Off The Wall

Jackson was obviously a master of his craft, and I suppose you can see it in his work. But I quite simply just didn't enjoy listening to this, it didn't hit in any of the right places. Perhaps I'll read this review one day and wonder what was going through my head, but I can't give this any more than a 3. I recognise that Michael Jackson was an amazing artist, but his music means nothing to me personally. Probably doesn't help that the guy slept with kids.

Der er en grund til at MJ var den største popstjerne nogensinde. Stærkt album med masser af groovy sange.

Very strong 4

How have I never listened to Michael Jackson before

1979 Some bangers on here. I quite enjoyed the fist half, but keep it to yourselves. Second half was a bit lame in comparison, so a 5/10 it is. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (5/10)

A top notch R&B album. Listening made me painfully aware of how much Michael hid himself — he didn’t live his life “Off the Wall” or “work the 9 to 5” and I don’t think his two heartbreak romance songs about women probably reflect his own experience. So, a very good album, that is key to understanding MJ’s career and influence. But not his best work — that was yet to come. A 4.

72/1001 :: Michael Jackson - Off The Wall Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: 5 Listen before you die: Yeah Fav Songs: Don’t Stop Til You get Enough, Rock With You Another day, another Michael album. This album was a tale of 2 half. The first half was very upbeat, dancy, even aggressive at times. The 2nd half was more 80’s R&B which I didn’t love. It wasn’t horrible but it was kinda what I expected it to be. I seriously don’t understand why Michael is put on such an all time great pedestal. He’s got some great songs but from I’ve heard his albums are decent not great.

Easy listen. Nothing really stuck out to me as overly memorable. Since decent beats.

My favourite Michael album of all time. 5/5 no notes.

A pop classic limited by its insistence in being radio-friendly

Standouts Don't Stop Til You Get Enough Rock With You Get on the Floor Off the Wall

On the same level as Thriller

Enjoyed this more than I thought i would. Put aside any personal thoughts of what Jackson may or may not have been. Quincy Jones’ production is immaculate—tight grooves, lush arrangements, and infectious energy, especially in the first half with hits like “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You.” The second half softens, with ballads and lighter fare that don’t quite match the opening punch. Still, it’s a milestone in pop history, even if it doesn’t sustain its momentum all the way through.

Off The Wall is part of the, in my opinion, holy trinity of Michael Jackson albums. Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. I mean how could this have been a bad album with Quincy Jones at the helm. Always 5 stars.

hef ekki hlustað mikið a hann en funky vibee

Well done but leans too far disco for my taste.

Ligger helt i skille mellom 3 og 4. Låtene ligger jevnt på rundt tre, men så har platen et par låter som trekker kraftig opp. Lander på en svak firer denne gang.

Definitive disco. Weaker than Thriller, but what album isn't?

track 1 to 5 and track 9 are bangers!

A great late 70’s blast. Had some good moments but the songs started to blend together at the end.

There was a time in my life where I was ignorant as to whether or not I was able to keep up with the force. This ignorance meant that I was unaware that the force had a lot of power to it. Thankfully Michael Jackson made me aware of the force and that it in fact had a lot of power to it and additionally it made him feel like 'HOO'.

Solid pop album that lets you see the bridge from 70s pop sounds to Jackson’s later albums. Some good hits on here, but also a few tracks that lost me.

First time hearing some of MJs “ladies man” songs. Can certainly understand the gigantic stardom as even the songs I’ve never heard before would be #1s but in comparison to “Don’t stop til you get enough” and “Rock with you” they’re mere side tracks.

Personally this is peak Michael plenty of 70's funk going on just a joy to listen to every time.

This was a really good album, upbeat, catchy, and fun

- Würde ich definitiv nochmal hören - ich wusste nicht das die nicht so bekannten Lieder auch so gut sind Topsong: Rock with you

Well it’s sure not on the wall…

the best Michael Jackson album BUT i do love teddy riley and the Dangerous new jack swing album...

Gut

Almost all bangers, front to back. Lone exception is "She's out of my life", I just don't these type of songs really suited him. The rest is funky, danceable and just plan fun.

It is ok. But also gets compared to Thriller and Bad.

Loved the last song on the albim

Too much of the same. A couple of good songs and the rest sounded and felt too similar.

Guy's the king of pop for a reason. Cover to cover banger. I prefer the hits on this because an MJ deep cut or soft song isn't his specialty. But neither here nor there. Listening to this Friday morning before labor day weekend. Iconic way to run it.

I mean, this album is obviously fantastic but he’s a pedophile so…

Aquí se expresa nuestro acercamiento o alejamiento a su propuesta musical. En eso, mi aceptación es:

I knew far more of this album than I expected. I have listened to this one since I was given a record player and Thriller for Christmas in the early 80's. I then went out and picked some great records and borrowed a bunch as well. This was one I borrowed. It still holds up and you can hear Quincy influences throughout the album. It's a good album. It's not his best. Micheal hit his peak later but you can hear where he is going with this one. There is some great funk songs and I swear there is some Broadway in here. This album is Micheal no longer a child but moving to the superstar we get later. Even if you aren't a fan of the king of pop you can't deny his talent.

Michael Jackson before he became the MJ we all remember.

Michael’s disco record is better than it should be - I’ll give most of that to the Quincy Jones production, which is out of sight. Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough is stupidly good. My hope/guess is Michael was not sexually abusing children at this point so I will not deduct stars for that.

A vibe

So that's why

Love the non stop energy of this and rhythm that doesn't quit. Arrangements and vocals are top notch. Great Album

Favorites: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough Rock With You Workin' Day and Night Off the Wall Girlfriend She's Out of My Life It's the Falling In Love Burn This Disco Out Thrilling.

The “King of Pop” (though here still very young and not yet crowned), Michael Jackson was already a household name from his Jackson 5 years. Off the Wall marked a huge departure, proving he was more than Motown singles and family fame. Teaming up with Quincy Jones and a host of top-tier musicians, Jackson delivered an album that blurred disco, funk, soul, and pop into something sleek and boundary-pushing. I wasn’t really a Michael Jackson fan growing up, as his his style never clicked with me, but listening to this record, it’s impossible not to hear the raw talent and sheer musical power. Tracks like “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You” cemented him as a solo star, while the deeper cuts showcase just how versatile he could be. At the time, critics were positive but somewhat muted, often dismissing it as just another disco album. In hindsight, though, it’s clear Off the Wall was a pivotal turning point for Jackson’s career, and maybe for pop music itself.

First two songs are very good, but there are features in subsequent songs that make me lose interest aswell as slow songs/boring melodies.

I remember listening to this in 1981 and liking it, but then I got hardcore into heavy metal and punk (and later, jazz) and decided that it wasn't cool to listen to it. I got it again about ten years ago, though, and I still think it might be his best album from cover to cover. *Thriller* might have a few better songs on it, but this album doesn't have a single weak spot.

