Eminem - Relapse

[Drew Beringer]

Eminem – Relapse
Release Date: May 19, 2009
Record Label: Aftermath

Cause we need a little controversy/cause it feels so empty/without me.

That’s the famous hook from Marshall Mathers’ (more famously known as Eminem) hit 2002 single, “Without Me.” But has it really been empty? We have controversy (Kanye West and anything he does, Nas trying to name his last album after the N-word), young stars (Wale, Charles Hamilton), and a platinum-selling artist messed up on drugs (Weezy F. Baby). But Eminem has always brought that certain charm to the genre. And with four platinum records under his belt and a plethora of hit singles, Em’s first album in 5 years, Relapse, is bound to cause some noise.

The first three tracks off Relapse feature the typical banter of Eminem. Going on a murderous rampage as a psychotic killer (3am)? Check. Hating his mom (My Mom)? Check. Getting ass raped as a child by his stepfather (Insane)? Check. Eighth grade Drew would have found this edgy. He is going back to the shock tactics used in earlier albums, but it’s totally blasé. The listeners will react with a “been there, done that” attitude to a lot of the lyrical themes present on Relapse.

Then there is the accent. It’s like he became a Rastafarian. But it dooms singles “We Made You” and “Crack A Bottle.” The flow and tone are just laughable. Regardless if it’s Eminem taking on a split persona, it’s horrible and should have been placed in the trash bin.

Relapse isn’t entirely a lost cause. There are a handful of quality tracks that prove Slim still has it. “For Old’s Time Sake” features a classic Dre cut, while “Must Be The Ganja” contains a killer hook within a laid-back beat. The dark “Déjà Vu” is a favorite, because Eminem’s reflection on the past few years really brings out his best. The line “See, me and you, we almost had the same outcome, Heath,” is especially chilling. Eminem definitely hits somewhat of a stride on the later tracks of the album, as “Beautiful” comes off as the album’s ballad. Closer “Underground” displays that Marshall Mathers fire, proving he can still overtake any beat.

But ultimately the bad singles and filler tracks (Bagpipes From Baghdad for example) sink Relapse. Tracks like “Medicine Ball” inject some good humor (the final Christopher Reeves diss is hilarious), but for every decent track, there are two or three throwaway songs. Having only six or seven good tracks on an album of twenty is never a good thing.

In the end, Relapse is like all the bad horror remakes that have been littering theaters recently. It’s a rehashing of old ideas and plotlines, and you know it isn’t going to be good. But you go see it anyway, decide, “eh, it’s decent for what it was,” and move on with life. But that’s the saddest part about Relapse. It isn’t the crappy accent or the weak beats from Dre, rather it’s the realization that Slim Shady has become stale. Maybe a second Relapse this fall will make things better.

Track Listing:
1. Dr. West (Skit)
2. 3am
3. My Mom
4. Insane
5. Bagpipes From Baghdad
6. Hello
7. Tonya (Skit)
8. Same Song & Dance
9. We Made You
10. Medicine Ball
11. Paul (Skit)
12. Stay Wide Awake
13. Old Time’s Sake ft. Dr. Dre
14. Must Be The Ganja
15. Mr. Mathers (Skit)
16. Déjà vu
17. Beautiful
18. Crack A Bottle ft. Dr. Dre and 50 Cent
19. Steve Berman (Skit)
20. Underground
Produced by: Dr. Dre

Official Website (http://www.eminem.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/Eminem)

[WhoSaidThat?]

Great review. You perfectly captured my immense disappointment with this album.

[Drew Beringer]

I am very lukewarm on this album. Some parts I like, some parts I'm indifferent too, and other parts I just flat out hate. Still a pretty fun album to listen to with the windows down (hence the high reviewer tilt), but fun =/= good.

[WhoSaidThat?]

I am very lukewarm on this album. Some parts I like, some parts I'm indifferent too, and other parts I just flat out hate. Still a pretty fun album to listen to with the windows down (hence the high reviewer tilt), but fun =/= good.
QFT.

[Cheesus]

Good review Drew, as usual..

Crack A Bottle almost made me cry it was just so bad. However, 6-7 decent tracks is sadly enough to make me want to check this out.

The album cover is neat too

[Nick Le]

This was a great review. I'll still check this out though. I agree about the accent too.

