Rap-Up.com || Review Roundup: Eminem

One of the most-anticipated albums of the year, Eminem’s Relapse, drops Tuesday. After a nearly five-year absence, can Em still win over the critics? The reviews are in.

Entertainment Weekly: Though a smattering of other celebrity goofs (Kim Kardashian, Sarah Palin) feel both dated and beneath him, Relapse’s real resonance comes from the fragile, harrowing genius that lies behind that painted-on grin. A-

Rolling Stone: By letting Dr. Dre take over the low-end-funk production, and rhyming about things he actually cares about, he comes up with a more painful, honest, and vital record than anyone could have expected at this late date, up there with The Eminem Show or maybe even better. 4 out of 5

Chicago Tribune: Has the pathological smart-aleck finally become a self-parody? He admits as much in “Same Song and Dance.” But the funniest and most honest moment arrives just as the album fades. It depicts Eminem (as the character Ken Kaniff) at another rehab meeting, trying out an X-rated soft-shoe routine on another audience, which quickly abandons him. 1 out of 5

Chicago Sun-Times: Mostly crafted by his old mentor and producer, Dr. Dre, the music is just as stale and predictable, full of Dre’s overrated bubblegum hooks and cheesy gothic ambience. The one exception is the Middle Eastern flavor of “Bagpipes from Baghdad,” but Eminem blows the opportunity to offer a sequel/update to the track that remains his finest moment with more throw-away lines about Mariah Carey. 1 out of 4

SPIN: Relapse is really just another overlong summer blockbuster. We sit through it, then go look at pictures of kittens on the Internet, and wait until our souls snap back into place. Eminem has made the world that crushed him a little less fun for us too. 2 out of 5

Los Angeles Times: While Relapse deserves kudos for its formal beauty, the admirable turns of phrase and gymnastic musical moments, it won’t shatter anyone’s world.

USA Today: Eminem is as twisted as ever. His tales of a befogged killing spree and childhood molestation are more disturbing than any star skewering. Dr. Dre’s brooding funk underpins intense rantings and heightens the creepiness of Em’s perverse musings. 3.5 out of 4

Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “Beautiful,” “Old Time’s Sake,” “Bagpipes From Baghdad,” “My Mom”

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25 Comments

Giselle
May 14th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Why does Chicago Tribune always give people 1 out of 5? I remember they did that to Jennifer Hudson and her album won a Grammy.
dagobert
May 14th, 2009 at 10:56 am
The album is, if not eminem’s best, a close second.

Give the guy a chance I mean don’t just judge him because you didn’t like one of the singles, the album is not eminem losing his trone – it’s eminem at his very best even better than before.

The reviews prove it, its either very good or very bad, that’s what happens with great albums.

History won’t remember the haters though, eminem is back and I’m glad he is.
namdo
May 14th, 2009 at 11:29 am
The album is awesome, but no MMLP or Eminem show.
dc
May 14th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Lyrically, this is Em as good as he’s ever been. Just listen to 3AM or Insane and you know nobody can deliver the way Eminem can. It’s surprisingly refreshing to hear Em back. Other rappers in the game are nice, but they can’t spit the way he does.

I give this album a ‘B’ though, just because I don’t see myself listening to the whole album through and through, say, a year from now. Bottom line: the content is nothing THAT new from Eminem, which means it lacks replay value
Blink
May 14th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Hello
Hello

Allow me to reintroduce myself

My name is

Shhhady

–

Album is amazing
Catie
May 14th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Reviews never make my decision. I’m still buying this album no matter what, I’ve been excited for it for months.
Chicago
May 14th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
At this point Chicago is in no place to talk after the 100% backflip are presidents doing.

I can see why it got rated low because if obamas a socialist we all know how much they hate eminem..

Every fan likes the album every critic doesnt.
Omari Cole
May 14th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
album is ok.
april
May 14th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
album is same old stuff attack women and forgod sake get over the fact that mariah turned you down ive never in my life seen anybody who wants to convince the world that he slept with a certain woman i liked him in the beginning but ive never seen where he went after somebody big and i dont mean jarule he does has skills but he never had to do anything but go after girls how can you be the best when you have not beat the best but thats my opinion GOD BLESS
bass_man
May 14th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
The singles do not impress me AT ALL.

There’s like no growth…
tony
May 14th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
The singles are pretty bad, and I don’t like the overuse of his fake high pitched voice… but other than that this album is pretty good. Way better than encore… obviously
TE
May 15th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Listen to the Infinite (free download from Thisis50 and then Relapse – you will see the evolution the guy has gone through as an artist.

Relapse is a great album and a comeback second to none – well, maybe except for George Foreman’s. It is difficult to compare to Eminem Show, because Relapse is much darker. Emotion wise, the closest comparison poist from Em’s career might ne SSLP and I think Relapse is at least as good, probably better.

