A good review for encore

[AspirinE]

Encore
Shady/Aftermath, 2004
rating: 2/5
reviewer: chadwicked


On the song "If I Get Locked Up," a Funkmaster Flex compilation track from 1999, Eminem, amidst a barrage of brilliant lines, states "quit fuckin' buyin' it, I'm tired bitch, I'm dyin' to quit." Five years later, we're beginning to wonder -- was he serious?

As Eminem became the biggest rap star in history, it was clear to many people that he was also the most technically sound rapper ever. His command of rhyme schemes, multi-syllable rhymes, his flows -- it was the total package -- a fine polishing of many traits and skills picked up along the way from a number of pioneering influences. What was even more remarkable about Eminem was his deranged humor. The clever quips and quick wit gained him an insurmountable edge. The clown always wins the argument.

Before the hip-hop community had a chance to adjust, Eminem was the most feared individual, possibly ever, in the genre. He even caused heavyweights such as Jay-Z and Nas to tighten up their drawstrings. Just look at the albums of these men since Eminem's arrival on the scene. We've had Jay-Z counting his syllables extra carefully and Nas putting more effort into his writing than he had since the Illmatic days. Both expressed praise, and to a certain extent, worship, towards Em. Jay-Z went ahead and featured him on "Renegades," and Nas subsequently used that against Jay ("Eminem murdered you on your own shit"), but also applauds Eminem indirectly through that lyric. They both knew better than to become enemies with Em. They both knew better than to put their well-established legacies in jeopardy. This is the impact Eminem had.

Many would argue Eminem has been on a decline ever since the Slim Shady LP. Though this can be considered, the lackluster performances really didn't emerge until after the very fine Marshall Mathers LP. Eminem separated himself through alter egos (Slim Shady, Marshall Mathers, Eminem), while at the same time these alter egos functioned to excuse him from under par performances. A diehard fan could always argue the lack of seriousness in a song by claiming it was meant to be ridiculous as to fit the "Slim Shady" persona. The same could be said when things would get a little too sensitive and mushy ("Hailie's Song") -- that's just "Marshall" being real.

The decline of Eminem has come to a head with Encore. The first single, "Just Lose It," was, as expected, overly-poppy with a circus-sounding beat. We know by now that this is the formula for Em's first singles, but where the past three have had some redeeming qualities, this has NONE. The track is vacant of any patented slick humor and has no resemblance to the technically sound work of Eminem. He has set the bar exceptionally low for himself, openly admitting in interviews that the song is about absolutely nothing. The rapidly released second single, "Mosh" (following the strict trend of serious single-after-goofball single), though mindful of important issues, is boring and adolescent.

Upon listening to the album, it becomes immediately obvious that Em has deviated too far from what made him great. There is too much focus (or carelessness, perhaps) on his herky-jerky flows that match drum for drum, and the simple rhymes and tired messages are pathetic. The other striking aspect to the album is how alarmingly reflective he is. There is an over-the-top Kevin Williamson-type of self-awareness here as well. Eminem is certain of his impact, definite in his self-analysis, and conscious of his power.

The reflective songs are the strongest -- "Yellow Brick Road," "Mockingbird," and the surprisingly sincere and mature "Like Toy Soldiers." Aside from these three songs, the album is more like an elementary school birthday party, complete with naughty cuss words, annoying singing, and bathroom humor. That's not to say this hasn't been Em's domain in the past, but it has been pushed beyond its limits on Encore. Unbearable nursery rhyme hooks and incoherent verses littered with pop culture references cause a constant cringe. The production doesn't help matters.

Kanye West was recently quoted as saying: "Eminem has some of the best drums in hip hop." This coupled with his opinion that Em is one of the top beat-makers around. Don't let the most times-reputable Kanye West's assertions fool you -- Eminem's production is mostly synth garbage. And the drums -- don't even make me get descriptive. Em has proven to have some rare shining moments with his production, but most of these occasions are due to heavy sample jacks. The lowly production on the album of both Em and Dre fades from thought as the lyrics continue to boggle.

Em speaks of an "experiment" on "Big Weenie." This experiment must be what he describes in "Ass Like That." "I can get away with anything I say and you will love it." So that's what this is all about. The self-aware Eminem knows, and is directly telling us, that we will adore anything he releases. It seems he has found proof in his experiments and is now confident enough to throw the results in all of our faces. Therefore, Eminem has chosen to take all the liberties he's earned and use them, use them, USE THEM. He's at the point where nobody can tell him otherwise -- not Dre, not 50 Cent, not Jimmy Iovine. They can't tell him otherwise because they know he's right. Dismally, this wild public experiment doesn't make for a good album. Maybe in the future, critical essays written about Eminem by scholars will claim it is -- stressing that Encore is a bold Andy Kaufman type of artistic statement, ranking up there with Dylan's Self Portrait. For now though, it's shameful trash -- perhaps he's pushing us because he's truly "dyin' to quit."