[allisterkid]

I'm reluctant to listen to this yet. I have heard my roommate play it many times and it sounds pretty bad, and he tells me it's amazing, maybe his best and he thinks I'll think it's amazing. haha

Let's just say we usually don't have anywhere near the same opinion on amazing.

[Paulb-182]

I really hope Relapse 2 will provide the goods this album is missing

[Gregory Robson]

This album is awful.

[Untitled09]

Drew, you seem to hit the nail on the head with some of your reviews. Eminem was good back when I was 10 and enjoyed hearing, "my bum is on your lips!" He has lost his stride after that break. I look at the track listing and wonder "Am I listening to a Kanye West album?" But, Eminem has lost it and should pass it down to rappers like P.O.S. and Atmosphere. I would rather listen to When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That S*** Gold then Relapse. And if he does have another one coming out in the fall. Just drop it and let us get on with our lives. I won't lie the anticipation is not killing me this time.

[capnhook54]

I disagree completely. I love this record. Best since Marshall Mathers LP.

[denissuxx]

I am scared to check this out

[SummerPerfuma]

From what I've heard of the album so far (I'm half way through), I think one thing you fail to mention is how good his flow still is, if not, even better. His lyrical content/flow on the tracks I've heard is pretty dope.

[nicoteen]

It took some spins but this album grew on me immensely. I think is his best work since Marshall Mathers LP. To each his own but to only give the Dre. production a 7 and music a 6.5? I agree that the lyrical content is a little repetitive but it flows nicely.

[RonStoppable]

Horrible, horrible, horrible. I liked maybe four or five tracks, but this was the biggest disappointment of 2009 for me so far.

[First_And_Last]

The only song that is any good is Underground. He raps with that pissed off tone that we all loved about him.

[therookielot]

I haven't listened to the whole album, but coincidentally enough, the tracks Drew said were good were the only ones I've liked.

DAMMIT.

[Dan Sando]

For some reason hearing him flow, with pinpoint precision, about sickass shit always gets me..find myself rewinding, thinking, "he didnt just say that, did he?", or "that was dope"...def an upgrade from Encore, thats for sure

[freakster]

Great review. The rasta part made me lol.

Anyway, as most kids my age, I kinda grew up listening to eminem. Marshall Mathers LP was by far his best album to date imo. Unfortunatly, I think he's dug himself into a hole that's gonna take a little more than shitty mariah carey jokes to climb out of. I listened to this album with an open mind despite hearing the cringe-worthy singles beforehand and I was extremely let down. I still think he has potential but he's pigeonholed himself into a place where he thinks he has to put out songs about the same topics to stay relevant. This album made me want to dust off my old eminem cd's and remember the good ol' days.

[sell the sunris]

I agree with the review, although I came off the record a bit more positively than Drew did. I'm wondering if the new accent for his humorous tracks is a result of the "death" of the Slim Shady persona. He said in XXL the first Relapse was more about being back and having a good time rather than seriously look at the last few years of his absence.

That said, when Em's on, he's on. No one can touch him. There's some disappointing tracks and its not as great as I hoped it would be, but Release really grows on you after a while and the great tracks on the latter half of the record outweigh the lesser ones for me. It's definitely better than Encore or The Re-Up mixtape.

[FaceLixeMurder]

Absolutely Terrible

[Kill_the_radio]

Then there is the accent. It’s like he became a Rastafarian

hahahah that made me lol

[zachff]

For better or worse kind of felt like I was reading a half-assed version of this review:
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13034-relapse/

[chochobonewagon]

great review. i just think he is kinda out dated now, plus there are so many better rappers out now

[jgareth]

I disagree completely. I love this record. Best since Marshall Mathers LP.
Do us all a favor...take your comment and your icon, and jump off a cliff.

[Juggalette4lyfe]

i absolutly love Eminem! and i love the song "We Made You"!!....so i disagree this record is amazing!!

[smelltheglove]

i dont' know what people were looking for with this. its an Eminem album. Seems to be on par with his other albums IMO. good beats from Dre, funny lyrics, great flow, entertaining, obnoxious and offensive. i mean, were you hoping for him to have an epiphany and change his lyrical content to be more socially aware like Kweli or Mos Def? did you want him to make a rock album?

it's like people complaining about NOFX albums. it's nofx. you get what you get. entertainment.

if you're looking for depth, innovation or something other than humor and entertainment, why are you listening to Eminem? were you really expecting an earth-sharterring (lol, shart) and magnum opus? a reinvention? IT'S FUCKING EMINEM.

holy smokes...fuck...have i made my point?

