Showcases the power of melody and rhythm over lyrics.

Can't Let Her Get Away - MJ doin his funky best.

Heal The World - A beautifully written and sung message of hope for the world. Listen to his range on this song. MJ's still got it!

Black or White - A guitar riff to end all gutiar riffs, a positive message, and it's uplifting! How can you go wrong? You can't, just as long as you skip the spoken intro.

Who Is It - Haunting song of a broken relationship. Again MJ piles on the vocals to tremendous effect. He's an expert at the atmospheric, jilted lover type songs.

Give In To Me - MJ rocks out and give a preformance you'll not soon forget. Listen to that ache in his voice!

Will You Be There - Probably the stongest song on the album. Suprising in the fact that it's such a religious song. It oozes emotion.

Keep the Faith - Truly inspirational. It's songs like this, 'Will You Be There' and 'Man in the Mirror' that make me long fo rthe day when MJ makes a full out gospel album.

Gone Too Soon - A loving tribute that has MJ in top vocal form. Simple yet very powerful.

Dangerous - A kickin dance song to end the set. A therapist would have a field day with lyrics like "Deep in the darkness of passions insanity, I felt taken by lusts strange inhumanity". Hear the poety in that? This song is an entire film set to music. Stunning!

So pick up this CD not for it's special edition features, but for the music itself. You won't be disappointed. If you really want a special edition keep your eyes open for the rare Australian edition that featured an entire second disc of remixes or the extremely limited edition that came in a case featuring a pop up rendition of the albums cover art!

I was watching tv this afternoon and they were showing footage of an interview with Michael from about 8 years ago-- he's in his hotel, and there are tons of toys and games laying around and at one point the interviewer asks about a scooter sitting in the corner. Michael says "Well, I like to ride it around at night in the hallways". Interviewer: "You're joking, right?" MJ: "No, it's fun for me".

Which made me think about the fundamental problem he and many other creative people (especially at the genius level) face: people refuse to take them on their own terms. Of course its fun to ride a scooter in a hotel hallway!! And who cares if it seems strange-- you'd be doing it too if you had the chance... but instead you're making someone else feel bad about one of the few joys he can indulge in (that is completely harmless, too).

I felt terrible for Michael just thent-- compounded by the fact that here is one moment where we can actually see his adult humanity-- it isn't a sit down interview talking about his family or the moonwalk-- and this interviewer is so blind to the little ray of light shining at that moment that he completely squashes the moment.

Anyway, I suppose that's my tribute to Michael Jackson. I remember when this album came out, it was all I listened to for a time, and the music videos were a constant source of enjoyment for me. In fact, the intensity he communicated (through dance and his singing) through this album and those videos was probably a major factor in pushing me to develop myself as a musician. And what a great album to get started on. Enjoy, please!

Michael Jackson somehow manages to be both one of the most overrated and underrated artists. Thriller was very overrated, relative to the quality of his other albums (HIStory, anybody?), and by the same token, albums like Dangerous are entirely ignored. This to me is a great injustice, but I won't get into that.

Dangerous is an amazing work with its own unique sound. Although there are a few songs that would only be defined as "filler", most of the tracks are masterpieces.

1) Jam- This is one of the great songs on the album, a rhythmic and uptempo tune, a great beginning to a great album. 9/10 stars.

2) Why You Wanna Trip On Me- One of my personal favorites, at least the first sixty times. It has an excellent intro and harsh whispered lyrics... and then there's the chorus, an almost-yelled melody that makes you go "He has a point." 7/10 stars.

3) In the Closet- This one is incredible, although a little disturbing to some, maybe. It's a little more sensual than his usual style, but he definetely pulls it off. 7.5/10 stars.

4) She Drives Me Wild- To me, a twin of In the Closet. Same type of theme, same type of sound- not nearly as good as its brother, but not horrible either. 6/10 stars.

5) Remember the Time- A fantasic sounding melody with a hint of Egyptian flare. This is a definite hit for this album, it will have even the staunchest nonbelievers on the floor dancing. 8/10 stars.

6) Can't Let Her Get Away- Sadly, although it has a catchy bridge, this one always seems to be forgotten amidst all the hits. 6/10 stars.

7) Heal the World- A sharp change of background, with a more ballady feel. This song is beautiful, with a message that needs to be heard today. 8/10 stars.

8) Black or White- One of the songs that will never die. With an amazing melody and a deep meaning, this song is what Michael Jackson is all about. 10/10 stars.

9) Who Is It- Another of my personal favorites, but maybe it's because the video is so amazing. This song has an excellent underlying bass tune that makes the song come alive. A fantastic work. 9/10 stars.

