The Truffle

Michael Jackson, 1958-2009

Andrew Sullivan says what needs to be said.

Jackson’s stuff after “Off the Wall” was paranoid, edgy, and no fun. But “Off the Wall” is a great record, miles above “Thriller,” mainly because Jackson sounds relaxed and seems to be having fun. Of course, offstage he was anything but relaxed and fun.

To quote Sully:

I loved his music. His young voice was almost a miracle, his poise in retrospect eery, his joy, tempered by pain, often unbearably uplifting. He made the greatest music video of all time; and he made some of the greatest records of all time. He was everything our culture worships; and yet he was obviously desperately unhappy, tortured, afraid and alone.