[sell the sunris]

Do us all a favor...take your comment and your icon, and jump off a cliff.


Yes. Please attack people for calmly stating a personal preference. It makes us respect what you have to say so much.

i dont' know what people were looking for with this. its an Eminem album. Seems to be on par with his other albums IMO. good beats from Dre, funny lyrics, great flow, entertaining, obnoxious and offensive. i mean, were you hoping for him to have an epiphany and change his lyrical content to be more socially aware like Kweli or Mos Def? did you want him to make a rock album?

it's like people complaining about NOFX albums. it's nofx. you get what you get. entertainment.

if you're looking for depth, innovation or something other than humor and entertainment, why are you listening to Eminem? were you really expecting an earth-sharterring (lol, shart) and magnum opus? a reinvention? IT'S FUCKING EMINEM.

holy smokes...fuck...have i made my point?

Well, Eminem has had more than his fair share of tracks with depth, social awareness, and penchant for spit-firing weighty lyrics. Most of his singles display the cartoon Slim Shady, but a lot of his other material displays the voice of an extremely talented, lyrical emcee.

I'd personally compare him more to Blink 182 than NoFX, but totally understand what you're saying.

[weworemasks]

I disagree completely. I love this record. Best since Marshall Mathers LP.

the eminem show?

and spot on review. i wouldn't have even given it a 59, though.

[sell the sunris]

the eminem show?

and spot on review. i wouldn't have even given it a 59, though.

Agreed on all fronts. The Eminem Show is my personal favorite as well.

[simensays]

i thought it was just me that thought Relapse and Eminem are becoming Dated

[drivethruaz]

right on with the review. I was very disappointed with this album
I got Relapse and Red and Meth's Blackout 2
Blackout 2 kills Relapse sadly

[HometownHero]

worst album probably of the last few years

[heyzombiehitler]

I will always have a soft spot for Eminem. I actually enjoyed a lot of Encore, but this is actually pretty weak compared to that. I didn't think it was terrible, but its just not that good. 6/10

[LillieDesigns]

I am very lukewarm on this album. Some parts I like, some parts I'm indifferent too, and other parts I just flat out hate. Still a pretty fun album to listen to with the windows down (hence the high reviewer tilt), but fun =/= good.
Seriously, anyone who doesn't like this album doesn't listen to much hip-hop and/or doesn't really know Eminem's history. First thing, it's pretty evident that this album is for the fans. He's got all 4 albums and personalities on this thing and when listened to as a whole, it becomes a deep, dark story about his battles with drugs, life, etc. His lyricism is arguably the best in the world - there really is no one else who can do it anything like him. To top it off it's evident you expect mainstream catchy Eminem (Without Me style) when you mention probably the weakest tracks on the album (Old Time's Sake and Insane) and fail to leave out the songs that Em kills like Stay Wide Awake and Same Song and Dance.

A 5.25 for creativity? Name ONE more creative concept for a hip-hop album in the last 5 years and PLEASE don't say Lil Wayne. Terrible review man, but it's not your fault. I understand this is a rock based website and hip-hop probably isn't your number one forte (I probably would have thought the album sucked if I was expecting radio music also).

[CarouselBoy]

I was more interested in reading the review than really seeing if I wanted the album cause I've never bought one of his before. Good, informative review Drew.

[FUCKDIRTYWIPES]

ok album, a few songs i like, a couple i hate.

[sell the sunris]

A 5.25 for creativity? Name ONE more creative concept for a hip-hop album in the last 5 years and PLEASE don't say Lil Wayne.

For me? "Take Me To Your Leader" by King Geedorah. I like it better than his MF Doom stuff. The beats are crazy inventive and the album's somehow both frenetic and relaxed.

Don't get me wrong, I really dig Relapse. I seem to like it better than most, but I won't say it's the only creative thing to come out of hip hop for the last 5 years either. Hell, the new P.O.S. is excellent. And Jay-Z's "American Gangster" was a solid concept album. And Drew did shout out Charles Hamilton, who's not exactly a household name (yet) and really damn talented.

I just wouldn't go as far as to call the reviewer ignorant of hip hop. I don't agree with the scoring, but the review was honest and reflected the reviewers thoughts on the matter. You may disagree with those thoughts, as I did a few times, but they were at least well thought out and based off what I perceive to be his actual opinion of the album.

