New album to resurrect Jackson's star power

Michael Jackson returns this month from the musical grave for a second time, with a new posthumous album aimed at resurrecting his star power, five years after his untimely death.

Critics have already hailed Xscape a clear improvement on 2010's Michael, the first album released after Jackson died of a drug overdose at age 50, as part of a multi-record deal with label giant Sony.

The new album's songs include one about child sex abuse, the issue which helped bring down the self-styled King of Pop, despite being acquitted of sexual molestation charges in 2005.