Ah hell, what the fuck do I give this one. Disco is probably in nobody's top-three genres -- MJ makes it fun. There are some total ass-burgers on this album ("Girlfriend", "She's Out of My Life"...) -- "Don't Stop" is a paradigm-shifting, ultra-groovy album-opening masterpiece. MJ was a cock -- also the King of Pop. Is it a 3 or a 4? I'm going with 4 for now. You won this time, Mikey. Fave songs: - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Workin' Day and Night - Get on the Floor - I Can't Help It - Burn This Disco Out No, I didn't include Rock With You. I think it's dated and boring. Sue me.

Have wondered why MJ hasn’t been cancelled like many other artists. I’m going to try and focus on the music, but is that really okay?! I mean classics, funk, disco, groove. Just the MJ sound but almost can’t listen without everything else coming in - how him and others so feels a bit icky or weird. Also recognise all the fills, break downs, staccato’s and punches a lot of bands use in live performances. First two songs classics, then kinda gently loses rating as it goes. Coming to a slow, gradual stop by the end. Musically alone, surprising 3.5

Really good stuff, makes a good case for him being as popular as he is! The slower second half is not really my jam, but still not bad.

Great album that I think just unfortunately loses its steam towards the end. Jackson undeniably puts out some great grooves though!

Really get-on-the-floor great stuff! There's a reason Michael Jackson is one of the all-time greats of pop.

Not a single bad song on here tbh. Crazy that this was the first time he was allowed creative direction.

The king of pop for a reason. Even if later projects like Thriller are more cinematic and polished, this remains his most consistent album to me. There is simply not a single bad song in sight!! Is there something super dated about the word "boogie" being sung unironically? Absolutely, but this record earns it because it never fails to MAKE you boogie. That's a 5 in my eyes: just great-ass music, an escape into good vibes. Standouts: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough • Rock with You • Workin' Day and Night • Get on the Floor • Girlfriend • It's the Falling in Love • Burn This Disco Out

The album starts out as an absolute riot with Don't Stop Til You Get Enough and Rock With You, but slows way down in my opinion. There are really no bad songs on here, but I think there is a bit of a slow, less interesting part in the middle. I'm not a big disco fan so this is not an album I would return to, but it sets up better things.

Stunning production, brings the vibes from that time, with some songs definetly going to playlists. Surprised by other songs that are not Disco

This album is strong from beginning to end. Growing up listening to electronic and house music, it’s clear how much influence these tracks had on that genre and how often they’ve been sampled. It’s easy to understand why this album has been such a key part of both pop and dance music history.

I love this album. One of his best albums. May be better than Dangerous. I just heard this since it's release anniversary just past.

pretty good!! starts off with a great song, good vibes pretty much for the whole album

4/5

The production elevates some of the weaker songs, but a couple of songs would benefit from some editing - great three minute songs that are dragged out to 5 minutes or more and lose impact as a result. I do find his voice quite grating at times, there are particular inflections that sound like Eric Cartman singing.

Never listened to this front to back. It’s a great pop album, surprisingly funky even on some of the deeper cuts, percussion carries it subtly throughout along with horn section. Can see why this is often cited as a stand out moment in pop music.

my elementary school bully was a full-blown michael jackson stan in like grade 2, she used to put her initials + mj in hearts on all of her stuff, and listening to this album unearthed that very random memory. regardless of this, there r some bangers on here 👍

Funky and danceable. Some great songs, some duds

First song is such a vibe

music: hated. (⌐■_■)

Can’t say I have a lot to say about this one other than I like it in the same way I broadly like any peak-era Michael Jackson I hear. Every pop era has a handful of people working on another level and that’s him here.

Japan loved this album so much they created citypop 💃🪩🕺

Despite everything, the man really could make music... it would be easier for me to point out which track I like the least than the most, but in a good way. I don't remember which song but there was one that didn't fit into the album as well as the others iirc, but the rest is fire and made the last 40 min of my work day fly by without me noticing.

Favourites: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Rock with You, Get on the Floor, Girlfriend, I Can't Help It, Burn This Disco Out

Greatest

What an absolute legend. Pop usually isn’t my cup of tea, but how can anyone resist dancing and singing along to Michael?

Disco and funk influenced pop.

(DISCLAIMER: This review will not contain any references to the allegations, nor to whether or not I personally believe them. This is a review of Michael's music strictly, not of the man himself based on claims of what he may or may not have done. I do not review people. Alright? Alright.) There's people out there who'll tell you that the greatest album Michael Jackson ever made was THRILLER. Are they wrong? Well, that's a whole discussion I'm gonna save for a review of that album... But with relevance to this review, I'll say this much: while it may be the contender for his greatest, by no means does it hold any claim to his most important. That will always belong to the one released before: OFF THE WALL. Simply put, there is no other album in Michael's discography that matches the impact that OFF THE WALL would leave. Even with THRILLER breaking sales records on the charts and racial barriers on MTV, it'll never match up to the fact that OFF THE WALL was, for all intents and purposes, his debut album. Now, of course Michael had been recording for many years before OFF THE WALL. He'd been the kid with the golden voice in the Jackson 5 since the late 60's, and he even had some albums out under his own name. But what needs to be understood about those albums are that they're not, well, **his**. They're Motown albums, and if you're gonna know anything about Motown besides how great the music is, it's how little control they let their artists have over their own music. Heck, the albums with Michael's name on them in this era were little more than extensions of the Jackson 5 brand. If you don't believe me, you can go look at GOT TO BE THERE and how the "M" and the "J" in his name are written with the same hearts that Motown had been writing the Jackson 5's with. Him singing "Ben" for the rat horror movie of the same name wasn't his own decision. Thus, we have OFF THE WALL. It was released three years after he and his brothers left Motown for CBS, one year after they finally gained complete creative control over their works, and one after Michael met a man on the set of the film THE WIZ by the name of Quincy Jones... It also released only four weeks after Disco Demolition Night. So, you gotta understand, not only was this album Michael's freedom away from Motown (and his brothers), establishing his own sound... It's also just an achievement and testament to how good the music on this thing was that it managed to become a hit despite coming out at the height of disco backlash. Like, you've gotta admit that's something. Ah, but context, context. How much surrounding context matters to me depends from album to album (and as you can tell, it matters to me here a little — just a smidge), but at the end of the day, it's all about the music. The greatest story in the world couldn't save that Bonnie Raitt album for me. So I suppose this album's got it real good, then, that the music on it is just... Oh, it's some damn good, let me tell you. Now, sure, this album is **just** disco. There's no variety like there'd be on his later albums, especially on THRILLER. Point of fact, it doesn't have the hit factor like his later albums do. From this, you'd probably recognize three, maybe four if you're into vaporwave. And I'm not gonna tell you every song here is a stone cold winner, but... Goodness me, there is no other MJ I love to come back to as much as this one. This record kicks off with "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", and you better believe, it does **not** stop from there. I could probably highlight all ten songs on this album and point out something I like from each one. Heck, I could spend all day gushing about how much I adore "Rock With You", with a doubt in my mind the greatest thing this album spawned. It's nonstop amazing disco cuts, track after track, for 42 minutes. I suppose the only hiccup you'd come across is "Girlfriend", which was contributed to the album by Paul McCartney, and... Yeah, it's a bit cheesy, but once "She's Out Of My Life" comes on and you're marvelled by how Michael's voice is placed against this sparse as hell production, you'll quickly forgive it. I mean, does it even need to be said that Michael is an amazing singer? I think everyone knows it damn well by this point, but heck, I'll say it again: Michael's an amazing singer. Whether he's doing lead or his own backing, he's always spot on. He's clearly the center of the record, but just as much praise needs to be given to Quincy Jones as well. The thing about the disco on this album and Quincy Jones's production is that it doesn't strike me as being very much like every other disco album. I'm no connoisseur, of course — I haven't even heard a Donna Summers album yet! — but we all know what the typical sound is. On OFF THE WALL, there's clearly a wider pool of influences being pulled from, from R&B and funk to soft rock and Broadway ballads. They're all overlaid on the disco framework and it strikes me as no wonder why this did well during the disco backlash. There's no cheesy string section in sight! It slaps and bops and pops and whatever other adjective you wanna use hard as hell! And seriously, if Michael didn't make his best music under Quincy, I'm telling you... What else do I wanna say beyond just naming the songs I haven't yet? 'Coz I can do that: "Workin' Day & Night", the title track, "Burn This Disco Out", "Get On The Floor"... All A-plus, top of their class. And that's this record in a nutshell, really. Just absolute top-notch material — and honestly, it's my favorite MJ album, even more so than THRILLER. So, hey, I'm not gonna waste any more of your time combing the thesaurus for different ways to say "good." Put this thing on already and go enjoy yourself.

