LESS THAN THRILLING

For the past 40 years the world has witnessed the rise and fall of Michael Jackson.

He began his pop domination in 1968 with his brothers in The Jackson 5, notching a string of hits like "ABC" and "I'll Be There."

The masses quickly fell in love with the littlest Jackson, and they wanted more.

In 1979, they got it.

That year, MJ took the solo route with "Off The Wall," which offered a glimpse of what he would later turn into pop gold.

While "Wall" introduced us to the real Michael Jackson, it wasn't until 1982 that the Gloved One released what would become one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons of all time: "Thriller."

That was 25 years ago, and yet we still remember the red leather jacket, the moonwalk, the ridiculously long music video with werewolves and dancing zombies.

"Thriller" snagged eight Grammys, including Best Album, and is still one of the top-selling records of all time, second only to the Eagles' "Greatest Hits Vol. 1."

But 21/2 decades have passed since Jackson issued his high-water mark, and hard times have rained down on the King of Pop.

Child molestation charges, plastic surgery denials and the questionable decision to dangle his infant son from a balcony are just a few of the controversies that have engulfed Jackson.

It's also no secret that MJ's financial status is not where it once was, and his career has long been dormant.

So how does Jackson manage to keep his name relevant in 2008?

By revisiting his more celebrated past and reissuing his masterpiece, "Thriller."

Not only was that album a pop culture must-have of the '80s, it was a momentous occasion in music.

Had there been no "Thriller," it'd be hard to imagine Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown and many other contemporary male pop stars having so much success by combining fiery singing with slick dance moves.

Ubiquitous hits like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" still can be heard at parties everywhere. Most know, or at least think they know, the words to those songs and many have attempted to re-create the dance moves from the "Thriller" video.

People not only loved the album, but it was critically lauded as well.

The same probably won't be said for this reissue.

While Jackson still has the power to get away with just about anything he wants to, there really is no point in buying the 25th anniversary edition of "Thriller" if you already have the original version.

Sure, there are re-worked tracks by big names like Kanye West, Akon and Fergie and Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame -- along with a previously unreleased song from the "Thriller" sessions -- but they feel uninspired and pale in comparison to Jackson's original efforts.

Sorry, Fergie, but you will never be able to out sing MJ, especially on something as iconic as "Beat It."

As for Will.i.am's atrocious "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," it sounds like a Boys II Men B-side, complete with slow rap breakdowns and lame techno beats.

And then there's West's lame "Billie Jean," where his only contributions are to ease up on the beat a little and mumble, "Uh, yeah, number one" a few times.

There's not even a breakdown. And where's the rapping, Kanye?

We do have one winner in all of this though: Akon's take on "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'."

In comparison with the original, it sounds like a new track and tingles in all the right ways. It's got the dance floor flair of vintage Jackson, yet sounds like something Phil Collins could have written.

That's about it for the highlights.

Not even Jackson's unreleased song, "For All Time," is all that compelling. Be glad it fell on the cutting room floor in '82.

The only other incentive to purchase this collection is the extra disc of videos from the album.

And that's not enough.

Unless you're a Michael Jackson completist, save your cash.

And hope that Jackson can save himself.