[skyphoenix]

I do not understand the hate for this album whatsoever. How can you honestly think this is worse than Encore when Encore had tracks like Rain Main, Ass Like That, and My First Single? This album at least left behind the childish fart sounds (for the most part) as he went back to his old style. The accent is him bending words to make them rhyme because he likes to play around with the English language to force words to rhyme in ways no one else would think of. I dont like the accent most of the time but on Same Song and Dance (which you somehow fail to mention as its one of the best on the album) it actually fits and makes the song better. I really dont know what you people were expecting from an Eminem album if this is highly disappointing to you.

[Drew Beringer]

For better or worse kind of felt like I was reading a half-assed version of this review:
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13034-relapse/
haha interesting. I don't read Pitchfork. Amazingly talented writers, but I hate their reviewing style.

Anyways, it's fairly obvious that the second half of this album is the strong point of Relapse, while the first half absolutely sucks. People, including myself, were mentioning this as soon as the album leaked. Sorry I seem like a half-ass writer though haha.

[golferpunk1]

I think its just as Eminem put it on one of the songs on Relapse. At first listen people aren't going to think this album measures up just exactly like they have said about Encore but give it a few years and they will be praising it. Despite the crazy accents and re-hashed themes Eminem is still the Greatest Rapper Alive! Haha! I don't understand how anyone can dispute that? His technical ability to write rap songs is unmatched.

[Drew Beringer]

Seriously, anyone who doesn't like this album doesn't listen to much hip-hop and/or doesn't really know Eminem's history. First thing, it's pretty evident that this album is for the fans. He's got all 4 albums and personalities on this thing and when listened to as a whole, it becomes a deep, dark story about his battles with drugs, life, etc. His lyricism is arguably the best in the world - there really is no one else who can do it anything like him. To top it off it's evident you expect mainstream catchy Eminem (Without Me style) when you mention probably the weakest tracks on the album (Old Time's Sake and Insane) and fail to leave out the songs that Em kills like Stay Wide Awake and Same Song and Dance.

A 5.25 for creativity? Name ONE more creative concept for a hip-hop album in the last 5 years and PLEASE don't say Lil Wayne. Terrible review man, but it's not your fault. I understand this is a rock based website and hip-hop probably isn't your number one forte (I probably would have thought the album sucked if I was expecting radio music also).
Trust me, I know a lot about hip-hop, which is why I'm disappointed. Don't you think if I was expecting "radio music" that I would have thought this was awesome. This album is perfect for radio. His first three albums are great, I LOVE Eminem, which is why this album hurts me. Like my first post said, I really like a good handful of tracks, but there is too much filler on this IMO. I don't think this album is very creative because a lot of it sounds like a rehashing of old ideas and topics. You may hate the guy, but Kanye West continues to push his boundaries. I don't think Wayne is that great, but groups like Clipse and artists like P.O.S. put this to shame.

Thanks for reading the review though.

[WhoSaidThat?]

Trust me, I know a lot about hip-hop, which is why I'm disappointed. Don't you think if I was expecting "radio music" that I would have thought this was awesome. This album is perfect for radio. His first three albums are great, I LOVE Eminem, which is why this album hurts me. Like my first post said, I really like a good handful of tracks, but there is too much filler on this IMO. I don't think this album is very creative because a lot of it sounds like a rehashing of old ideas and topics. You may hate the guy, but Kanye West continues to push his boundaries. I don't think Wayne is that great, but groups like Clipse and artists like P.O.S. put this to shame.

Thanks for reading the review though.
That person should've just said...

"You know what, Drew? I don't like your attitude!"

[Scy7h3x]

horrible review

[gladnads]

Changing gimmicks to change with the times.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

Spot-on review.

[emokid333]

Your pretty dead on but I wouldn't give it that low of a score, it grew on me

[Heroin Robot]

whats reviewer tilt mean?

[LillieDesigns]

Trust me, I know a lot about hip-hop, which is why I'm disappointed. Don't you think if I was expecting "radio music" that I would have thought this was awesome. This album is perfect for radio. His first three albums are great, I LOVE Eminem, which is why this album hurts me. Like my first post said, I really like a good handful of tracks, but there is too much filler on this IMO. I don't think this album is very creative because a lot of it sounds like a rehashing of old ideas and topics. You may hate the guy, but Kanye West continues to push his boundaries. I don't think Wayne is that great, but groups like Clipse and artists like P.O.S. put this to shame.