Not much to say that hasn't been said before except this is one hell of a disco record. Solid 5 Stars. (it's also wild as hell that this is my groups' first MJ album after nearly 600 albums done.)

I’m obviously at a 5. I love this damn album, man. It’s not 10 material like Thriller will almost certainly end up being, but I’m honestly just glad to finally get a damn MJ album here. This is Day 597 of the whole thing, and the odds of not getting a single one through the first 596 were about 9%. It was worth the wait; this album is as good as I remember it, and I caught a lot of new intricacies to it on this listen. It is harder for me to write about albums I’m far more intimately familiar with, since I’m gonna be biased as hell, so I’ll just say the obvious stuff that everyone else has written about: “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” is an all-time intro track that sets the tone for the whole album, “Rock with You” is arguably genre defining, “Off the Wall” is groovy as hell as a title track, “She’s Out of My Life” is a perfect ballad, the whole album is the last great record of the Disco era, and “did you know ‘Girlfriend’ is actually a Paul McCartney cover?” OK, maybe people don’t really write the last part, but regardless, this is an album that’s been dissected to hell and back. There are video essays out there about nothing but the drum fill that starts “Rock with You”, so I don’t know if I can really add much with my own two cents to the galaxy of opinions & think pieces that exist about this album, and the opening catalyst for a run of albums that quickly turned Michael Jackson into the single most famous man in the known universe, after already becoming a superstar as big as the sun with his brothers. So, why the 5 and not an all-timer super duper 10? For me, the album just loses some steam after “Off the Wall”, really. “Girlfriend” is fun, and I have a soft spot for it, but it sticks out here quite a bit, especially after the stellar run of the first 5 tracks. “I Can’t Help It” is great, but there is a sense of that Stevie Wonder repetition that comes in at the end that’s just a little hard to ignore. “It’s the Falling in Love” is a good track, but it’s one where I constantly forget it’s a part of the album, and while Michael’s vocals & the key change at the end bring it all together, it just feels off. “Burn This Disco Out” is a really underrated closing track; it’s super fun and it’s groovy as hell, but I can’t help but feel like the tempo could’ve been punched up a little bit to match the same energy as the first 5 tracks. Go to YouTube and set it to 1.10 speed, because I think it kind of proves my point. Regardless, it’s obviously a 5. It’s a genre-defining album, and if someone wants to make a case for it as Michael’s best record, I’d be willing to hear them out. It’s probably his most impactful, in terms of starting the ascent of his career to the plateau that would be reached only 3 years later on Thriller. We’ll get there when we get there, and hopefully it won’t take too long to get there. Hell, hopefully we get it first, and not “Bad”, but I won’t mind either way. P.S.: Since this is the first MJ album we've gotten, I'll acknowledge the elephant in the room. Yes, Michael Jackson was weird as hell around children in terribly awkward, uncomfortable & insensitive ways at best & a genuine serial sexual predator at worst, but for better or worse, his work as an artist is so monumentally crucial to both my own journey for truly enjoying music when I was younger & the entire landscape of the industry at large that I feel like I can separate the art from the artist in a historical sense. Does that say something about me? I dunno, probably. I just cannot see myself taking some of the most influential music of all time out of my diet, especially when I’ve been digesting it for at least 16 years. I know I’m not the only person still listening to his music even in light of what’s come out, and I see praise for the guy’s music nearly every day on social media, so I can only shrug. Extreme heavy side-eye to the “Michael did nothing wrong” crowd, though.

Peak

Great slice of disco pop r&b whatever.

Previously rated: Thriller (5/5) Bad (5/5) ****************** This album rivals Thriller, but I think it falls just short of its greatness, mainly because of a couple of filler songs on side 2, but it also has my favorite MJ song of all time, Off the Wall. I didn't know Paul McCartney wrote Girlfriend!

Det er lidt svært. Det er farvet af hans pædofilisager. Objektivt er musikken i centrum her, mere end manden. Det er ikke noget helt tosset album.

Not the best MJ Album but a good one.

A fun album! I felt like it kind of lost some of its momentum part way through, but it was still a wonderful listen.

Great production, couple of classics as well

two mainstream popular, the rest are alright to get through in the background

Man, the first half of this album KICKS ASS. I was thinking, man, easy five stars, this rules. And then we go to the back half and it's slower and r&Bier and balladier and it just kills its momentum. I don't think these songs are particularly good (nor particularly bad). Feels like filler. Why can't someone make an album that's not too long, not too short, and just has good music? Dammit.

It’s decent. Funky. Quincy Jones’ production is great.

A middling album elevated by having a few all time bangers. The man gets zero stars but the music gets four.

I was expecting I’d enjoy this more.

