Fans are right to be skeptical of the latest posthumous album from Michael Jackson, Xscape, announced earlier this year: The last time producers were tasked with bringing out previously unheard and unfinished music from the King of Pop, the authenticity of the vocals were called into question and the music itself was subpar. Considering Jackson’s well-documented quest for perfection, Michael felt like an affront to his legacy, a shoddy attempt to take money from fans and build on his massive estate.
But with the release of the first new song on the album, “Love Never Felt So Good,” we can breathe a little easier. A duet of sorts with Justin Timberlake, the mid-tempo dance track is surprisingly good. In fact, it sounds like an outtake from Off the Wall, though Jackson actually recorded and produced the song with Paul Anka during his Thriller days, in 1983.
If producers are going to put out more MJ music, let’s hope it continues to sound this good. The album arrives May 13.
