Michael Jackson, Blood On The Dance Floor

Michael Jackson made an interesting move one year after looking back on his HIStory hits-and-more-set: He decided to let a group of star DJs have their way with six of his less celebrated songs, lending them each a trace of hip. Deconstruction specialists like Tony Moran, David Morales, Todd Terry and Wyclef Jean fiddled with with fairly recent Jackson tracks like “This Time Around,” “Stranger In Moscow” and “Earth Song.” It wasn't his best material, but the added rhythms gave them at least a bit more verve. “Money” gets a spacey new sheen from Farley and Heller. Terry goosed “Stranger In Moscow” with a deep house beat. And even the icky “Earth Song” gained something from Hani's trance-like new beat. To this, Jackson added five fresh songs, all of which only show a further ebbing of his originality.