I speculate that Relapse 2 will contain the features and it will be less dark. Most of its content was recorded last fall when Dre and Em got in fire as they were supposed to just wrap up Relapse 1. That’s also when Elton John was spotted in Detroit. Em will not release two records with identical concept so there will be a difference for sure. I think it will be the features and a lighter, party mood. Aleady looking forward to R2!!!
DAVIDF
May 15th, 2009 at 11:35 am
As usual the parody thing, Making fun of others because there is no good soul to reflect, just the puppet show. can’t take him seriously on any song, I visualize an angry person when his tracks come out.RETIRE EMINEM LET THE GOOD MUSIC TAKE YOU OVER.
KaGe
May 15th, 2009 at 11:49 am
The Relapse album is and actual album not just a collection of songs…its tells a story and is a creative concept…the idea of the albulm is to follow him while he is relapsing into drugs, and into his dark slim shady character..but even more deeper to the point he is out of his mind..and he delivers that in his flow and “insane” rhyme patterns… Its something you wont see alot of people try to do especially in this day of rap.

To me Relapse is like a horror movie where you are inside the mind of the delusional man mad on his drug trip. That’s why he is all over the place one moment its the pyscho character talking about killing women, then there are sprinkles of him talking about some person issues.

As far as the Mariah thing I think the idea of the song IS to make him seem delusional as he is tripping off the drugs. Then finally at the very end of the CD he is coming down and you get tracks like Deja vu and Beautiful.

I wouldn’t say this is his best collection of songs but its as new concept… I like it..very creative and good storytelling…the beats and flow are on point…that being said… if your looking for radio cuts this isn’t the CD for you..

That is all.
NUSH
May 15th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
THE NAME OF THE ALBUM:RELAPSE…ITS LIKE RELAPSING BACK TO SLIM SHADY LP…THIS ALBUM REMINDS ME A LOT OF SSLP WHERE HE RAPS ABOUT CUTTING UP PPL TILL THEIR BLOOD SPILLS WHEN ITS STILL BLUE…THAT IS EMINEM WE KNOW…IF U DIDNT LIKE EMINEM BEFORE..U WOULDNT LIKE THIS ALBUM…IF U DID LIKE EMINEM U WOULD LOVE THIS ALBUM…THE LYRICS ARE TRULY AMAZING.RHYMES ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD…THE CONTENT..IM SICK OF LISTENING TO PPL RAP ABOUT CARS MONEY ..SO EMINEM HAS BROUGHT A CHANGE WHERE IMAGINARY PICTURES ARE DRAWN IN YOUR HEAD OF A MOVIE WITH HIS AMAZING LYRICAL ABILITY WHILE LISTENING TO THE SONGS…IF THIS WAS ANOTHER SLIMSHADY LP IM HOPING RELAPSE 2 WILL BE A MARSHAL MATHERS LP…I GIVE THIS (A-)
anonymous
May 15th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
oh man i have the album and it is SICK, literally. It’s sick in both ways.
b
May 15th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
a
b
May 15th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
This is the best lyrically eminem ever has been, his flow is amazing to the point where he has to change it almost every song to fit the rhyme schemes and alliterations that he is using on every track…Yeah review guys get caught up in the story if the album doesn’t have some inner deeper meaning it is absurdity, and the subject matter on this album is very thin…but it is eminem having fun and rap flow at its best and at points most deep…buy the album, you wont regret it
timdogg
May 16th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Eminem makes me forget the beats. I now wanna rhyme.
Shirro
May 17th, 2009 at 2:56 am
@Nush l totally agree with you we are all tired of hearing fake Rappers talk and lie about fast cars and Money with the recession on…Em did his thing…He is the best Emcee…not Officer Ricky(liar). l must get this album on the first week f**k the reviews…One for me and anoda for my baby…..Haterz keep hating…. Em IS BACK !!!!
Music Critic
May 17th, 2009 at 5:05 am
I’d give the album a 2/4, because its lyrically good, yet its all the same. There’s little growth musically yet I feel that the album jus pours too much into each track, spilling a lot of unneccesary analogies/metaphors, it makes it difficult to actually enjoy the song. Like haven’t we already heard Em talk about females & hate on people already? Its basically the same songs infused with different beats & new words & so its all the same, but it deserves more than a 1/5 so a 2/4 it will be (it doesn’t matter if its a hit or not, its the vibe I get!).
pdeez
May 19th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
this is SLIM SHADY .. pay attention this is NOT eminem… best story telling he’s done to date .. prolly not .. best flows song per song .. yup. listen to it and see if you can even keep up while readin the lyics. haters just want to hate and listen to soulja boy or sum other whack shit and enjoy their pre-school rhymes where car rhymes with far. bitches…. listen to bonus track “my darling” and then realize Relapse 2 is going to knock your tube socks off .. OR just stick to sheldon silverstein books
Mike
May 21st, 2009 at 11:31 pm
^cosign.
DErek
June 4th, 2009 at 4:09 am
This might be the best musical composition by anyone, ever in the history. This ranks up there with Mozart and Beethoven.
This must be listened to from the very beginning, skipping no skits or tracks.
Let this album take you for a relapse.

Amazing. 5/5 stars.
ASID
February 20th, 2010 at 8:32 am
album grows on you

if ya don’t like it..either ur a hater….or ur not ready to listen to some dark music coming straight form the mind of an addict