Music Review: Eminem: “Encore”
| Published 12/03/04

Graphic by: Doni Neel

So here's his new album, "Encore," and it's probably the most surprising collection he's released so far. After 2002's “Eminem Show,” as well as his tracks for the "8 Mile" soundtrack that same year, fans are probably expecting a more serious Eminem, the guy who did more sincere tracks like "Lose Yourself" and "Sing For The Moment." This isn't the case here. This is probably his funniest, wackiest album since "The Slim Shady LP."

After taking himself just a little too seriously for awhile, Em is back to just basically clowning around. Of course there's the first single, "Just Lose It," which a lot of people have hated on, saying its just a retread of his past singles like "The Real Slim Shady," and "Without Me," but on closer listen it plays like a parody of those songs. Like he's saying, "Yeah, you want a stupid-funny first single, here it is, and I'm not even going to try too hard. I can do this crap in my sleep." It works. That's all I'm saying.

Then you've got "Rain Man" with Em admitting that he's not making any sense and also that he doesn't care that he's not making sense, all the while manipulating a Dr. Dre vocal sample that pops up in the most inappropriate places. Other goofy songs include "My First Single," "Puke" and "Ass Like That," on which he does all of his verses in the voice of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog for no apparent reason other than because he can do whatever he wants.

As entertaining as those songs are with their sick humor, there are still some straightforward, rather serious tracks. There's the anti-Bush second single "Mosh," and "Yellow Brick Road," where he delves into his past, once again apologizing for the racist comments he made on the late 80s tape “The Source” dug up last year. Probably the best song on the album has to be "Like Toy Soldiers" where he breaks down his whole feud with Benzino and Ja Rule. These songs are serious, but they're not so depressing that they bring down the overall feel of the album.

Other highlights include some impressive guest appearances from 50 Cent and Nate Dogg on "Never Enough," Obie Trice and Stat Quo on "Spend Some Time," and Dr. Dre on the title track "Encore." There really isn't a bad song on here; this is a CD you can play from beginning to end without skipping. That is, if you're an Eminem fan, of course.

A lot of critics are coming down on this album because this isn't the more sociably acceptable Eminem they saw in "8 Mile." If you ask his real fans, this album is the kind of music they've been wanting from him for the last couple of years. I hope he keeps it up; this album is dope.