10) Give In To Me- Has a more rockish feel to it- I love the intro and the guitar melody, this is basically an awesome song. 9/10 stars.

11) Will You Be There- An entirely beautiful masterpiece. What makes it as great as it is, of course, is the spoken verse at the end. 10/10 stars.

12) Keep the Faith- Possibly my favorite MJ song, I love the verses and the chorus and the bridge and of course the closing, with the choir in the background. This is a fantastic song. 10/10 stars.

13) Gone Too Soon- A beautifully sad goodbye to a young teenager, Ryan White, who died of AIDS around this time. The song isn't quite as catchy as others, had has a gorgeous melody. 7/10 stars.

14) Dangerous- One of the greatest songs on here, it has awesome spoken verses and a chorus that will have you singing all day. A spectacular close to a spectacular album. 9/10 stars.

And that's Dangerous. It is truly one of Michael Jackson's greatest works, the one that makes you see that Michael will live forever.

DANGEROUS is arguably Michael Jackson's most ambitious album to date. Overshadowed by the success of the previous two albums (especially THRILLER), DANGEROUS failed to receive the credit it definitely deserved.

The overall atmosphere on this album is noticably darker than on its predecessors (OFF THE WALL, THRILLER, BAD). The production is superb as always on MJ albums, but the sound is completely different than on his previous albums (mostly due to different producer/producers). The rhythms and grooves are quite loud and aggressive and they hold a strong grip on the album from the beginning of "Jam" to the very end of the title track.

With DANGEROUS it's pretty pointless to even attempt to list the standout tracks beacuse, above all, this album is a beautiful entity which it obviously was meant to be. There are absolutely no weak tracks on this album, which is a HUGE achievement with an album that lasts for almost 80 minutes! This is clearly some of the best material Jackson has ever written. There ARE quite a few hit singles on DANGEROUS, though, so if that's what you're looking for, you got it (Black Or White, Heal The World, Remember The Time, Will You Be There, Who Is It).

This new remastered edition, the album sounds even better and the clarity is incredible! Unlike on the other remastered MJ albums, DANGEROUS doesn't contain any extra tracks because there isn't any space left on the disc. This is 77 minutes of pure genius.

ESSENTIAL

MJ, largely aided and abetted by New Jack Swing King Teddy Riley really produced a great album here!

Originally released in two LP package, the first half (written in main by Teddy Riley) is so funky it hurts.

"Jam" is a real stomper of a tune and is followed by my personal album favourite, "Why You Wanna Trip On Me". This song although simple lyrically has such great vocal layering, Princely funk guitar and hard beats. It's very defiant, almost angry and dark as a large amount of this album proves to be.

This similar uptempo New Jack vibe continues through the great single "In The Closet" and "She Drives Me Wild".

"Remember The Time" (A massive hit) is the most commercial of the upbeat material but is excellent with it and contains very addictive melodic refrains.

"Can't Let Her Get Away" brings to a close the uniformly, superb, themed material before the vibe changes greatly...

"Heal The World" while too sickly for some is a well conceived anthemic ballad and sincere enough to merit musical acclaim (Unlike those it spawned: "Childhood", "Litle Suzie" and some of the "Invincible" ballads such as "Lost Children" one could argue). Criticise if you will but back in 1991 it was done profficiently and is ultimately well intentioned.

"Black & White" is another commercial (What else do you want from "The King Of Pop"?) song, which bar the embarassing Macaulay Culkin intro and throwaway rap is a groovy, addictive call for racial unity.

It then get's much darker with the brooding, dark "Who Is It?" and unoffical Dirty Diana Pt 2, "Give In To Me". Both are excellent and it just goes to show what a master of all trades MJ at his peak can be.

"Will You Be There" is a real highlight. After an operatic intro the song segues into a rousing gospel number. MJ's pleading vocals are truly on top form here.

"Keep The Faith" goes to lift the dark mood with it's inspiring lyrics and mid tempo funk instrumentation on the chorus.

"Gone Too Soon" is a peaceful little tune with string accompaniment. It's good enough but is arguably amongst the weakest on the LP and perhaps the album as a whole whould have benefited from a shorter length (It's 77 minutes long!) with this track edited off for B-Side duties.

The final joint "Dangerous" takes us back to the opening New Jack Swing material and is equally as consistent as the other Teddy Riley songs. A worthy title track and great way to close out the album.

"Dangerous" (The album) proved an exciting evolution for Michael. Teddy Riley really laced him with top class material here and broke him into the 90s with ease. The album is universally superb with few (if any) weak moments and this over 14 tracks and 77 minutes! It ranks comfortably alongside his previous three legendary Epic albums and that says a lot.

This new re-mastered format can only add to the experience when the original CD album sounds great anyway.