Recovery vs Relapse: Which one was more rushed?

[Snakebeast]

Em likes to say that on Relapse, he was flushing them out. Well, fuck that shit. Relapse was beautifully crafted, from the skits to the structure to the beats. Everything felt very natural and carefully put together. He DEFINITELY put a lot of time into Relapse.

Ironically, Recovery's the one that felt rushed. It came out a year after Relapse (shortest album wait ever) and featured a completely different style. Strange structuring, HORRIBLE production, generic hooks, and no skits (though I understand why he didn't put them in).

What do you think?

[eminembound]

Recovery
I din't even need to think about it.

[VictorVerzion5]

Recovery

[UofLCard]

If you mean creation-wise, then the answer is Recovery. Eminem changed directions circa September 2009, then released it about nine months later.

Ironically, Recovery's the one that felt rushed. It came out a year after Relapse (shortest album wait ever)

MMLP came out about a year after after SSLP.

[EminemInsider]

Relapse just seems like it happened more naturally. Eminem started writing and recording again, and put together a bunch of songs he liked enough to make into an album.

[Snakebeast]

If you mean creation-wise, then the answer is Recovery. Eminem changed directions circa September 2009, then released it about nine months later.

Ironically, Recovery's the one that felt rushed. It came out a year after Relapse (shortest album wait ever)

MMLP came out about a year after after SSLP.

But MMLP had a similar style to SSLP, at least in comparison to Relapse and Recovery.

[EminemBase]

Recovery by a mile/IN OTHER WORDS 1609.3 METRES!!!!

Relapse is really fucking honed and detailed... there's a consistent style of writing and rapping throughout and it's very unique and totally different to any of his other albums...

Also, Dre's production is completely unique and consistent throughout AND also goes perfectly with Em's weird style; it's a perfect marriage that you get on a classic album like an Ilmatic or an SSLP where the beats just go perfectly with the rap style, they compliment each other...

Where as Recovery is like... well one critic put it I think the best in that, they said something like it feels like an old fighter trying any tricks in the book to regain past glory and often losing his grip; that's exactly what it's like. There's no consistency of attitude or musical style, the only consistent thing is his rap style but... one minute he's like "FUCK THE WORLD, FUCK ALL OF YOU, I'M SO ANGRY" the next he's apologizing for past work, the next he's being like a wounded puppy, the next he's... he's just like literally trying every kind of idea like he's really trying to be loved.

He's never done that before.

He had the right idea when he returned; which is also why it's such bullshit that Relapse was made in a 'hazy daze' of coming out of drugs lmao, that's just an excuse to justify Recovery. You don't fucking write "Stay Wide Awake" in a haze, and, he isn't slap happy - the wit is very assured on that album, and I even remember before it came out - some intern said something like Em was being completely OCD about every detail of Relapse... and you can tell; it's not the kind of album rushed or made in an unsure state, it's a very confident, detailed, very specific album...

Which is the complete opposite of what he says to the public lmao. Pretending Recovery is that; really!? When you're using years old hooks, samples, bringing in pop stars and rapping over the beats of every 'now/hot' producer working in an attempt to conform to trend; THAT'S the confident one? Like fuck, that's the "okay shit, I feel lost - please love me, look, I'm like other rappers!!" albums, hence lines like "you said it you want your punchlines a little more compact" and "Shady's got the mass appeal baby"... really Em? You're saying you've got mass appeal like that's something to be proud of

In many ways Recovery is desperate and a more morose picture of Em than Encore. BUT, it still has some incredible music and overall is very enjoyable.

But let's not kid ourselves, Recovery is a rushed reactionary apology and act of desperation.

[Willy]

Recovery was definitely more rushed...

He took his time with Relapse, working with Dr. Dre in Indonesia crafting it. I remember it fondly. They labored from dusk to dawn, crafting an album the two truly believed in. The finished project was beautiful...there wasn't much depth to it but it definitely accomplished what it set out to do. The reception, however, was less than desirable. Critic, fan, and label pressure eventually got to him and mothered Recovery. A distant star, billions of years old, died. And that, my children, is how compromised albums are born.

[EminemBase]

Recovery was definitely more rushed...

He took his time with Relapse, working with Dr. Dre in Indonesia crafting it. I remember it fondly. They labored from dusk to dawn, crafting an album the two truly believed in. The finished project was beautiful...there wasn't much depth to it but it definitely accomplished what it set out to do. The reception, however, was less than desirable. Critic, fan, and label pressure eventually got to him and mothered Recovery. A distant star, billions of years old, died. And that, my children, is how compromised albums are born.

I wouldn't say there's not much depth to Relapse.

In terms of lyricism, character and detail... there's a lot of depth. Far more than Recovery.

[Willy]

I don't think either album has that much depth... so one having more depth than the other isn't much of an accomplishment. I actually like Relapse a lot but I still think -conceptually- it had a lot more potential.

Edit

I don't have time atm to respond and I'm having issues explaining what I mean so ill try again after work gnaw mean?

[EminemBase]

I don't think either album has that much depth... so one having more depth than the other isn't much of an accomplishment. I actually like Relapse a lot but I still think -conceptually- it had a lot more potential.

Regardless of the comparison, Relapse has depth.

[Willy]

He's in character but theres no underlying irony or social commentary.. there are a few occurences and certainly instances of aristic flair in the writing :P.. but as a whole I think he could have done a lot more with the concept.

[EminemBase]

Wasn't Relapse made in just a little bit over a year?

Not to forget that he made enough material to put out 3 albums.
Which is why I don't think "rushed" is an appropriate word here because Em can knockout 10 songs a week, he's a workhorse.

So, as EmBase said...he had an idea he strongly believed in when he made Relapse. A genius like Em only needs that to kick back and create greatness.

Which is also why it's taking him so long to put out another album, he could've released another album in 2011 but it wouldn't be interesting because it's just Em spitting some rhymes with no actual vision or concept.

Yeah well I hope to fuck he's taken this long because he's really into what he's doing and is fina create a deep classic rather than he's struggling to come up with material on some writer's block shit.

[EminemBase]

He's in character but theres no underlying irony or social commentary.. there are a few occurences and certainly instances of aristic flair in the writing :P.. but as a whole I think he could have done a lot more with the concept.

Well, there certainly is underlying irony throughout the record.

"Come on toots, give me the valium, alley-oop"... he's totally melded in to the mindset of a slap-happy, gleeful psychopath and he captures the psyche perfectly and makes it comical and dark; that in itself is ironic because psychopathy in itself isn't necessarily comical or entertaining, he makes it so.

As for social commentary... not every record calls for it, there's flickers of it but it's a very insular concept so why would he be commenting on society when he's going through some spazzy, psychootic drug rampage and murder-spree... the concept doesn't call for it...

Not that I'm saying he could just do it at will at that point but, the concept doesn't call for it...

Depends what the intent and tone of the project is.

[Willy]

Can't respond atm so I'm reserving a spot