20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection Best of Michael Jackson

This discount-priced compilation of Motown hits from 1980-1985 includes the work of longtime label artists like Diana Ross ("I'm Coming Out"), the Temptations ("Treat Her Like a Lady"), and Smokey Robinson ("Being With You"), as well as relatively new ones such as Rick James ("Give It to Me Baby"), DeBarge ("Rhythm of the Night"), and the Dazz Band ("Let It Whip"). The inclusion of Michael Jackson's "Farewell My Summer Love" is something of a ringer, since it is a track Jackson actually recorded in 1974, given overdubs and a remix to cash in on his Thriller fame in 1984.

Michael Jackson's edition of 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection concentrates entirely on his solo recordings from the early '70s, including such blockbusters as "Got to Be There," "Rockin' Robin," and "Ben." This doesn't contain every single one of his early solo hits, but it does contain the great majority of them, which means it might satisfy the tastes of many listeners who just want a sampling of the best of this era.

The Jackson 5 installment of MCA's 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection is a terrific, concise collection of the group's 11 biggest hits. There may be some smaller hits missing, but all the big tunes – "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," "I'll Be There," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Dancing Machine" – are here, along with two solo Michael singles ("Got to Be There," "I Wanna Be Where You Are") and a solo cut from Jermaine ("Daddy's Home"). The end result is a budget-line disc ideal for budget-minded casual fans.

Combining nu-metal with serious pop polish and structure, Alien Ant Farm always felt like a band that lived in two worlds: not quite heavy enough to be metal, but a little too fast-paced for the pop set. And while Alien Ant Farm's genre might be unclear, their entry in the 20th Century Masters series gives fans a bird's-eye view of their career and another opportunity to try nailing down what these guys were up to. Given the musicianship on tracks like "Movies" and their cover of the Michael Jackson classic "Smooth Criminal," while it might be hard to describe, it sure did work.