REVIEW

The man who put 8 Mile on the map is back with a new album “Recovery” that was recently leaked onto the web. So, where does Eminem’s latest release rank among the hits of Slim Shady’s past like 2004’s “Encore” and 2000’s “The Marshall Mathers LP?” That depends on what you were expecting this time around. 

 On one side, “Cold Wind Blows” pokes fun at various celebrities like Elton John in a similar fashion that made songs like “My Name Is” famous at the beginning of his career.

If Eminem wants to secure his place as one of the best MCs in hip-hop history, he needs to grow out of the immature nature and leave those songs on the cutting room floor. Luckily, there are not many tracks like that on “Recovery.”

On the other side, Eminem makes another attempt at showing maturity in “Not Afraid” and succeeds by proclaiming, “So I solemnly swear to always treat this roof like my daughters and raise it.”

 “Love The Way You Lie” is the highlight of Recovery, supplying a sweet flow over a piano beat that accompanies a wonderful chorus from the talented Rihanna. “Love The Way You Lie” is likely to be a radio hit because of Eminem’s ability to bring people from different musical styles together and make it work, which is also obvious in “No Love,” featuring Lil Wayne. 

 “No Love” is a great contrast of two different artists who share a common ground and ideal of love for music. It’s refreshing to hear Eminem, one of the major hip-hop acts of the early decade, sharing the mic with Lil Wayne, who is securing his place as one of the most popular acts of our generation.

 In most cases, he succeeds with that ability, but unfortunately with “Won’t Back Down” featuring pop singer Pink, the song lacks the depth to make a statement most likely because Pink lacks the strong vocal talent to make any sort of impression on the listener.  

 Whether or not you’re a fan of Eminem, “Recovery” deserves some of your time. Rather than pushing out played out album after album, Eminem took time off between 2005 through 2009 and seems to be focusing on quality rather than quantity.

If you were expecting a complete change and deviation from Eminem, you might be disappointed, but he is still a talent who aided in bringing Detroit to mainstream media.

 In “Seduction,” the 37-year-old Mathers says “But I’m not giving up till I get my respect, and I won’t stop till I get enough. ‘Cause I’m not living up to my own expectations.”, Eminem seems to finally understand that the only thing that matters is what he expects of himself, and that epiphany is something that we all can respect and relate to.