It’s the start but not the best from MJ. Also, it feels a bit weird listening to him so tempted to add a MJ Tax. However, will try to stay onjective

1 movie soundtrack 2 danny sexbang cover best thing that came from this song 3 funk 4 I like 5 mood change 6 I like 7 ballad my least fav 8 I like instrumental 9 no note 10 aight good ending! Overall: I like the dunk and disco elements and the harmonies are really nice to listen to as always Cover: eerie asf icl

One of the best to ever do it. Really, really dance-able. fav tracks: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, Off The Wall

‘Off The Wall’ is largely free of the paranoia and pressure that would creep into Michael Jackson’s later music. Here, he sounds free, happy, and joyful in a way he never did again. The songs are beautifully crafted — timeless pop with a disco lean — and they’re produced to perfection by Quincy Jones, who by this stage had fully honed his luxurious, signature pop production sound. The album is backed by a stellar cast of top-tier musicians, either playing on the arrangements, contributing songs, or both: Patti Austin, Larry Carlton, Paulinho Da Costa, George Duke, Greg Phillinganes, Steve Porcaro, Wah Wah Watson, Paulette McWilliams, Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson, Jerry Hey from the Seawind Horns, Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder, and more. Off the Wall is Michael Jackson’s breakout as a solo artist — the moment he fully transitions from child star to confident, adult performer. It’s full of optimism — the sound of a bright future brimming with possibilities. It’s a given that ‘Off the Wall’ is an excellent album; in some ways, Jackson never bettered it. And every time I put it on, I’m transported back to a time when I was as carefree as the music itself.

Pretty good! I really enjoyed the disco energy

Why are these songs so long

(62/100)

Whole album fantastic. boogy boogy boogy.

I like the first half of this album!

Despite the obvious collection of timeless disco numbers, especially universally-recognised Rock With You and the emphatic opener of Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, and the title track, and all of the first five tracks, really, they’re all brilliant, Jackson’s first proper album as a global superstar is perhaps a little too polished in sections. I do believe that is my only real criticism here, though. I don’t personally enjoy the slow numbers like Girlfriend, but I’m positive that my opinion doesn’t hold the same as all. Again, the first five tracks exist as one of the best first sides (plus one) in popular music. He is the king, after all. Michael Jackson might just be the most famous contemporary person of all time. That’s the sort of weight he holds in music, that you can say that statement with some truth. And Off the Wall is a brilliant collection of disco, only rivalled by himself, three years later.

His breakthrough solo album from the mid 70s. Couple of hits. Good, funky disco.

I’ve never been an MJ fan, even before the full-on craziness and paedo shit came out - it’s just not my kind of jam, and the super-slick over-production doesn’t help either. It’s very uninteresting to me, but at least it doesn’t have as many “ow”s, “cha”s, “sha-MONE”s or “hee-hee”s as his later stuff. Scrapes a 3.

"Don't stop..." and "Rock with you" are classics, but there are better MJ songs on later albums.

Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Michael issn Idiot, das Album ganz ok.

Len Houmous actually spent 4 days in Michael’s bedroom with Mackaulay Culkin and a very young Wade Robson. He said it’s the most fun he’s ever had but ‘nothing’ happened. It was all during Houmous & Chutneys Neverland tour in 1992. 4.9 10/10 Burn This Disco Out

First album on the list I've already listened to in full. Classic album, definitive pop with the disco roots. On a revisit are there any relatively hidden gems? Best track (not known before) - Workin Day and Night Some real bangers, 4.5 stars. Round it down to 4 for the few slower numbers I'm not a fan of

Really good!

I like the two most famous songs from this album and everything else was okay.

4.0/the hits hit.

Freakin’ heck this is so groovy and just altogether uber listenable. Kudos to the musicians givin it that jazz-funk-pop-rock fusion.

Extremely samey and repetitive, but very funky

Wasn’t as good as the other MJ album we got but still very good

Good Michael Jackson but not the best Michael Jackson

Got a dark skinned friend, look like Michael Jackson. Honestly thought I'd like this a lot more but there were a lot of songs that would be regarded as saccharine, boring, or corny if they were by someone other than MJ. Closer to a 2 than a 4, but the overall vibe saved it from a dearth of catchy songs.

rock with you is a classic

some classic tunes and others that I had never heard before. Ok

One of his best

Great two songs to start off with but it runs out of steam through the middle. Stand out songs - don't stop till you get enough, Rock with you

Disco pur.

His best album, IMO.

Absolutely amazing. Sounds incredible production wise, but michael's voice is just unbelievable. The singles are fantastic and the album tracks are all pretty enjoyable too. Not all of these are hits but it's still a really great album. 5

The classics are classic. Discovered the song Girlfriend and can’t stop listening. Songs are long.

This is a pretty nice early Michael Jackson album, but none of these songs are really popular. Overall, not too bad, it was a nice throwback to chill music from that time.

Off the Wall is the sound of Michael Jackson stepping into full creative control for the first time and proving he was more than just a Motown child star. Produced by Quincy Jones, the album blends disco, funk, pop, and soul with a sense of precision and polish that still holds up decades later. From the opening groove of “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” it’s clear this is a new chapter for Jackson — confident, stylish, and irresistibly danceable. Tracks like “Rock with You” and the title song show off his ability to balance smooth vocals with tight, sophisticated arrangements. Even the more mellow moments like “She’s Out of My Life” reveal a depth and emotional control that hint at what he would go on to achieve. While it doesn’t quite have the cultural weight or sonic ambition of Thriller, Off the Wall is more relaxed and playful, which works in its favor. At it’s a fantastic pop album that captures an artist just hitting his stride, and one of the best examples of late 70s crossover R&B done right.

Great album

I LOVE THIS ALBUM FROM MJ

Complete banger got some crazy hits on it 4.7/5

Boring pop music

Michael Jackson has never clicked for me, and this disco-heavy album reinforced that feeling. I'm generally not a fan of disco to begin with, so the retro production style was already working against it. The songs feel dated and the writing doesn't grab me. Nothing here made me want to hit repeat. Trying to get through the album felt like a chore. Definitely wouldn't have listened to this outside of working through this list.

Front loaded album where the 1st half comes out swinging, second half drags. Interesting to see the kinks getting worked out. Sonically crisp with lots of fun little percussion pieces punctuating the better bits. Good, not great, album that points to the highs to come. 3.5/ 5

Good, but I would never listen to it my self.

Pretty good album. I like more of the first few albums compared to the last ones.

I know this probably an objective five star album, but its not for me. Still enjoyable, just not something id put on generally

favorites: Rock With You, Get On The Floor

Man, do I hate disco, even when Michael Jackson’s doing it. Admittedly, Off the Wall is better than most disco records, but I’m still not really into it. Thriller is pretty solid, but I’m not really into Off the Wall. 2.5/5

Partyzeit - excellent bass

It's pretty solid Will I listen to again: 73%

4.5/5. Really good, but I think I prefer Thriller and Bad a bit more, and those tow are fives.

Really great

Hard to argue with those Quincy Jones arrangements.

Funky Michael. Love it.

Like other Michael Jackson album this one has great tracks but some that are bit duller. I enjoyed it very much, but I also can't say too much about it that's memorable.

