Eminem's new album, hit or miss??
Breez
1,706 Posts
I have to honestly say, the stuff I've heard from this album didn't impress me at all. He sounds like he hasn't evolved since "The Eminem Show". What does the Strut think??
Comments
I gather the new album is mostly the other Em.
Exactly. I liked 97 Bonnie and Clyde, and did love the below, when I was 17 or so, and a few other of his features, but really never cared for any other of his own tracks...
He did pretty well on this joint, too, but Kwest fuckin' murders it:
He's extremely skilled on a technical level, but makes terrible music. Yngwe Malmsteen of rap.
This is pretty much how I feel about him. I would add, though, that both Stan and Lose Yourself were great pop records, if not necessarily great rap records (does that sound strange?). No question he can rap his ass off, but I can't imagine ever wanting to sit down and listen to any of his records from end to end. In fact, he's probably the only rapper of any real significance who I don't own a single record by.
Exactly how I feel about Eminem.
I only liked some of his features like on "Soundbombing II". Probably it's because I didn't like all Dr. Dre beats after G-Funk heyday either.
Him and DMX in my case.
He always looked like he was wearing an "emcee" costume, to me. The track suits, do-rags, etc. He always looked silly, IMO.
He shares the destiny of Richard Wagner: he`s considered a master of his art or a genius but nevetheless hes pretty much unloved if not abhorred by the critics. The reasons for it are differnt, of course.
peace,xavier
He is definitely not "unloved by critics"; he is, in fact, vastly over-rated by both rap and pop critics.
one of the best rappers ever..... making some of the worst music ever. i like his joints about mariah though...
I.E. core rap audience in 2010.
I feel like hes saying some cool shit on this record, and I appreciate his perspective and I think he pulled off something really great for eminem fans.
....But i mean im sure as hell not listening to it.
Now PLEASE don't try and find a way to flip this around and assume I condone the despicable ugliness.
This is the least substantial kind of critique to make of music. I liken it to going to a concert, turning your back to the stage, and just looking at the people who are there. You critique the audience but turn your back on the music. The difference between this simile and the reality of your critique is that you do not actually have a perspective on the audience, like you would at a concert. Your private mind-garden stereotype of "who likes eminem" misrepresents the diversity of his audience (Or any artist's audience, for that matter).
I don't think its acceptable discuss these stereotypes with a reductive critique, but I do think its legitimate to point out that stereotypes of listeners are in circulation for most artists and types of music. (Indeed, these discourses of imagined audiences are a big part of what sells records) If you make a point about how music addresses an imagined audience or a stereotypical listeners. Then I'm all ears, because then you are saying something of substance about what work the music does.
My $.02 on what I've heard on the radio:
I was listening to shade 45 and they played a track where Em raps over a sample from the first mandrill album (Symphonic Revolution? maybe) produced by Denaun Porter. I thought it was pretty sick.
the "what is love" sample joint with wayne is :why must I cry?:
Pretty sure I wouldn't have gone out and bought it, but I was working at a record store when it came out and did play it a bunch at the time. The first track on that album was pretty sick, better than the hits from it. Haven't checked for anything since beyond knowing the radio hits.
selling over a million in a couple of weeks is a pretty good trick to pull off in 2010 tho.
I've got It's Dark And Hell Is Hot, but the only thing I play off that any more is Get At Me Dog.
There is something about the pitch of his voice. I've never liked the whiny voice MC. Normally when I hear his voice, I want to find him and punch him in the throat to make it stop and never happen again.
I've been a full-on Eminem hater but I am feeling this album. Oddly enough I'm digging the content. The "recovery" themes have resonated with me. After battling my own demons and being supportive of someone I'm close to going through their own addiction issues, I can relate to the material. I never though the words "I digging this Eminem album" would ever come from my mouth.
It's also very telling this is the kind of rap album that sells in 2010.