Thanks for reading the review though.
I didn't mean to attack you, I just hate when I see a bunch of people discredit an album because of a review (obviously negative reviews are justified). Kanye is super creative, I was stupid for not throwing that out there when I said name another creative artist. Your review is very well-written, but I guess we just were looking for different things when we first spun this album. Sorry for coming off as an asshole before, I hate knowing there are people on this site who won't give it a chance because of a negative review - but hey, that's the way it is.

Hope I didn't offend anyone.

[WhoSaidThat?]

whats reviewer tilt mean?
I believe it's a ranking of the reviewer's personal enjoyment of the album.

[HugoOne]

I disagree much. Not enough insight on the reviewer's part, which isn't meant to be a slam. For example, the song "My Mom" is more about relating himself to her and understand what she's gone through since she was on drugs and he was addicted as well. It's more of an empathetic song than a diss.

"3 am" is him going back to his Slim Shady persona. He said that much of Encore was him making music that he believed people wanted to hear instead of for himself, and this is what he's good at.

I'm not sure what people expect from "We Made You." It's just like every other Eminem lead singles; catchy and filled with pop-culture reference.

The beats are absolutely brilliant. I can't at all agree with the statement that they are "weak." I respect his decision to use Dre's beats for the most part (outside of "Beautiful," which may be my favorite Eminem song of all time) and focus on writing. I think it's a very strong album. Maybe not his best yet but certainly not a let down. But to each their own.

[evan324]

i personally completely disagree with this review. i agree that his singles were terrible but i feel the rest of the album as a whole is pretty good. i'd give it around a 80/100. also, bagpipes from baghdad is a hilarious song, and i feel that as well as hello are the 2 best tracks IMO on relapse.

[The Revisionist]

I don't know, dudes... I must be listening to a different album than all of you. I think this is, for the most part, pretty fantastic. Yeah the rasta voice is a little offputting, but the only tracks where it's especially blatant are "3 AM" and "My Mom". Any other track where it may be present is only with a slight tinge of it, which to me is just a similar tone that he used during all of those whiny tracks on the Eminem Show (most notably "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"). It sounds to me like he got his excitement back to have fun and extend his troubles of the past couple years into his music, which I'm pretty sure is what this website was based on. Devastation from Proof's death, resulting in his relapse, putting on a bunch of weight... all of that shit is going to put your brain in a real nasty area, and I just hear him releasing it all like he did on the Slim Shady LP. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything besides "We Made You" that sounds forced (but what else is new for a first Eminem Single). Dre's beats are hot, Em's flow is incredible, and honestly this album resurrected the dude for me.

[Scott Farcas]

I dont understand why people dont like this album. My friends and I love it, we think his beats are hella lot better, and his lyrics are hilarious.

[Cheesus]

I don't think Wayne is that great, but groups like Clipse and artists like P.O.S. put this to shame.



this x1,000,000

[thehook11]

LISTEN, YEAH, HIS VOICE SOUNDS WEIRD... IN A FEW! SONGS.... BUT THROUGHOUT THE ALBUM, IT'S BRILLIANT AND SICK!!!!

LISTEN TO STAY WIDE AWAKE(LYRICS POSTED BELOW)... "3AM".... "Deja Vu"..... "Underground".... "Must Be The Ganja".......... Eminem's lyrics and rythm on this album are so carefully planned and executed.


Fe Fi Fo Fum
I think I smell the scent of a placenta
I enter central park, it's dark, it's winter in December
I see my target with my car, and park and approach her tender
Young girl by the name of Brenda and I pretend to befriend her
Sit down beside her like a spider, hi there girl you mighta
Heard of me before, see whore you're the kinda girl that I'da
Insult and rape and figure why not try to make your pussy wider
Fuck you with an umbrella then open it up while that shits inside ya
I'm the kinda guy that's mild, but I might flip and get a little bit wilder
Impregnate a lesbian, yeah and now lets see her have triplets and I'll eh
Incinerate them babies soon as they out her with formalde
Hide in cyanide, girl you can tryin hide, you can try to scream louder
No need for no gun powder, that only takes all the fun outta
Murdering, I'd rather go vin vin, and now you see just how the
Fuck I do, just what I do, when I cut right through your scalp
Ahh Shit wait a minute, I mean skull, my knife seems dull
Pull another one out