First 2 tracks are obviously great. Disco classics. The rest is pleasant enough. Loses some steam on Side 2. Can hear the formation of a lot of Jackson's sound for the next decade. 3.5 Heard before? Not really, 2 of the singles Owned: No 0/1001, 0/2 Will I get? No Recommend: Sure

Genre: Disco Michael Jackson’s first massive LP release, Off the Wall, is a classic. Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough and Rock with You is one of the best 1-2 punches in disco history. There are some other great disco jams (Get On the Floor), but also some ballads (She’s Out of My Life) that unfortunately dampen the experience a bit. The disco is fun, and jaunty, but it sags a bit on a slower B-side. Great album, though! 4/5

This was a mid album. Thriller was much better

Seems like this was an important album for Michael to branch out from the Jackson Five. It's also important because it pushed pop music in new directions, more disco/etc. Musically, I love the first two tracks ("Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with you") but the rest are just OK. It's cool that Michael is credited with writing the first of them. Also interesting that Paul McCartney wrote a song on this album (Girlfriend) though that song is just OK.

The first half of the album is excellent, but the quality drops noticeably in the second half. Still, would be 4 stars without the 1 star deduction because of him being such a problematic person.

Sometimes even pedophiles get 4 stars.

Michael Jackson: Off the Wall: This is actually amazing. He sounds fantastic(of course), but the synths, songwriting, and the bass guitar are actually unparalleled. Super funky and catchy, just a peak album throughout. Add the fact that you've got one of the best voices of all time singing on this, and you've got a gem. 10/10

I've never liked Michael Jackson and this is an album full of songs you already know and didn't really like. I suppose it's among the best of that late 70s disco but not something I'll make a habit of listening to.

King of pop at the beginning

HELL YEAH!!! perfect album to get me through Friday. nearly a perfect album itself. and for what it’s worth, Rock with You is probably my favorite MJ song. 4.5

Bis auf den ersten Titel eher lahm...

2.6

The album is really good for this style of music, but I am just not a fan of this style of music. 4 stars or B-.

Итс окэй. Майкл Джэксон и Майкл Джэксон. Лучшая песня - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.

Before THRILLER captivated the world there was OFF THE WALL. Here Michal Jackson lays down the formula that would takeover the world in 1982 with the even more distilled and refined Thriller. These 2 records from Michael Jackson would, in my opinion, influence every Pop, Dance, R&B, and Soul artist that would release an album for the next 4 decades, right up to the present, and not just by black artists, but by everyone.

Couple of good songs but forgettable in many places, hard to stomach MJ these days

Not for me. Sorry Michael. Actually I'm not sorry!

Another 5 stars from me. It’s a tremendous album from the King of Pop. Groovy, funky, catchy, brilliant vocals and backing instrumentation. I prefer this to Thriller.

More fun that I anticipated. More disco feeling than the modern pop, to me. Some songs already familiar with but never connected them to Michael Jackson.

OK, let’s start with the good. This is objectively a fine album, musically speaking. Quincy Jones is clearly the driving force behind this and his trademark production genius is to the fore, and there are songwriting credits for Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney too. The bad, is that it’s very difficult to listen to this knowing what we do about just how damaged Jackson was and how that manifested itself in his later life.

I realize now that I knew the name of the record, I know most of Jackson's hit, but there are not so many songs I knew on this one. So, about it, let's start with the good part: it's a solid funk album, the music is entertaining and made to dance. The bad part: it's kinda repetitive, Jackson is growing but not yet feeling his albums with hits, and let's be honest: his voice is really anoying, like a mouse squeaking for an hour.

Liked it! Not a ton to say that I didn't already say on the review of Bad. Great musicality and production but never really grabbed a hold of me. Fav Track: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

Only album so far to turn my standing desk into a dancing desk

Personally love Michael Jackson and this is a top 3 album of his

2nd half sucks but it does have MJ's best deep cut (Get On the Floor}

Meh

Fine album.

mhmmm ok

I was a bit too young for peak era MJ, by the time Dangerous came out he was already a pretty odd public figure and it was hard to separate this from the music he made. I don't think this is his best album, Thriller has more bangers but still a good one from a more carefree era.

- rock with you - dont stop till you get enough

HEE-HEE! I like thriller much better.

Disco!

I think his next few albums are better than this.

'Workin Day and Night' might just be one of my favourites of his. I can't believe I'd never heard it before. Solid album all round.

It's pretty good few songs I didn't know but worth a listen

Old school classic

This is basically a razor-sharp funk album with pop vocals. It works. Pretty slick.

First 6 songs are bangerzzz. Some of my favorite MJ songs. Falls off after that. Should be said that the pedo stuff is pretty fucked up.

I don’t know if it’s my background in child protective services, or the resonance with the Jeffrey Epstein files in the news this week, but after listening to this today I think I’m ready to admit something I’ve always felt ashamed of: I fucking hate Michael Jackson. To me he represents everything that’s wrong with the world, how if you have enough money or (more importantly) make enough money for other people, you can get away with all kinds of truly evil shit. I wish I’d never seen that hbo doc about him, but everytime I hear him sing a song like ‘rock with you’ with all his vocal gyrations, I can’t subtract from my brain the knowledge that, in his head, he’s rocking with a child. I know that you should seperate the art from the artist, but with MJ I just can’t. So I don’t know if my reaction to his actual music is fair or not, but this album feels bland and corporate - so safe it’s almost sinister. The rise of anodyne but soulless pop may not have caused the death of rock as an artform w mass appeal and cultural influence but it definitely seems to have corresponded with it, and for that I blame MJ. So I’m glad he’s fucking dead.

This is so 70s in the best way. The instrumentation, the happy choruses, disco beats are so dancey and fun. This definitely lives in Thriller’s shadow, but its not a knock on the song quality. Youve got to be in the mood for it, but theres no question that this is great. You can see how MJ went on to dominate the 80s after this. Also, McCartney worked with MJ even before Thriller! Crazy Favorite tune: Off The Wall

Between 3 and 4 stars on this one for me. Love the openers so much it put me over the top 2 stars just for Don't Stop Til You Get Enough. This song FUCKS. What a groove on this puppy. The horns in the chorus, the percussion, the bass line, the keyboard dabbling. It's all working. Quincy Jones fuck me up. Back to back with Rock With You is an all-time one-two punch. This album is already at 4 stars even if the next 10 tracks are white noise. Rest of the album: not that great. She's Out of My Life is some cornball shit. The last 30 seconds of that song almost made me take back a star. But I think that was the era, and they were figuring out MJ's sound so wanted to throw some stuff at the wall (or off the wall!?!?!)

Really nice to crank up the volume a bit more and listen for all of the little layers and parts. Production on this is just so interesting. The bass lines are fun! I might go on the record as enjoying this more than Thriller.

I enjoyed the variety on this album. I still think Michael’s talent as an entertainer was ahead of his time.

