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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Brave, brilliant and beholden to nobody — Eminem has returned a giant.
91
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
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
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.
80
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
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
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
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.
12y
70
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.
10y
60
As Relapse's highlights prove, it's when he talks about himself that he really grabs your attention.
60
The question remains unanswered, because while it was, undeniably, dull without him, Relapse is less 12 steps than a stumbling one backwards.
12y
60
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
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
There isn’t one legitimate funky snap in the album’s entire running time.
50
Relapse is billed as a return to form, but it plays more like a departure note.
12y
50
Shady’s back – but the tired retreads and schlock horror make it a joyless return.
12y
50
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
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.
12y
50
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.
12y
48
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.
12y
43
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.
43
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.
12y
40
Relapse is undiluted world-hate, a comeback record that screams: Don’t you wish I was still gone?!
12y
40
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
Relapse is not much more than a brightly polished turd of old-hat hate, incompatible with the direction society is headed.
12y
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
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
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
Relapse is Eminem's 5th Studio Album, Four Years after the Release of Encore. I Would Maybe Call this Eminem's Most Interesting Album. This was made After Marshall became Sober and Came Out Clean.
This Album is a Great Return and one of the Best Albums I've Heard so Far from Him. At Worst, It Isn't to Bad, Just Doesn't Click to my Ears but at Best, It has some of Marshall's Best Songs he has Made in his Discography.
Some of my Favourites are "Old Time's Sake", "Deja Vu", ... read more
Contributions By
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Track List
| 1 | Dr. West (Skit) 1:29 | 77 |
| 2 | 3 a.m. 5:19 | 82 |
| 3 | My Mom 5:19 | 71 |
| 4 | Insane 3:01 | 78 |
| 5 | Bagpipes from Baghdad 4:43 | 78 |
| 6 | Hello 4:08 | 71 |
| 7 | Tonya (Skit) 0:42 | 67 |
| 8 | Same Song & Dance 4:06 | 79 |
| 9 | We Made You 4:29 | 76 |
| 10 | Medicine Ball 3:57 | 66 |
| 11 | Paul (Skit) 0:19 | 71 |
| 12 | Stay Wide Awake 5:19 | 80 |
| 13 | Old Time's Sake 4:38 feat. Dr. Dre | 78 |
| 14 | Must Be the Ganja 4:02 | 67 |
| 15 | Mr. Mathers (Skit) 0:42 | 73 |
| 16 | Déjà vu 4:43 | 89 |
| 17 | Beautiful 6:32 | 91 |
| 18 | Crack a Bottle 4:57 | 83 |
| 19 | Steve Berman (Skit) 1:29 | 72 |
| 20 | Underground 6:11 | 79 |
Total Length: 1 hour, 16 minutes
Year End Lists
| #11 | / | Complex |
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