Better try to stay wide awake
Or you might end up found at by the lake
Soon as you lay me down to sleep
Bitches soul, I'm a try to take
Pray for light today right away
Why do they try to fight today
I must make them pay twice as much
Might as well put the knife away
Now I use power tools
How about now while you in the shower
Scowl you for six hours till outage of power outlets
How did you figure out I was down in your basement now?
You - must of just heard the sound of my stomach growling from down there
Holler there's no one fowler
Bound to the tub they found ya
Face down in the tub I drowned you with piles of downers around you

[absentimentalxs]

This record is amazing in my opinion.
I was thrown off at first because of the accent thing in the 2 singles released, but its definitely different and grows on you after a while.
And the rest of the album is just brilliant, and shows off a lot of different sides to Eminem.
Theres plenty of soft songs on here, plenty of shit talking songs, plenty of angry songs, plenty of laid back songs....Relapse has something for everyone and is probably my favorite Eminem record now.
Ive had it on repeat nonstop and must have listened to this thing 50 times already and am still not tired of it.

[vaguestcargo]

The only song that is any good is Underground. He raps with that pissed off tone that we all loved about him.
This. That track is the only track on this album I will not be deleting from my itunes.

[slimfenix182]

Trust me, I know a lot about hip-hop, which is why I'm disappointed. Don't you think if I was expecting "radio music" that I would have thought this was awesome. This album is perfect for radio. His first three albums are great, I LOVE Eminem, which is why this album hurts me. Like my first post said, I really like a good handful of tracks, but there is too much filler on this IMO. I don't think this album is very creative because a lot of it sounds like a rehashing of old ideas and topics. You may hate the guy, but Kanye West continues to push his boundaries. I don't think Wayne is that great, but groups like Clipse and artists like P.O.S. put this to shame.

Thanks for reading the review though.
songs I really like:

3 a.m.
Insane
Same Song & Dance ('97 Lindsay & Brit? instead of Bonnie & Clyde? haha)
Stay Wide Awake
Old Time's Sake
Deja Vu
Beautiful
Underground

I guess 8 out of 15 total songs isn't too great, but those remind me what I liked about the Slim Shady LP....beats his last two albums IMO....and I don't know about being perfect for radio....these songs would have to have the shit censored out of them, similar to the videos from the Slim Shady LP. and radio and MTV don't matter at all anymore. somewhat of a return to form, but yeah, what the fuck is with the accent?!?! strikes me more as arabian, but whatever haha. it does need to go. started it with that awful "Ass Like That" song (easily my least favorite song of his.) Dre needs to tell him to rap normally haha. I did laugh out loud at the skits on this one as well.

but good review...I will be listening to this with the windows down all summer. no arguments with the review. good job Drew.

[abbysmith]

Then there is the accent. It’s like he became a Rastafarian.
I lol'd a little.

[altemose09]

this album is sooooo bad

[fearthesloths]

i was really interested in how this album would turn out, but after hearing how his voice sounds on it i totally hated it.

his vocals don't have the edge and anger that they used to have and that was part of his appeal, right after i heard this i had to go download the MM LP to set things straight. listening to the two side by side really shows how much this album is lacking... hell the first 30 seconds of "The Way I am" are better than this entire album

[youareallfreaks]

just glad to have new eminem as he is one of my favorite rappers. still would rather listen to this album than any of the shitty radio ringtone rappers.

[doppelganger]

is this better than encore?

[WhoSaidThat?]

is this better than encore?
Nope.

[The Revisionist]

is this better than encore?
By light years.

[doppelganger]

uh oh, conflict.

[YouSmellExcited]

fucking HATE the chorus for "My Mom"

[demondays524]

I liked the album during the first listen, but after I only find myself listening to only a few songs. "Beautiful" is the best song on here, hands down. And I like "Stay Wide Awake" and "Medicine Ball", too. But his accent on some of the songs ("3 AM" doesn't bother me so much though for whatever reason) kills the album for me. I don't wanna say the album is BAD, but it's definitely no Eminem Show.

[cheesebowl]

I listened to teh whole album today start to finish. i tooo was wondering what the story was on the weird accent. overall, i like it. definitely not as good as his earlier stuff circa 2002, but still good in my opinion.

