Critical reaction to what I have casually termed “The Greatest Musical Event of All Time” has been, shall we say, mixed. In general, reviews of Recovery have applauded Eminem’s lyrics but panned the production. I don’t even know what “production” means. And when I lived in LA I slept with a lot of dudes who worked “in production” and I don’t think they knew what it meant either, other than that it meant they were going to take my 21-year-old, 110-pound body to the studio where the “production” took place and then have sex with it.
What were we talking about again?
AH YES THIS ALBUM.
It’s fucking brilliant on like a bazillion levels. It is an album of recovery from the death of a best friend, lost suddenly and senselessly. It is an album of recovery from a near-fatal addiction to alcohol and drugs. Most importantly, it is an album of self-recovery, the internal monologue of a man realizing that his genius is enduring and inherent, that the genius was not built upon the drugs. It’s an emotional journey and Eminem captures every instant perfectly.
I’ll quote my long-ago ex-boyfriend’s recent Facebook status update:
3 Days into #Recovery by @Eminem. #Eminem, #Greatestrappertoeverlive, #bestrapalbumever, #everyoneelseintherapbusinesslooksfoolish
DEAD ON.
And this is the dude who seriously thought I was going to orgasm with him while Dave Matthews Band was invading my ears and my vagina. You’ve come a long way, baby.
Anyway. “Cinderella Man,” my fave, is up top, and “Seduction,” another fave, is after the jump.
My favorites are Talkin To Myself and You're Never Over. Both are so personal and freakin amazing. The whole album is actually XD
Critical reaction to what I loosely called “the greatest musical event of all time” was, well, mixed. In general, the comments struck recovery text Eminem, but panned the production.
portable media player
I was sad to hear Em kinda trashing Relapse in a few interviews — I thought it was good — but this album is, clearly, a different animal. Recovery's a totally serious album, so maybe the lightness and humor of Relapse is what he's criticizing. I have to say I was skeptical (Rihanna? Errrr . . . ) but I *love* the song Love the Way You Lie, as well as Cinderella Man. But my favorite is So Bad! Got it on loop!
AHHHHH!!!!! i love you EB! you are Hilarious!!!! please fire everyone one else and come to my house and read every post to me!
OMG!!!! I'm so excited about this album, i haven't got it yet because payday's until friday lol but i heard it on youtube as soon as you started talking about it Beet, and i completely agree with you.
It is so brilliant, and actually, a couple of songs made me cry (“Not Afraid” “25 to Life” and “You are never over”) I LOVED it and i can't wait to go get it.
Also Beet, i REALLY liked your review of the cd, you know how to sell.. lol
Oh yeah, and my fav songs are “25 to life” and obviously “Going through changes”
Oh yeah, and my fav songs are “25 to life” and obviously “Going through changes”
God bless you Eminem,how’s everythang my good friend