Ok Eminem, we get it. You have a strange obsession with serial killers, you hate your mom, fame doesn’t suit you – seriously, (serially) we get it. From a critic’s point of view, Relapse, Em’s latest release, to put it bluntly, sucks. It doesn’t push the artist in any new directions – his first single was the poppiest, and crappiest song on the LP, he rehashes the same sentiments with new names inserted – in other words, it’s a formulaic and completely expected outcome from somebody who bullied himself onto the scene with a non formulaic flow. As Jim Derogatis from the Sun Times put it, “The precise moment when Eminem jumped the shark can be debated; I’m torn between whether it was the duet with Elton John at the Grammys telecast in 2001–which followed “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999 and “The Marshall Mathers LP” in 2000, both of which sold 9 million copies–or his starring turn in the 2002 film “8 Mile.” But the impulse behind both of those projects was the same.” These things are all true.

But speaking as a fan, this shit is raw, dog! Listen, I don’t care if it’s formulaic – even the Beatles had to battle that argument (after all – that’s what pop music is, isn’t it?) – he writes raunchy rap music with a staccato flow – and despite what Asher Roth thinks – nobody comes close to it. Shock rock/rap is obviously soooo 1990’s, but I’m not afraid to admit that I like Em, I really like Slim Shady, and Marshall – you’re not so bad either. Certainly one could say that you have to up the ante with each release, and being an A-Lister like Eminem, he should be well aware of the prowess and what is expected of him. Let’s take a look at it from another prospective though – as he admits in one of his oft remembered Steve Berman skits – the industry is burning down all around us – why not put something out that is 1. Perfectly expected; 2. Highly anticipated; and 3. Ripe for large sales across the board? I mean shit – rap music is forgettable almost seconds after it’s released – so why expect something of this scope that is experimental, raw and emotional? Isn’t that what mix tapes are for? He’s just a guy – he says it to us over and over again. He doesn’t want to be critically acclaimed – he wants to let things out through a mic and a pen and paper – so let’s just enjoy the fact that he’s back, ok?

Mp3: Eminem – 3 a.m.

Mp3: Eminem – If I Get Locked Up Tonight (ft. Dr. Dre, Funkmaster Flex)