Eminem Relapse Album Review

Eminem Relapse Album Review
SoHood.com Reviewed by: Jenny Green
Label: Interscope/Aftermath/Shady Records
Album Rating:3.0/5.0

Overall Impression: So Marshall Mathers aka Eminem has returned from his four year hiatus with his latest effort album titled Relapse. It’s 2009, and it might be a recession but his brand name still carries weight, which out of curiosity, people are going to pick up the album. But in all honesty, the rapper has lost a step or two lyrically, a lot of the material on the album felt like it was recorded during the Encore studio sessions era, which even that album was sub par in Eminem’s standards.

There’s no deny that his first three albums were clear cut classic records, which were ahead of the rap game as far as lyrics, swag, production, overall just compelling but brutally honest music material. What’s frustrating is the production by Dr. Dre, the legendary producer, which is evident on Old Time’s Sake that he’s clearly taken a stepback. I believe certain artists can overcome sub par production with their presence alone but Eminem tried his best with Dre’s beats and in my opinion, I just think when Eminem produces his own tracks he gets better results. I really haven’t played back the entire album no more than three times. It just not the Eminem that I’ve come to love but hopefully Relapse 2 has a better outcome musically.

Eminem’s Relapse Track Listing

*Stand out Tracks

1. Dr. West (Skit)
2. *3 A.M.
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 (feat. Dr. Dre)
14. Must Be the Ganja
15. Mr. Mathers
16. Déjà Vu
17. *Beautiful
18. Crack a Bottle (feat. Dr. Dre and 50 Cent)
19. Steve Berman (Skit)
20. *Underground / Ken Kaniff