A very familiar album and is miles better than Prince

Too much falsetto, the songs are just too long when he’s just repeating the same thing over and over, they all sound the same, I’m really not impressed which is a shame considering it’s the King of Pop.

I think this is a stronger album than Thriller. shows off his range, lots of different styles & tempos. do feel like the 2nd half of album had much slower tempo & wish it had more of the variety as 1st half did.

This is the BEST Michael Jackson album. Don't be distracted by the hype of Thriller and the rest. I mean, they are excellent, but THIS one is the one.

For an album as influential as this was in terms of production, it's not very good is it? I mean, it pretty much set a template for a sort of pop album, that's still followed slavishly today. But almost nothing off gets any radio play, "Don't Stop ..." is about it and then rarely compared to Jackson's other stuff.

++: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Get on the Floor, Girlfriend, I Can't Help It, Burn This Disco Out +: Rock with You, Off the Wall, She's Out of my Life, It's the Falling in Love +-: Workin' Day and Night 7,6/10

No.

Pretty cool disco vibes.

some nice songs a bit repetitive

MJ is just a little generic for me sometimes.

Well that was one of the most easy listening albuns I have ever listened to.Full of funk R&B and the amazing vocals of Michael Jackson, ans surely one of the albuns that influences loads of artists. I see so much of Justified by Justin TImberlake in here, what a copycat!great opening as well, really hard not to dance!

3.5, rounded up because the first half is great.

Great pop album, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough might be Michael’s best song

Amazing Album! Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough is probably my favorite LOL

Another good album by the King of Pop. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other one of his I've had so far, Bad, but it was still a blast. Starts out with the total banger Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough. Rock With You was also a lot of fun. Next few songs move along nicely, lots of fun to be had. Girlfriend kicks it up with some great saxophone music. She's Out Of My Life was wonderful, slow and chill. It's The Falling In Love was good too. Fun album, really enjoyed it. Best song: Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough

He was never really as funky as on a few of these songs again, and it's a bit of a milestone as the one before Thriller, and his first album with Quincy Jones, and the production is bloody tight. So, yeah, monumental - in a historical sense as well. I just don't dig it an awful lot, except for the first and last song. Besides those, there's way too much smooth schmaltziness on this. I mean... that whole sequence of songs from Off the Wall onwards (except for the final track) is just... tough to listen to for me.

Smooth as silk. Thank you Mr. Jackson for this masterpiece! There is not a single bad song here. Everything is perfect.

Such a classic album, still holds up to this day for dancing!

I recognize the merit here. It’s not just doing much for me. Maybe if it was Saturday night this would be a different story. Also way too many grunts and oohs and gasps. Never liked that and never will. Sorry Michael

Don't Stop and Rock With You are inner circle best pop songs OF ALL TIME. Just perfectly constructed. Those fucking strings on Rock with You...mah gawd. She's Out of My Life sounds like it belongs on a straight to VHS Little Mermaid: Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The A-side of the album is as good of an album side as exists on this list of 1001+ albums and worth a 10/5. The B-Side is probably a 3.5/5--still good but a lot closer to just fine. Average it out and it’s still five stars.

It is understandably overshadowed by the his subsequent album, this is when we really start to see MJ's signature style appear and there's a lot of range here too

Well duh this is one of the best albums ever prolly bc Michael Jackson hits are all fire and basically all Michael Jackson songs are hits! It's gonna be at least a 4/5 for Rock With You alone. Also it's so crazy that MJ looked like that wtf Don't Stop Til You Get Enough: Iconic with a really good beat and a nice kick off to the album. It's never been one of my favorite, favorite MJ songs, but it's definitely super catchy and popular for a reason. You can't help but feel groovy when you listen to this song! That falsetto is killer. Rock With You: One of the more perfect songs .. ever? It's really, really good. Its quality cannot be overstated. I love the instrumental on its own but his vocals Workin' Day and Night: These songs I do not know. But this is very good and feels a little less flashy... more down to earth I guess? The little breathing part is good. and the "duh-duh-duh!"with the guitar(?) Catchy. Get On The Floor: Good bass(?) riff. Ok well you know what I'm done reviewing the individual songs here but they're definitely all really good. I'd say my favorites were Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, Workin' Day and Night, Girlfriend, and maybe... Idk they were all good. I'd say this is a high 4 but it's not exactly the kind of thing I'd turn on for a casual listen so it doesn't really get a 5 even though it's definitely 5-worthy... !

So many bangers on one album - incredible pop album

very catchy album

Legendary for a reason

I just don’t enjoy Michael Jackson ballads so the last half drags but the obviously good tracks on this one are good for obvious reasons. Great dance tunes to close out the 70’s and launch MJ

Poppy disco fun.

Music is ok. I’ve been listening to these songs my whole life. Can’t wait until Gary Glitter pops up here

The best Michael Jackson album in my opinion, yes, I enjoy more than Thriller. It has my favorite Michael Jackson fart song, don’t stop to get enough. Rock with you is also just a wonderful song

Very groovy and funky vibes. Most of songs are great but there are few average ones. Overall not a bad album, would definitely listen some songs again.

Pretty good, pretty pretty pretty good.

Dancy

You can't whack a bit of early MJ, hee-hee !

Probably my favorite MJ album. Shows a pop star ascending, heading towards his peak and Quincy Jones proving he is the master. Favorites: Rock With You, Get on the Floor, Off the Wall Would I listen to it again: Yes

This isn't Michael Jackson's debut album, but it's the debut album of The King Of Pop.

I enjoyed the more funky tracks on this album. I was not a fan of the slower stuff.

Fun funky and makes sense for being iconic. I recognized multiple songs right away and felt a little silly not realizing they were MJ before.

Meh

Off the Wall is Michael Jackson's fifth studio album. While a few of his later albums sold more copies, Off the Wall is considered with Thriller as Jackson's best work. The album is regarded as one of the most influential albums of the disco era, and is placed near the top of the "best albums of all time lists." This album contains a few of Jackson's hits, including "Rock With You," "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," and "Off the Wall." Jackson's songs are iconic pop classics; Jackson was already the King of Pop, even at this early point in his career.

amazing album

AU

There are very few pairings in the world better than Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. This album is simply put, amazing. And this isn't even the duos best album together (that is obviously Thriller). Michael vocals and harmonies are so strong that he would have been a star regardless of who was his producer, as was the case for much of his early career. As Quincy was an amazing producer with dozen of other artist in his career, but this pairing was a match made in heaven. This album is 46 years old, 4 years older than I am, and if it was released today it would be number one, no question. 9.8/10 95/1001

Not the best Jackson album. Prefer others. To samey.

Quincy Jones and MJ - when it works it’s pop bliss … but this album changed pop music, defined pop music and created a sound that was epic.

Solid album. Decent groove and overall musicianship.