[jimboj917]

Pitchfork has a really good review of this album as well, they made a lot of similar points about how his shock value has really worn off and sometimes he sounds like a complete parody of himself. There are times when he is surprisingly good though, he seriously needs to work with people outside of his circle (Dre) and work with people that are gonna push him out of his comfort zone a bit.

[sirkah]

You forgot about 2 tracks: My Darling, Careful what you wish for
These 2 tracks are alot darker and more like the old Em.

[WhoSaidThat?]

You forgot about 2 tracks: My Darling, Careful what you wish for
These 2 tracks are alot darker and more like the old Em.
Those are bonus tracks.

[xtracheese07]

The bonus tracks be careful what you wish for and my darling are two solid tracks as well

[c_rob2700]

"Underground" still rocks my socks off but yeah, definitely not a good album

[Justin052]

Overall, i think the album is decent. Lightyears beyond Encore, but I think that might be because Em produced it rather than Dre. This time Em went back into the studio and claimed he was spitting fire with Dre's beats. While you see that somewhat on this record, I think Drew is right with his claim of about 8 songs on this album being worth it. If you can, get the bonus tracks because they feature Em at his best.

I think this is a marketing ploy, flat out. In the song "Underground", the finale to the album, his lyrics are "tell em shit's about to get extra messy / especially when I flex again", in the first verse. If this final song on the standard version of Relapse is anything of a preview of what's to come on Relapse 2, Em is going to blow everyone away with that record. I think "Underground" is a preview of Relapse 2. And things are going to be hot. This album is just the wacky, crazy stuff that Eminem is known for, with some seriousness added. Next album is going to be the best stuff Em's ever put out.

[Blink-O]

why does eminem sound like a chinese jamaican on that cd?! :eyebrow:

[Nolessthanblink]

Hhmm... I'm on the fence with this record. I miss the glory days of Eminem.

[DI Pistola]

I get seriously leery of albums containing more than 13 tracks. No exception here.

[NickMartin]

good call on pointing out the weird accent/rastafarian thing hes got going on with his voice. i cant listen to it. weird album in general.

[tpen892004]

horrible (the album that is)

[weworemasks]

A 5.25 for creativity? Name ONE more creative concept for a hip-hop album in the last 5 years and PLEASE don't say Lil Wayne. Terrible review man, but it's not your fault. I understand this is a rock based website and hip-hop probably isn't your number one forte (I probably would have thought the album sucked if I was expecting radio music also).

hahahaha. this shit is creative to you? it's rehashed shit from his old albums, with a lot less talent.

good lord.

I do not understand the hate for this album whatsoever. How can you honestly think this is worse than Encore when Encore had tracks like Rain Main, Ass Like That, and My First Single? This album at least left behind the childish fart sounds (for the most part) as he went back to his old style. The accent is him bending words to make them rhyme because he likes to play around with the English language to force words to rhyme in ways no one else would think of. I dont like the accent most of the time but on Same Song and Dance (which you somehow fail to mention as its one of the best on the album) it actually fits and makes the song better. I really dont know what you people were expecting from an Eminem album if this is highly disappointing to you.

and this one has "insane" "we made you" and "must be the ganja." your point?

[dancelukedance]

well written review. im not gonna bother with this trashy album

[Keagan Ilvonen]

Did not care for this album. Some tracks were good but the majority were garbage.

[skyphoenix]

hahahaha. this shit is creative to you? it's rehashed shit from his old albums, with a lot less talent.

good lord.



and this one has "insane" "we made you" and "must be the ganja." your point?
All three of those songs are 10 times better than the three I listed from Encore.

[ambiguous.dude]

really bad album. 2-3 "good" songs, otherwise the rest of the album blows hard.

[ArisonCain]

lyrically very disappointing. beats are great. his flow is great.

[Richard Maxim]

I still have to give this cd a good listen but all i seem to hear about it is bad. :-(

[thegroceries]

actually dre produced every song except one but hey whos counting;-)
DONT listen to the haters, this album is brilliant minus a few tracks.

[JLPullano]

"It’s like he became a Rastafarian

I soooo agree. It's hilarious!

