Post by Xero on Feb 19, 2013 21:58:12 GMT -5
The album opens with a string of strength, starting with “White America”. The song is targeted at, but not limited to, the political embarrassments that surrounded our country around the time the album was dropped. With a fiery delivery that shows true passion for his themes, Eminem defies the stigma that surrounds the genre and shows that he has logical teeth behind his words (he's shown that before, but it's always nice to be reminded). “Business” follows with a funky beat that gives Eminem a nice backdrop for his clownish lyrics. It's not the best track on the album, and it's certainly not the best of Eminem's playful tracks, but it kind of gets everything right. “Cleanin' Out My Closet” brings us back to a more serious place, his childhood, and he uncovers more about his turbulent relationship with his mother. The picture he paints is grim, yet it is lathered with pure style. “Square Dance” jumps back to a more playful tone (yet it certainly retains a more serious edge with its lyrical content) and it does so flawlessly. This one has always been one of my favorites on the album. The beat is sick and the rhymes are tightly structured around the infectious beat.
And then you have “Soldier”, which is one of the best rap songs of the decade. The track is perfect, containing one of the best beats on the album and the way Eminem struts his swagger, slinging verbal assaults like it was dirt in your eye; it just all screams authentic angst which helps sell this as one of the more poignant tracks on the album. The anger here is perfectly situated to elevate the track into something so dark it feels raw and real. Unlike the times when Eminem tries to make his murderistic (yes I made that word up for this review) rampages seem playful or humorous, Eminem shrugs humor to the side and delivers something unlike him yet completely comfortable.
He's far more than just a one-trick pony.
In many ways I think he uses his humor at times to try and distract him from his problems. On track eight "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" he goes: "Bury my face in comic books, cause I don't want to look, at nothin' this world's too much, I've swallowed all I could. If I could swallow a bottle of Tylenol I would, and end it for good, just say goodbye to Hollywood." No matter who you are, that's some really dark stuff.
Reminiscent of his previous releases, there is that one track that became his first single and gathered him boatloads of attention once again; this time it was “Without Me”. The track is hilarious and fun and certainly in line with “The Real Slim Shady” and “My Name Is”. I actually prefer “Superman”, which is a hilarious parody of all those ridiculously perverse love songs that circulate the airwaves.
The later half of the album contains a few tracks that really deserve to be singled out. “Sing for the Moment” is one of Eminem's better tracks to use samples. The Aerosmith sampling is perfectly suited for the song and it elevates Eminem's message. “When the Music Stops” is insanely fierce from start to finish, and the way Em sets the tone for the track right off the bat is phenomenal. “Till I Collapse” is also very strong, and Nate Dogg's chorus lines give the song an almost vintage feel. I love his voice and the way he lends a touch of class to every track he inhabits. (RIP Nate Dogg). “My Dad's Gone Crazy” is a great way to close out the album. Having Hallie on the track seems a tad odd, especially when you consider the things he says in this song, but it's a playful song that is slathered with humor, so don't take this track too seriously. *UNTIL* the last verse, and let me just repeat that. Get serious for the third verse and really pay attention to what I believe to be the most under-rated Eminem verse of all time. This verse is a precedent for how artists should close out an album. I would quote lyrics here and keep rambling about how perfect it is but it is so self-explanatory that I think you should just go listen to it real quick and really take it in and understand where I’m coming from. That is how you close a record ladies and gentleman.
The album as a whole is close to genius. He proves here that despite his vulgar use of words deemed “inappropriate”, he cannot be defined by his controversial take on life. Eminem shows that there is a great deal of talent behind those offensive slurs, developing an album reflective of where his mindset was in his rise to fame. I love that he is back in the game here in 2013, and I can't wait to see where he goes now.
Overall Score: 10/10
**Side Note** I don't give out perfect scores often. However, this album is a decade old and it still holds that "wow" factor from when I first heard it. It still has the same intensity and to be honest, it just never gets old. In many ways I felt he perfected his craft on this album by combining everything he had done on his first two albums, and if you were only to listen to one Eminem record in your life, this would be the one I would recommend.
And then you have “Soldier”, which is one of the best rap songs of the decade. The track is perfect, containing one of the best beats on the album and the way Eminem struts his swagger, slinging verbal assaults like it was dirt in your eye; it just all screams authentic angst which helps sell this as one of the more poignant tracks on the album. The anger here is perfectly situated to elevate the track into something so dark it feels raw and real. Unlike the times when Eminem tries to make his murderistic (yes I made that word up for this review) rampages seem playful or humorous, Eminem shrugs humor to the side and delivers something unlike him yet completely comfortable.
He's far more than just a one-trick pony.
In many ways I think he uses his humor at times to try and distract him from his problems. On track eight "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" he goes: "Bury my face in comic books, cause I don't want to look, at nothin' this world's too much, I've swallowed all I could. If I could swallow a bottle of Tylenol I would, and end it for good, just say goodbye to Hollywood." No matter who you are, that's some really dark stuff.
Reminiscent of his previous releases, there is that one track that became his first single and gathered him boatloads of attention once again; this time it was “Without Me”. The track is hilarious and fun and certainly in line with “The Real Slim Shady” and “My Name Is”. I actually prefer “Superman”, which is a hilarious parody of all those ridiculously perverse love songs that circulate the airwaves.
The later half of the album contains a few tracks that really deserve to be singled out. “Sing for the Moment” is one of Eminem's better tracks to use samples. The Aerosmith sampling is perfectly suited for the song and it elevates Eminem's message. “When the Music Stops” is insanely fierce from start to finish, and the way Em sets the tone for the track right off the bat is phenomenal. “Till I Collapse” is also very strong, and Nate Dogg's chorus lines give the song an almost vintage feel. I love his voice and the way he lends a touch of class to every track he inhabits. (RIP Nate Dogg). “My Dad's Gone Crazy” is a great way to close out the album. Having Hallie on the track seems a tad odd, especially when you consider the things he says in this song, but it's a playful song that is slathered with humor, so don't take this track too seriously. *UNTIL* the last verse, and let me just repeat that. Get serious for the third verse and really pay attention to what I believe to be the most under-rated Eminem verse of all time. This verse is a precedent for how artists should close out an album. I would quote lyrics here and keep rambling about how perfect it is but it is so self-explanatory that I think you should just go listen to it real quick and really take it in and understand where I’m coming from. That is how you close a record ladies and gentleman.
The album as a whole is close to genius. He proves here that despite his vulgar use of words deemed “inappropriate”, he cannot be defined by his controversial take on life. Eminem shows that there is a great deal of talent behind those offensive slurs, developing an album reflective of where his mindset was in his rise to fame. I love that he is back in the game here in 2013, and I can't wait to see where he goes now.
Overall Score: 10/10
**Side Note** I don't give out perfect scores often. However, this album is a decade old and it still holds that "wow" factor from when I first heard it. It still has the same intensity and to be honest, it just never gets old. In many ways I felt he perfected his craft on this album by combining everything he had done on his first two albums, and if you were only to listen to one Eminem record in your life, this would be the one I would recommend.