1. Curtains Up (Encore Version)
2. Evil Deeds
3. Never Enough
4. Yellow Brick Road
5. Like Toy Soldiers
6. Mosh
7. Puke
8. My 1st Single
9. Paul (skit)
10. Rain Man
11. Big Weenie
12. Em Calls Paul (skit)
13. Just Lose It
14. Ass Like That
15. Spend Some Time
16. Mockingbird
17. Crazy In Love
18. One Shot 2 Shot
19. Final Thought (skit)
20. Encore / Curtains Down




I for one dont exactly agree about Mosh but it could have been better.
NEver enough is a great song however.

[holly89]

encore was shit

[Jay-19]

Damn! He make it sound like Encore is the worst album ever dropped!
I don't think it's that bad at all, there's alot of good tracks like, Spend some time, Evil deeds, Crazy in love, Encore...

[AspirinE]

Damn! He make it sound like Encore is the worst album ever dropped!
I don't think it's that bad at all, there's alot of good tracks like, Spend some time, Evil deeds, Crazy in love, Encore...

well thats the reason he rated it 2/5 ... thats totally fair in my opinion.

There are many good albums thatcould be rated 3/5 that are better than Encore.

The thing is - Eminem openly agrees that he does make Wack tracks, and that as long as HE makes them people will buy it. It's just funny how eminem makes fun of his own so called fans that protect his records.

Maybe hes just trying to make a some kind of move in his carreer.

I wish em could release something on an independant lable. it would be millions of times better.

[DarkMan]

Yeh.....You have to kinda agree. It fucked up in the middle. If that had been replaced with straight from the lab, it'd of been a much better album.

straight for the lab was mostly diss tracks.......it wouldnt have fit in with 'like toy soldiers' on the album

[AspirinE]

He pisses me off. He just doesn't try....coz he knows he will sell. I dont think anybody should buy them if they wack, then he'll have to try.

thats the point..

I like the quote that the article has "quit buying it, im dying to quit"

lol.

[DarkMan]

Oh yeah......fuck it take toy soldiers out.....no coz then it wouldnt work....oh i dunno

no way take toy soldiers out!!! thats one of the best songs on encore...

[DarkMan]

But get rid of big weenie, rain man, and the other wack songs?

well for me......leave rainman(i like it for some reason)

take out big weenie, ass like that, puke, my 1st single, 1 shot 2 shot, just lose it........damn thats nearly half the album

[yoshi]

^ yep. plus bonus track was dope, tho those songs have been known already..

[matz]

i think ecore had its moments.... evil deeds, never enoguh, yellow brick road, like toy soldiers, mosh, spend some time, mockingbird, crazy in love, encore curtains down, love you more and we as americans make this an outstnading album.

puke, my 1st single, rain man, big weenie, just lose it, ass like that and one shot 2 shot make this an absoloutley awful album.

eventhough i do think rain man is funny

[DarkMan]

i seriously hope eminem sees these bad reviews of encore and produce us with a fucking classical album...just as good as the eminem show....before he really retires...

seriously, he cant go out with encore (curtain call doesnt count) ..... no more of these wack songs!!!

[DarkMan]

i think ecore had its moments.... evil deeds, never enoguh, yellow brick road, like toy soldiers, mosh, spend some time, mockingbird, crazy in love, encore curtains down, love you more and we as americans make this an outstnading album.

puke, my 1st single, rain man, big weenie, just lose it, ass like that and one shot 2 shot make this an absoloutley awful album.

eventhough i do think rain man is funny

you divided the album well

[AspirinE]

i seriously hope eminem sees these bad reviews of encore and produce us with a fucking classical album...just as good as the eminem show....before he really retires...

seriously, he cant go out with encore (curtain call doesnt count) ..... no more of these wack songs!!!

I believe he knows.


I bet he knows that the album wasnt as good as it could have been. It already sold twice less. If next album is the same as encore - its gonna be the end of eminem. His reign lasted almost 4 years, its just how every artistr is, he has his ups and downs. he will have to try really hard to get back to his regular level.

[SlurveBaller66]

i agreed with that review. i love em's music but encore wasn't up to par with the rest of it. i thought Mosh sucked.... but the songs i liked were

Never Enough
Spend Some Time
Like Toy Soldiers
Encore

[shady_soldierz]

i want da 3 minutes of my life bak !!!

i think encore was a great album ...all da songs were good.....im not just sayin dat cuz i like eminem....songs like :just loose it, ass like that, big weenie, rainman. i found those songs funny or amusing....all da songs were good...

maybe he didnt do as well as in da other albums,da album was still worth buyin

if u dont like eminem anymore go on a benzino forum lol (if he can afford
hes own wesite....does he have one lol)

well dats just my opinion....i c noone made a possitive reply in this topic so watta hek.......








P.S.:fuk kanye west....