[slimfenix182]

I don't know, dudes... I must be listening to a different album than all of you. I think this is, for the most part, pretty fantastic. Yeah the rasta voice is a little offputting, but the only tracks where it's especially blatant are "3 AM" and "My Mom". Any other track where it may be present is only with a slight tinge of it, which to me is just a similar tone that he used during all of those whiny tracks on the Eminem Show (most notably "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"). It sounds to me like he got his excitement back to have fun and extend his troubles of the past couple years into his music, which I'm pretty sure is what this website was based on. Devastation from Proof's death, resulting in his relapse, putting on a bunch of weight... all of that shit is going to put your brain in a real nasty area, and I just hear him releasing it all like he did on the Slim Shady LP. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything besides "We Made You" that sounds forced (but what else is new for a first Eminem Single). Dre's beats are hot, Em's flow is incredible, and honestly this album resurrected the dude for me.
I agree with all of that haha. I didn't care for the last 2 albums a ton....nice to have the Slim Shady persona back.

[newfoundmichael]

I disagree completely. I love this record. Best since Marshall Mathers LP.
Disagree that this was as good as you say, but I will admit this is his best since MM LP. He has released absolute garbage since then. The Eminem Show had a few decent tracks though.

[newfoundmichael]

fucking HATE the chorus for "My Mom"
yeah it sounds like it was written by a fucked up 9 year old.

[YouSmellExcited]

yeah it sounds like it was written by a fucked up 9 year old.
sounds like annoying gibberish

[EchoPark]

As a devoted follower of Eminem since the late 90's in high school, I was prepared to be blown away after him being away for so long but I must say my disappoint is pretty high. I just can't get over the weird accent, WhereTF is he trying to go with that?

But like you said, 4 Platinum albums. He can do whatever he wants.

[Don'tBanMeBro]

8th grade Drew is just as lame and gay as present Drew.

[cereal4life]

8th grade Drew is just as lame and gay as present Drew.
Ban him Drew! Too much sass.

[astaticvendetta]

i completley disagree..maybe you don't pop enough vicodin and oxycontin or perhaps valium..i think this cd is fucking amazing. and why a rap cd review on this site?...if your going to review one rap artist might as well review all the recent rap releases.

[Drew Beringer]

I try my best to review recent rap releases that people on this site care about. I am currently writing reviews for The Cool Kids and Curren$y.

[c_rob2700]

I would have that Cool Kids mixtape but I can't stand the tags.

[mikado]

thank god for the right rating for this. just scanned ratings on the "major" places and they're so high it's laughable.

[RonStoppable]

I think if you're from Detroit you have to love everything Em does. I haven't talked to one person who dislikes this.

[RejoiceMySoul]

Good review, disappointing album. Hopefully Relapse 2 is better.

[j1887m]

I disagree completely. I love this record. Best since Marshall Mathers LP.
i second this

[saturday_snow_squall]

i just think the goddamn accent kills alot of it.

[DollyDagger.]

This is basically trash in comparison to his old material.
I think he should just stick with producing and stay away from the mic.

[lolseamus]

im pretty stoked on this album!

[tpnations]

As a whole, I think this is his best since Marshall Mathers LP, although The Eminem Show has a few stronger individual songs. Maybe that's not saying much though considering how bad his last album way.

[3eb23]

very weak review

[WhoSaidThat?]

very weak review
How so?

[UnderMyDreams]

lol at the member rating for the album.

[drewziph]

lol at member rating.

[Cøltøn]

This cd made me sad :( I was hoping there wouuld be a few more good tracks. Beautiful is really the only one I liked. Underground was ok I guess. Isn't he supposed to release a Relapse II this year? Hopefully he put all his throwaway tracks on this one and saved all his good stuff for that one.

[Fold1012]

I see where eminem is going with this, he hands out a decently good/ bad album but when the press and everyone dont like it it inspires him to make better songs, you all forget four years ago, almost all of eminems songs were made about peoples reactions. This album will be the start of a grand Relapse 2. Really people you need to think more about this. I still like the reveiw.

[Fold1012]

Also, the lyrics are hard to memorize with the new accent, he should stick with the nazaly voice, but the accent is a no way.

[Fold1012]

The songs got gradually increasing towards his old school porformance. it should keep doing that if im correct.

[FreshyFresh23]

Thanks for pointing out the accent because I cannot fucking stand it. Why he thinks it adds anything to his tracks I am not sure.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

lol at member rating.
i know like -32,000

[slimm.]

It's almost as though Eminem is trying to appeal to high school kids, which he never seemed to do in the past.
I miss the Eminem who rapped about how just plain out shitty his life is.

[Gautz]

Spot on review! ...and what what a shame that is as well!