Eminem Goes Clean… Well Sorta

Eminem’s Recovery

After spending the past few years on and off drugs, rapper Eminem claims he is 100% clean and feeling much better now in his new CD Recovery. Even though Mr. Mathers last album Relapse sold 608,000 in it’s first week and Encore did 711,000 in it’s debut week (despite a leak of the album forcing it to come out four days early), Slim Shady seems less then proud of those two albums, “On Encore I was on drugs and Relapse I was flushing them out.” He goes on to say “That last Relapse album was Eh-.” Recovery trumps both selling 741,000 his debut week despite a 2 week early leak of the album.

While his Relapse album delved into a part of Marshall Mather’s mind filled with disturbing stories of child molestation and his mother feeding him valium as a child, it and the EP follow up The Refill have several songs completely devoted to kidnapping, raping, and murdering woman.  As Intricately woven the lyrics and wonderful music supplied by Dr. Dre and other’s; Relapse was a little much for most people to swallow.  Eminem promised a more refined and professional product this time round.

In typical Eminem fashion there are some lighthearted humorous pokes at celebrities but more often they are mean verbal thrashings in an unforgiving and often homophobic manner.  In the opening track he states, “Might as well make my lips pucker like Elton John cause I’m just a mean c -k s–ker.”  He has started mocking Michael J. Fox ever since his Christopher Reeves material has lost shock value.  Fox, a child hood icon to those from the 80s has Parkinson’s disease, which causes involuntary twitching.  In the same song as the Elton John reference he says, regarding someone else filling his shoes; “The day that happens the world will stop spinning and Michael J. Fox will come to a standstill.”

He also mentions Michael J. Fox in the song “Won’t Back Down” Featuring Pink.   In the past Eminem has made fun of both Pink and singer Rhianna. Both female vocalists have guest spots on this album. Rhianna and Eminem’s duet “Love The Way You Lie” is an instant pop radio pleaser.  It lays melodic piano under lyrics wrought with pain from both of their famous relationships.  Also providing guest vocals is rapper Lil’ Wayne, on a song titled “No Love”, which is reminiscent of the movie “Night At The Roxbury” and it’s theme song “What Is Love”.  In the song “Talking To Myself” Eminem, confesses to almost writing a verse disrespecting Lil’ Wayne.

The overall quality of the album is outstanding.  The scathing lyrics only dirty the glass of an otherwise crystal performance by Eminem.  Dr. Dre’s musical direction takes this album to places not heard before on past Eminem albums. In the song “Almost Famous” Eminem takes us on a journey through his career at the beginning, describing how he got to where he is today, the song is haunting and triumphant.  There is no dismissing the lyrical wordsmith that Eminem shows as on songs like “On Fire” and “Untitled” in which he claims to “Flow like Troy Palamalu’s hair.”

The entire album is well orchestrated and arranged.  It is another in a long line of Eminem albums that dwarfs the abilities of the nearest competitor.  His unique use of the English language and clever metaphors are original and refreshing.  Despite the prejudicial attitude found in a few songs the lyrics are heartfelt and honest as well as vivid and imaginative.  Eminem’s Recovery will probably be around for a while as an ESPN and NFLfilms go to for soundtracks to highlight reels. Some tracks display traits of longevity and timelessness.  Love him or hate him, Slim Shady’s back.  Recovery solidifies Eminem’s reign at the top of rap will continue for a while. This Album is freaking good, that’s what I think. -JL