Funny thing, that Eminem. Since emerging on the scene with "Slim Shady LP", he has been a force to be reckoned with. His traumatic life style and terrible upbringing were put side by side with songs reflecting his macabre sense of humor where he killed managers, girlfriends, and you if you weren't careful. The line was so fantastically drawn that on "Marshall Mathers LP", it practically scared the shit out of everyone.A few albums later, a few fads later, and Eminem is still around, though much older and clearly not nearly as believable as he once was. After going into the hospital to treat ambien addiction, it seemed to be the end, even with a greatest hits package featuring "When I'm Gone", a song that looked to signal the end.
But somehow, he's back, or has been so since songs leaked in early January 2009. The question is, is he still a viable source, or just an iconic legend who we'll like because of what he has done?
After a mediocre return to form with "Relapse", mixing the cynicism of "Marshall Mathers LP" with a better version of the pop sensibilities of "Encore", he has finally declared he's back... for good.
Fans will pretty much believe this as fact if we start at track one, "Cold Wind Blows", where he comes out the gate with some of his most complex rhymes to date. Truth be told, the structure of Eminem's choruses have rarely been solid since "The Eminem Show", but for the verses, it was almost like he was making up for lost time.
It continues with "Talking 2 Myself", which is the first of many songs that details his drug addictions in deeper context and how he personally felt it affected his family. It also answers questions of lackluster material with the line "On Encore, I was on drugs/On Relapse, I was flushing them out". This openness has become an Eminem trademark the last few years as he has gone from being distant to apologizing for giving fans a fuck you for Christmas (the estimated time of this CD's original release) on the lead single "Not Afraid".
However, from these first two opening tracks, the tone can pretty much be picked up into two concepts: 1. I'm back and I'm sorry and 2. I'm back and the best rapper out there.
As the album continues, the rhymes manage to have consistency, but the choruses lack the appeal of his earlier material and the beats eventually feel ran together. It can also be noticed that the lack of Dr. Dre effects the initial quality of the music, relying too much on sampled choruses that don't give Eminem his authenticity.
It is a weird mix and after track 7, things will either get tiring for lesser fans or more boring for the rest. He still has rhymes to spare, but they lack the punch of his earlier material. Hell, even "Relapse" had a decent flow in consistency. It is almost tragic to notice that the rapper who we loved for his violent commentary on life just replacing it with well written nonsense.
Another element that is missing (and has been since "Encore" song "Mosh") is his political views, which helped give him new energy after it felt his violent tendencies became overpowering.
Also noticably missing are the better songs that he has been recently featured on, including work by Drake and B.O,B,, Even if it's considered recycling, it would've helped pick up parts of the sagging album from coming across as utter annoyance.
So despite some quality rhymes and songs, the overall quality only leaves hope that he's good to his word. That he is back. However, it is hard to feel sympathy for him when half his rhymes seem to isolate the audience into submission.
But what's incredible is that he is the patient and we are the psychologist. Whether he is just venting or reaching out, it seems he is relying on fans to help him through trouble. It creates authenticity in a world of vulgar, pig-headed music, which he still feels to be a part of.
Hopefully he will strike a balance. Hopefully.
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