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143 of 180 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Slim Shady's shadiest: how to like the scariest album ever and why, May 20, 2009
This review is from: Relapse (Audio CD)
Okay, here we go with draft #101 of my ever-evolving review of this endlessly enjoyable album. Yep, that's right. Endlessly enjoyable. Sorry to disappoint kind readers who gave me points for feeling an internal struggle over this album in previous drafts, but the more I listen to it, the more I like it. Hence my now one-sided review which gives this album two thumbs up. For the principled and faint-hearted, this album will be too nasty to stomach. But the rest of us are in for a treat: tight raps, catchy beats, and hooks. Long-time Eminem fans, who "get" his signature vile sense of humor will know when to laugh and are surely callous now to disturbing tales of rape, murder, drug abuse, profanity, homophobic fantasies, and all-out lascivious. So if you've already been converted to the dark side, don't worry! You can handle it.
First off, this album is not only catchy, it is packed with a rage and ferocity only Eminem can summon, e.g. songs like "8 Mile," that are bursting with so much intensity they give you goosebumps. That is the vibe (only creepier) of this album and it's Eminem's signature sound; no one else does it quite like him. As a songwriter, I know that it is next to impossible to write material that is so striking; in fact, I've never achieved it, and that's why my hat goes off to Eminem. Eminem invested a lot in this album. Deep beneath all the profanity and sensationalism, all the flinging of every taboo in my face, I sensed an artist who just *had* to get it all out, an artist hell bent on expressing himself, freaking the bejesus out of everyone, and doing it all in the most ear-catching way musically possible.
Some people are criticizing this album as mere pandering to a sensation-starved public, but I disagree. The songs are just too potent. If it were mere mass-produced fluff, the material would sound apathetic and be easier to digest, but it isn't. Eminem keeps you guessing. It sometimes sounds like he's rapping for the masses, but more often it sounds like he's rapping for personal catharsis. Sometimes his raps are alarmingly direct, sometimes camped up and ironic. Lyrics pertaining to the exterior world, (pop culture references and social commentary), are intertwined with twisted, personal tales from deep inside his brain. Misogynistic stories are juxtaposed with statements of concern about his daughter and parenting. Tracks riddled with sleaze, innuendo, and silliness mingle with deep tracks about believing in yourself and finding purpose. At varying points he demands respect, makes fun of himself, or plays the victim. And when he spits a tight rhyme using an incongruently bratty, whiny, juvenile voice . . . yep, that's what I'm talking about. Who in the heck is this guy? Lesser artists are more transparent; you instantly know what they're all about. But with Eminem, his persona and tone are constantly in flux. Offensive as it may be, a riveting personality emerges from the madness.
In conclusion, buy this album to be guided by a mesmerizing MC with some of the best chops in the business who will lead you down a dark path you (hopefully) would never find on your own. Eminem is so good at conjuring up all the ugliness in our society that you feel confronted by it, you stare at it straight in the face. The experiencing is kind of jolting, definitely exhilarating. But Eminem's always been good at that. What I like about this album in particular is that he sounds less bratty going about it. I revisited the Slim Shady LP after listening to Relapse and found it (only slightly) annoying. On Relapse, Eminem tackles the dark tales with more imaginative scope and maturity. Another reviewer, J. Berger, felt that this album was more about "art for art's sake" and I think that sums it up. Eminem tackles the same old topics here, but the effect is more probing and less whiny. His voice even sounds a little deeper. I love it.
Eminem . . . if you read this . . . don't you think I maybe deserve an autographed Relapse for working ever so hard on this review and shining a bright light on the strengths of this, your latest and heavily contested album? Why don't your people call my people, etc. etc. ;)
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25 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Relapse, May 19, 2009
This review is from: Relapse (Audio CD)
An album like Encore would have destroyed any other rapper. Em has what it takes to get past it though. That said, I was still worried about how good Relapse was going to be as soon as I heard that it was actually coming out.
After the Marshall Mathers LP I never thought I would say this again, but this is by far the darkest album Eminem has ever put out. Almost every song has something to do with rape, murder or incest. By the time I got half-way through the album it was getting really old and kind of had me wondering if this guy should have ever left rehab.
Once it got to "Old Time's Sake" though, things started picking up again. I was actually feeling the songs a little bit. I was actually smiling by the end of it. The last four tracks are fantastic (not including the skit) and made me realize that he's gone through a lot the last few years and that's probably got a lot to do with how dark the first half is.
I think he had to get this album off his chest. It's nowhere near his best, but a lot has happened since the Eminem Show (first of all Encore, and then all his drug issues and probably some other stuff too) so you can't expect him to just pop out another classic like it's no big thing. This is a necessary step to him coming back, and even though it wasn't great, it ended well enough to where I'm convinced Relapse 2 is going to be some of his best work. If you haven't got it yet, don't buy the whole thing, just get a few tracks off of it. I recommend Bagpipes from Baghdad, My Mom, and Old Time's Sake and every song after it. Don't prove me wrong Em, I'm willing to look past this and Encore if Relapse 2 is going to be as good as I think it is.
*Oh and please, if you're going to vote or comment on this review, why don't you go back and listen to any of his albums before Encore and then listen to this. I'm not a fanboy or a hater. I just call them like I see them. Just read the above if you want to know what I think about this album, and keep your fanboy/hater garbage off my review. I'm here to seriously talk about music.
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38 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Big Step Up From 'Encore', May 19, 2009
This review is from: Relapse (Audio CD)
For one, if you don't like Eminem in the first place, don't review this album. And because he had a drug problem, You don't like him, ok? Second, don't base your review off of four singles, and 30 second clips. Everyone is comparing CD to CD. Think about this, SSLP was 10 years ago, MMLP was 9 years ago, TES was 7 years ago. He's older, things have changed, he can't make the SAME music from 10 years ago.
We Made You and Crack A Bottle don't fit into this album. So do not judge the CD on those two songs. The CD is sick and twisted, just what people wanted him to do. That's what he's doing. And it's not good enough. He does use the "accent" a couple times, but for example in 'Same Song & Dance' it works because he's portraying a stalker/killer, so it sounds believable. He brings up Mariah Carey, wow big deal. People are making such a huge deal about it. Why? It's not like he's talking about Triumpth and using the "voice" in a really stupid way. If you actually listen to the CD, you'll hear he doesn't use it that much.
Listen to the songs a few times, listen to the lyrics, read them if you have to. You will discover it's not as bad as people are saying.
Favorite songs:
Same Song & Dance
Insane
Underground
Beautiful
Deja Vu
My Mom
Hello
Stay Wide Awake
Again also people are complaining about the skits... Dr. West, Tonya, Paul, Steve Berman, Mr. Mathers, that there are too many, but Tonya, Dr. West and Mr. Mathers lead into the next song. And there is ANOTHER CD coming out in a couple months (hopefully) so stop whining about there not being a lot of songs, and too many skits.
If need-be listen to the 2 hour interview on Shade 45 of Eminem giving track-by-track information. Giving you a better idea and understanding of the songs.
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