Rating: NNN
This guy went from effortlessly firing off genius internal rhymes like “Better call the fire department, I’ve hired a arsonist to set fire to carpet and burn up your entire apartment” in the underground to tantalizing the mainstream by focusing on every aspect of his life. Last year’s disappointing Encore proved the only gas Eminem hadn’t run out of was being used for farting and burping in the vocal booth. He had to cancel his Anger Management tour due to a sleeping pill addiction, so this isn’t the best time for Shady (who’s also built a strong reputation as a terrible beatmaker) to be bowing, as he does on the album cover, with roses at his feet. Most of these hits are brilliant but overplayed, and the new songs (including Fack, an unlistenable song about cumming too early, scream-rapped in the voice of Cartman, and Shake That, a Nate Dogg song featuring Eminem) just make you sad. The only standout is Stan, recorded live at the Grammies, with Elton John.