Michael Jackson’s start to becoming the king of pop. Favorite track: don’t stop till you get enough other picks: rock with you, off the wall, she’s out of my life, I can’t help it

De gilletjes, het softe gemummel, de slijmerige ballads tussendoor, maar ook de energie als er gedanst moet worden: ja, dit is Michael al zoals we hem kennen. Enkel de begeleiding is nog helemaal van de disco en de huid is nog een tikje donkerder. Producer Quincy Jones moest de popmuziek nog even uitvinden, alles is al richting Thriller voorgesorteerd maar we zijn er nog niet helemaal. Daardoor mist dit de wow-factor van dat album, en moeten we het doen de discobeats van de boogie tot we erbij neervallen.

De eerdere muziek van Michael Jackson is vaak tergend saai. Thriller en Bad brachten de krachtige en creatieve nummers die echt een grote toevoeging waren aan de muziekgeschiedenis. Daarna werd het weer tergend saai. Off the wall lijkt wat tussen die saaie Michael en die creatieve Michael in te zetten. Don't stop till you get enough had zo op Thriller kunnen staan. Het nummer luidt op een prettige manier de jaren '80 alvast in. Daar is de Michael die ik later zo ben gaan waarderen. Deze kracht komt verder niet meer terug op het album. Michael zwakt bijna alles af met zijn opgerekte lettergrepen aan het einde van elke zin. Op de eerste helft wordt hier voldoende tegenover gezet. Op de tweede helft is het te gek. Te saai om te luisteren. Ik geloof dat dit de eerste keer is dat ik die helft in zijn geheel heb geluisterd. Uitmiddelen maar. Een 4 voor de eerste helft, mede door de openingstrack, en een 2 voor de tweede helft.

Het complete oeuvre van Wacko Jacko is op zich reden genoeg voor een apart project. Dan zou ik ze net als bij Taylor het liefst in chronologische volgorde luisteren, om zo de eventuele muzikale ontwikkeling of verandering te horen. Bij MJ hebben we nu alleen eerst Bad gehad, vervolgens Thriller en nu Off the Wall. Precies verkeerd om eigenlijk, we gaan terug in de tijd. En qua muziek doet dat het ook, we gaan duidelijk van de 80s terug naar de 70s. Het is meer disco en soul georienteerd. Of zelfs hele trage ballads. Daar had wel wat meer 80s overproductie tegenaan gegooid mogen worden, wat meer bombast. Hoe hoger het tempo, hoe beter de songs in dit geval. Zoals Eric ook al aangaf, voelt het 2e gedeelte dan ineens heel saai. Ik vind dat je nog wel de kwaliteit van MJ hoort, maar zeker een aantal van dat soort nummers achter elkaar, dan kakt de boel toch wel in. Bad gaf ik een 4, Thriller een 5, dit plaatje een 3. Ik vind het verschil met Thriller best groot eigenlijk, dat komt toch uit het niets vergeleken met dit album. Wat het extra knap maakt. Van Thriller dan, dit is meer een vergeetbare 3.

Nix

Classic

Loved MJ. Loved the Disco vibe

It was good pop music, not my favorite style but it was an enjoyable listen!

great songs, troubled artist

Never listened before. Listened to it 3 times in one day. Excellent mix of disco, R&B, funk, and pop. Really great record.

There is something about this album where everything has this ethereal sound, which kind of drives me nuts. It doesn't help that "don't stop till you get enough" is so played out for me. I can't hear this song without thinking about being in a ballroom where the lights are dim for a wedding. Songs like "get on the floor" are where you start to hear what becomes his signature sound but surrounded by disco. It sounds like a mashup of genres. Overall, it is quite good, but not as good as what is to come in his career.

Im going to a disco party every week from now on.

One of the greats for a reason

Album starts strong with the hits, gets a little more sadboy R&B toward the end. I've never really dug into Michael Jackson but he brings a good disco-funk vibe with this album. I dig the guitar rhythms and plucky bass on most of these songs, also the multi-part harmonies elevate the vibe. Lots of great horn section, too (but not really my vibe).

The first half of the album is rammed with bangers, but the second half falls off a cliff a bit. Some nice bass lines in the second half, sure, but the songs can't match the first half.

That’s a 5 from me, dawg. Is it as good as Thriller or Bad? No, and…maybe? Imo, this is one of the best disco albums, even as late as it came in the era. DSTYGE is a complete classic, and while I’m not as high on RWY, it is still quality. Everything after that is just gravy. The title track has always been one of my favorites, too.

It’s a bop! I’d never listened to this album. Glad I did! Imma go 3/5.

Has some bops. You can tell why he was the King of Pop.

There's a reason he was the king of pop. Despite not being a hardcore MJ fan, I was still exposed to many of his songs growing up. They all have a familiar and rhythmic beat that makes following along easy and bob your head to 🕺 I remember playing one of his albums on cassette and slightly holding the fast forward so he sounded like a chipmunk. I think it might have been Bad though, not Off The Wall. Overall I think there are bangers in here that most would enjoy.

I think being inundated with MJ in the early 90's might have skewed my perspective a bit, but while there are some pretty catchy songs on this album, there are some major stinkers on there as well.

spacebort did he molest children or not Billy Shakes it's up in the air so -1 star

top tier perfect no notes

He is the king of pop for a reason.

is the template for the how it started/how it's going meme?

fun

This one was really fun. Hopefully not the sole choice for Michael Jackson album on this list. But it was fun nonetheless.

Michael’s songs on Off the Wall pulled me into each track even the ones I didn’t like at first. There’s a couple instrumental breakdowns with some “Michael-isms” that had me bobbing and thinking about what Corey Feldman tries to emulate, particularly the breakdown on track 4 (around 3 minutes) where you can’t really tell what MJ is saying. I’ve added the first two songs to a variety of different Spotify mixes over the years so it’s got some bangers but the album as a whole is just fine to me today. I’m sure it was an influential album in the late 70s and on repeat. However, I believe there’s more MJ on this list that would rank higher than this album for me, so it gets a 3.

Non-stop bangers. I rated this 5 the first time and rating it a 5 again.

Micheal Jackson makes a statement about the future of his music with this album. Though still very clearly inspired by older contemporaries like Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, Jackson abandons the conscious and soulful R&B of the mid 70s to delve into something new. Moreover, it seems that Jackson toys with the supremely popular Disco genre, but stays away from a full commitment to the funky and dance forward sounds (he'd rather burn it out). Instead, we are presented with a soft blending of genres to create a newer sound for Pop music. Amazing singles like Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough will make you move to the beat, while soft melodies like Girlfriend have funky piano and bass parts that are as at home accompanying Jackson's vocals as they might David Byrnes. I've never been a huge Jackson fan, but this album is a must listen.

Kinda crazy that this is actually Michael’s FIFTH solo album. I always thought this was his first solo album. That’s wild. Next you’re gonna tell me that he’d been singing and making records for over ten years before he broke through. Wait, WHAT!? This kid was a seasoned veteran by age 20, with fifteen albums between his solo work and The Jackson 5. I always considered this the “Michael Disco Album” but I’m guessing some of his others are too. I’m not gonna fuckin listen to any of them to find out, though. I have a lot more appreciation for this album now than I used to. Especially since it seems like the LAST real album of the disco era in general.

