Relapse

Eminem - Relapse
Critic Score
Based on 26 reviews
2009 Ratings: #785 / 923
User Score
2009 Rank: #283
Liked by 165 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
Evening Standard
Brave, brilliant and beholden to nobody — Eminem has returned a giant.
91
Entertainment Weekly

Though a smattering of other celebrity goofs (Kim Kardashian, Sarah Palin) feel both dated and beneath him, Relapse’s real resonance comes from the fragile, harrowing genius that lies behind that painted-on grin.

80
Gigwise

Eminem's finest release since 'The Marshall Mathers LP'. An album where the rapper finally casts a candid spotlight of truth on the unanswered questions raised during his years in the wilderness.

80
The Telegraph

Over 20 relentless tracks, he piles rhyme on top of rhyme till your brain hurts trying to keep up. Funny and furious, the album is a virtuoso display to make young pretenders sound like rank amateurs.

80
NOW Magazine
If you’re able to tolerate the graphic descriptions of rape, incest, drug abuse, dismemberment and felching (Google it), the reward is an incredible amount of introspection, and top-shelf production by Dr. Dre throughout adds to the replayability factor.
80
AllMusic

He's emerged from his exile musically re-energized and the best way to illustrate that is to go through the same old song and dance again, the familiarity of the words drawing focus on his insane, inspired flow and Dre's production.

80
Rolling Stone

By letting Dr. Dre take over the low-end-funk production, and rhyming about things he actually cares about, he comes up with a more painful, honest and vital record than anyone could have expected at this late date, up there with The Eminem Show or maybe even better.

80
AllHipHop

While it’s a truly enjoyable listen from beginning to end, it’s slightly unbalanced. The exclusion of a couple of Slim Shady’s murderous flow-fests in favor of more heart-wrenching reflective gems could’ve have made Relapse the perfect album Marshall has yet to craft.

70
HipHopDX
For one of the very few superstars in Hip Hop who has made his career on lyrical content, it is pretty disappointing that after a five year hiatus he came back with so little to say, without his trademark colorful canvas.
60
The Guardian

As Relapse's highlights prove, it's when he talks about himself that he really grabs your attention.

60
Drowned in Sound

The question remains unanswered, because while it was, undeniably, dull without him, Relapse is less 12 steps than a stumbling one backwards.

60
Clash
It’s funny but it’s brutal; it’s bloody but it’s charming; it’s playful but it’s deadly serious. All it lacks is focus enough to take one or two of these sides and shape a true classic from them.
55
Prefix
The production is ultra-clean and the lyrics are delivered with a precision that is not to be scoffed at. But mostly what lasts is the self-pity and anger, which is at least enough to warrant our attention.
50
Slant Magazine
There isn’t one legitimate funky snap in the album’s entire running time.
50
No Ripcord

Relapse is billed as a return to form, but it plays more like a departure note.

50
NME
Shady’s back – but the tired retreads and schlock horror make it a joyless return.
50
musicOMH

He infuses Relapse with occasional sparks, but fails to transcend the same tired themes – except, of course, when he becomes Marshall Mathers, the Recovering Drug Addict.

50
Spectrum Culture
The world has changed, but Eminem has not. And, until he evolves and adapts, he will remain a past-his-prime phenomenon, rather than the mic-slaying legend he rightfully should be.
50
Tiny Mix Tapes

One cannot help but wonder what could have been had Eminem not so often veered away from the interesting overriding thematic arcs found on Relapse of psychosis, drugs, and Mathers genetics.

48
Pitchfork

If Relapse were Eminem in Michael Myers mode, it would be fantastic, but instead he's gone Mike Myers or even Robin Williams, subjecting us to "wacky" accents and a delusional sense that he still has a grip on what's edgy.

43
A.V. Club

Relapse is goofy and playful without being fun or funny. It’s less a relapse than a rehash, less a comeback album than the kind of album artists need to come back from.

43
Consequence of Sound
As the years have gone by I have gained a greater appreciation for Eminem’s importance to the rap world. But returning to this content after the natural, if uninteresting, progression of his music just seems forced and pointless.
40
SPIN

Relapse is undiluted world-hate, a comeback record that screams: Don’t you wish I was still gone?!

40
The Independent

The album quickly becomes drably repetitive, while its dated tone is emphasised by the return of Dr Dre as producer. Only the single "Crack The Bottle" has any real style and swagger, while the other redeeming moments arrive late on,.

30
PopMatters

Relapse is not much more than a brightly polished turd of old-hat hate, incompatible with the direction society is headed.

BradTasteMusic
71

This album holds up tbh. I really enjoy a lot of the songs on here. He plays the character well. Idk man. Rapping is on point

playboiflacko00
85

One of the most overhated albums to come out within the last decade. Relapse stories Eminem’s battle with drug addiction and near fatal overdose which has realism that makes this album slightly more darker yet alluring than his past albums. The rapping/hooks are top notch and not to mention the album has aged pretty well

Best Tracks:
Deja Vu (favorite)
3 A.M. (favorite)
Same Song & Dance (favorite)
We Made You (favorite)
Insane
Stay Wide Awake
Bagpipes from Baghdad
Beautiful

ImpalaLT
71

I wasn’t even alive when his vacation started.

This is first album from Eminem in five years, and it’s way better than Encore. The reason it took Em so long to make this album was because Eminem went into a drug rehab. In 2007, he overdosed on what was the equivalent of a very lethal heroin dose, but amazingly, he pulled through.

It got mixed reviews from both fans and critics, but it sold double platinum, hit #1 on the Billboard 200, and won Eminem a Grammy for Best Rap Album. ... read more

AG10CENTAVOS
100

Here ADJ

daftgin
85

Not the biggest fan of Eminem's whole murderer schtick which is why I can't get into his music, but this album was great start to finish, although it did leave me a little bored at times. I can feel the emotion and soul though.

TheZetaCoreYT
78

Although he isn't going as strong as before, this album is still quite solid with stuff like 3am and Underground. The writing is still great and so are the beats.

Average Score: 79/100
Overall Score: 78/100

Favorites: 3am, Deja Vu, Beautiful, Underground
Least Favorite: Must Be the Ganja

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Track List

1Dr. West (Skit)
1:29
74
23 a.m.
5:19
80
3My Mom
5:19
71
4Insane
3:01
77
5Bagpipes from Baghdad
4:43
76
6Hello
4:08
73
7Tonya (Skit)
0:42
64
8Same Song & Dance
4:06
78
9We Made You
4:29
76
10Medicine Ball
3:57
66
11Paul (Skit)
0:19
67
12Stay Wide Awake
5:19
81
13Old Time's Sake
4:38
feat. Dr. Dre
77
14Must Be the Ganja
4:02
66
15Mr. Mathers (Skit)
0:42
69
16Déjà vu
4:43
88
17Beautiful
6:32
91
18Crack a Bottle
4:57
82
19Steve Berman (Skit)
1:29
69
20Underground
6:11
78
Total Length: 1 hour, 16 minutes

Year End Lists

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