Fresh from the first group platinum, his first acting job in the film version of Broadway’s “The Wiz” and landmark solo success with the multi-platinum Off The Wall, Michael Jackson returns to homebase with his brothers for Triumph, another prolific statement celebrating the Jackson family’s unparallelled decade of decadence in the music industry as well as the christening of a new decade. To complicate an already burdening task of following up the platinum success of Destiny, is that Michael Jackson has now been in the company of the world’s most renowned producer in Quincy Jones. Would this prove to be a benefit to the Jacksons on a self-produced project or suffer under the comparisons to Jones’ top-notch sessions? The boys have their own interrogative, however…”Can You Feel It?”

The album opens with a choir, horn and string section that stir up an immediate movie-like feeling, making one wonder if this is a soundtrack. From Ollie Brown’s break beat and the horn/string crash, the funk ensues and movie or no, this is a groove. Socially conscious, evident in their mission statement and adopted family mascot, the Peacock, the Jacksons start the Triumph with message first. But the message is followed immediately by infectious jams. “Lovely One” as well as few other pinnacle moments is Michael at his vocal apex. Having acquired a few more vocal toys over the last few recordings, Michael’s JB-esque vocal percussion showcases him as more than just one of the finest vocalists of our time, but an innovator truly focused on delivering the epitome of every emotion the lyrics demand.

Might this be the dawn of the “hee,hee,hee?”

Michael, Jackie and Randy handle all of the albums’ composition and arrangements in a way that stands firm against any of their contemporaries. Though seemingly as comfortable in the company of his brothers as in the past, Michael plays the front, side and back equally well, but steps up for full control on the album’s zenith. “This Place Hotel,” is another ‘theatrical’ piece telling a near horror story of the boys, a haunted house, and a scorned woman, that upon first listen is almost disturbing as it is so believable. But even after wondering if the brilliantly arranged decrescendo is Mike being tossed down a flight of steps, the resolve is, ‘this is funky as hell!.’ The Jacksons’ compositions, vocal and rhythm arrangements combined with Tom Tom 84’s incredible horn arrangments and Jerry Hey’s theatrical string arrangements, this is R&B at its absolute best. Triumph is in no way a step down from Michael’s epic Off the Wall and quite a name appropriate step up from the group’s already credible Destiny.