Strong start, some issues with flow, bland finish. Notes of cherry and currant.

Uplifting funky dancing party feel good of an album

I don't like Michael Jackson. And that's okay.

4.5

2.5

4.5. The best MJ album.

Started off well, but too many cheesy ballads. 3.5 stars

4.5/5

This is probably a bit of a hot take, but I don't really like Michael Jackson that much. I grew up in the 80s at the peak of his popularity, and compared to other pop stars of the era, like Prince and Madonna, MJ never quite did it for me. I feel like even his best stuff has a bit of a cheesy element to it. I think this album starts off pretty decently with "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You", but it goes quickly downhill from there. The mix of wimpy ballads and bad disco just isn't my thing. 2 stars.

4.5

Terrific first solo venture with Quincy M.E. First side is all gold with some seriously funky disco workouts plus out-and-out classics like Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough and Rock With You. Second side gets a bit soppier but still fairly good. Overall I give this 4 bags of Shamone out of 5 and some cupped tubs of Hee Hee.

The first half of the album is bops all around. So fun! Cleaned my house to this between dancing around. It got slower in the middle and started to lag, but ending the album with PYT was a good move. Solid.

If you wonder what musical context this album emerged into, you'll only need to listen to Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough to head the disco. It's worth remembering that, at this point, Jackson was still making music with The Jackson 5 and could maybe legally order a beer in the US (he turned 21 the year that Off The Wall was released). He wouldn't reveal the Moonwalk to the world for another four years. I'm not a massive Michael Jackson stan and his particular pop oeuvre lands best with me when he's dabbling in rock (Thriller is my Michael album) but it's impossible to deny the polish and clarity of vision on Off The Wall. Both singles (the aforementioned Don't Stop and also Rock with You) are infectious and, if you live in the West and lived through a wedding dance as recently as the Oughts, will be immediately familiar. No doubt the legendary Quincy Jones's work as producer deserves credit. The horns on Workin' Day and Night are killer. Probably my favourite disco album of the 70's/80's cusp, but it's distinctly a part of that moment. Still a little colder than other genres I prefer, owing to a very clean production, I think. This is a notable and important stop on Michael Jackson's journey from Motown prodigy to the King of Pop, well worth investigation for context but enjoyable enough that you won't be mad about the time you spend with it.

not the best I think

Classic disco pop.

Just such peak start to finish. Deservedly 5 stars because even the not so iconic songs are still incredible bops.

Heard some songs from it before. A really funky disco album. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough is a massive banger 3/5

Voice like butter, undeniably talented, and boy did they try to shoehorn Michael into being a disco star with this one. Thank goodness he didn't stick to the genre, because much better offerings were to come from him.

Funky funk funk funk. This is a disco masterpiece, obviously. It’s got R&B, Disco, Pop, a whole bunch of stuff. The bass playing and production is what really stood out to me. I don’t think I can really state the impact that this album made on popular music going forward.

I like young fresh Michael before the supernova of fame burned so hot, and the weight and weirdness of all that. There are clunkers here, especially ballads, but the production and songwriting and playing and electric conviction of his performances compensates, and I just can’t drop to three stars. I’m not a huge MJ fan, but this might be my favorite.

Classic album. Both a party album and an easy listener.

There are some absolute bangers on this album!

Decent. Pop. Except ballads

My favorite Michael Jackson album by far. This one is just hit after hit after hit and Girlfriend. A collection of wonderful 70's Disco, made by some of the best people in the music industry. Michael Jackson was very good at surrounding himself with talent while also being a great musician and showman himself. Controversy aside, he's a legend and this is one of the best Disco albums out there.

King of Pop - what else

Won't listen

Final boss of disco, but she's out of my life and I can't help it let it down

Very good, but MJ gets better than this.

Better than Thriller. I said what I said.

I'm yet to stop as I haven't had enough

i'm gonna be honest this is my first ever michael jackson album?? lots of familiar songs and also some new ones! Fun! michael jackson has just never really been my thing. His music was played WAY to much in the restaurant i worked in while i was in college so it's just a little trigger lol

I used to the like the Jackson Five back in the early 70’s, and since I too was the youngest of 5 brothers, I felt a kinship to Michael. Plus at the time, their shit was dope! By the end of the decade, my musical taste had made a dramatic shift, and I rarely gave their music a thought. Yet this album, as much as I tried, could not be ignored. It was everywhere, and it was annoyingly solid. Wasn’t helping that my girl was a monster fan. Such is life. Much older now, I recognize the greatness of his work. I listen to this today, and it makes me sad. So much fucking talent. What the hell happened? Money and fame? Family dynamics? Mental illness? Drugs? Some combination of it all? God Bless and keep poor Michael. The undisputed King of Pop. Your music will live until the end of time.

Enjoyable

TRACK 1. groovy, and works as a good intro for the rest of the album !! TRACK 2. classic soul song, love the little motifs and stuff, but otherwise it's kindaaaa just a normal song TRACK 3. LOVE THAT SINGING JUST BEFORE THE CHORUS, and the intro is just 😘 TRACK 4. UGHH LOVE THE BASSLINE, and the rest is SO POWERFUL TRACK 5. LOVE THE PRECHORUS AND CHORUS, but otherwise quite basic TRACK 6. quite basic, but also decently effective, IT JUST WORKS TRACK 7. SO SOFT, and the ears are PLEASED TRACK 8. Smooooooth again,, but pretty basic (STILL NICE) TRACK 9. love the BASS, and it's quite smooth yet again, nothing TOOOO extraordinary though TRACK 10. Top 3 on the LP, itssss SO GOOOOOD WHATT,, love it ALL

A couple of dirges but mostly a really strong, fun piece of disco

King

Not giving that guy any stars

This isn’t a great MJ album, but there’s enough here for me to carry it to 3 stars. First two tracks crack on nicely, then it hits a lull, but the superb “She’s Out of my Life” saves it at the end. Looking forward to Bad and Thriller which are also on this list!

The horns on the opener are so distinct they become songs unto themselves, yet the rest is forgettable. That's how a lot of this album is for me: there are some ideas, moments and quirks that are pique my interest; everything in between is a drag.

Disappointed with this. I remember growing up watching E! Docos about Michael Jackson. Off the Wall was heralded as the turning point in MJ’s career, from child star to serious adult recording artist. So I expected something a little more. The first two tracks are classic pop disco. Literally everything else here is forgettable, and mediocre. Michael’s voice is endlessly listenable, but it doesn’t save this album from being little more than a hit vehicle. ⭐️⭐️

fun to listen to, since I've only listened to his most famous songs.

The Goat. Timeless Groovy. The instrumental portions were top tier.

9/10