Relapse is Epic

[Mikey1990]

Relapse was a good album
not his best
but he showed lyrically he is as good as ever
im glad his changing content on Relapse 2

[xxTrigger1989xx]

I didn't say that I like it merely because he talks about personal issues...Eminem has loads of personal songs that fucking suck. Deja Vu is great because he talks about serious things while also stringing together clever rhymes and he delivers the song well.

Fair enough but all I care about is how it's done and I think other songs are done better.

How's that? He rhymes well on Stay Wide Awake but the song itself is about nothing, basically. It's just his usual material he says in a number of other recent songs...I appreciate his attempts to push himself to rhyme entire bars but it just isn't really memorable.

Again, this is back to content though. I've listened to enough of personal Eminem material over the past few years. 2002-2005 especially. So I want to hear psycho material.

So to me, it just comes down to the execution. And the use of irony, twisted humour, visual imagery, actual rhyming and flow are much better in this song than "Deja Vu", probably the best on the album.

It's also a story too. There's a narrative to it, that's why on the last verse he's like "Now I use power-tools how bout now are you in the shower?". The lyricism in the song is so beautiful and I know it needs to be a combination but it's SO good in this song, it makes it the best track for me.

Things like "I'm crazy but it's alright with me man life can be so empty / stay away from me cuz I'm dancing to quite a different drum beat" and "such nostalgia and power, such prowess, look how you cower" are such fantastic poetry... It beats "Deja Vu".

And having that personal taste would make you an idiot. Eminem songs about rape and murder are a dime-a-dozen these days...deeply personal songs with thoughtful, creative, and genius rhymes to go with are not. That's like someone preferring to have a room filled with aluminum rather than a room full of gold.

No you're not an idiot if you prefer horrocore rap to personal rap. You're an idiot for saying that. That's the definition of bigotry. You're saying anybody who doesn't share your personal taste is an idiot.

Yes murder songs by him are a dime-a-dozen NOW but they weren't. Everything from 2002-2005 was pure personal rap. I've heard him moan enough about Kim, his mom, Halie an fame. Well enough, there's not really any more spins he can put on it.

People forget so quickly. After things like "When I'm Gone" people were all saying they wish he'd go back to crazy psychotic shit and now he has they miss the personal stuff. He's done the personal stuff to death, time for a new phase.

I did prefer some of the personal stuff when it was the right time like "Soldier" etc. But we're past that now, right now, I want psychotic shit and I'm not an 'idiot' for wanting that.

See, your problem is you ramble on and start to not make sense. "Better irony"? What? How does Same Song And Dance have that? What's witty about that song? It's basically just a concept song with verses dedicated to different female celebrities. Neat idea, but it wasn't executed in a very interesting way. Deja Vu is better than Same Song And Dance in basically every way possible.

No I do make sense. Yes better irony, better use of it. Better sense of irony and wit.

"Same Song & Dance" is a pisstake obviously, of those songs that are just the 'same song and dance' and whilst being a slant against 'that', the chorus ironically sounds like 'the same song and dance' but it's with a twist and it's about a woman doing the 'same song and dance' in a car before he murders her.

Lmao and the twisted humour in it is beautiful. "Just as soon as you pass out in ya alphabet soup" - This is the Eminem I've been missing. The Eminem that made me laugh from irony and sick, twisted, clever tongue-in-cheek humour as apposed to costumes and fart noises.

There's so many better songs than "Deja Vu" BUT, it is a great song. I love it.

I agree with EminemBase. You can't call people idiots just because they don't have the same personal tastes as you do. I enjoy listening to Stay Wide Awake a lot better than Deja Vu. Both are great songs, and I appreciate Em's ability to make the song both serious and witty on Deja Vu, but it's all a matter of taste. So Evan C needs to stop thinking that other people are idiots because they don't like the same shit he does. That, in itself, is IDIOTIC and bigotry

[KillahBee]

Just found this review of Relapse, makes some good points

First, pay attention to the album's title. Relapse. It's titled that for a reason. This is important. Make sure you know what Relapse means. I'm guessing you know, you seem like a smart person.

He's not just Relapsing on drugs here. He's relapsing into Slim Shady. Keep this in mind.

"Dr. West" starts it off. So Em is about to come out of rehab here. They mention the 12 steps. Keep this in mind. 12 STEPS. Remember this. Now, as Dr West and Eminem exchange words, West starts pressuring Eminem to take drugs again. West turns into the devil, and then an alarm clock rings. Eminem has woken up. Obviously it was just a dream.

Guess when he wakes up at? Yeah, "3 A.M.". Now, he flashes back the night before. He takes you through the night and what happened. By the third verse, Slim Shady is in full control.

Now he flashes back again and tells you about how he became addicted to these drugs. He explains that it was his mother's fault. "My Mom" tells you this story.

He has another flashback in the song "Insane" telling you about him being raped as a child. And a number of other things about his mother and step father.

Eminem comes to the realization that he's crazy in "Bagpipes From Baghdad" which is what he's telling you through the song. That's why he raps about Mariah and how he wants her back, and basically brags about how he can kill you easily.

As you can tell in that song, Slim Shady is back. So, he decides to reintroduce himself to the world. In the next song "Hello" he does just that. He also basically tells the drugs brought Shady out.

"Same Song & Dance" follows Shady in stalking, inviting, and murdering his celebrity crushes Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, and some chick Tonya. Which is also the skit before.

"We Made You" is basically a lighter version of "Same Song and Dance" and is basically telling all of the lady celebrities that they want him even if they don't.

"Medicine Ball" tells you that Shady is laughing in your face because he uses you and the world as his medicine ball while telling you he's making a fool of Hannibal Lector, and teaming up with Dexter to do some crazy s***. And, of course he gets Christopher Reeves to come and lay his verse and how he hates Eminem. Shady tells you that it's time to hate him again for using you and the world.

"Stay Wide Awake" tells another crazy story of Shady and how you shouldn't doubt him. He tells you you better stay awake or he'll kill you and uses a story of him and a chick named Brenda as an example.

"Old Time's Sake" is him slowly coming back to his senses and is having some of Shady's thoughts, but also having a good ol' time with Dr Dre.

"Must Be The Ganja" is him telling you that it must be the ganja that's making him high. But by the third verse, he's telling you that all he needs is a pen and paper for lyrics. Basically it means that rapping is getting him high again.

"Deja Vu" is him accepting what these drugs do/did to him. He tells you how it effected certain people including his daughters and telling you that he's been through it before.

"Beautiful" is him reflecting on this.

"Crack A Bottle" is the celebration of him beating these drugs and becoming sober.

"Underground" is him telling you that he's back and he's going back to his crazy, witty rhymes that he used to do early on in his life.

12 STEPS! Count the songs. From 3 A.M. to Deja Vu. 12 songs. Deja Vu is the song where he accepts his problem which is the last step. Each of the first 12 songs were steps and stories to a larger one.

The whole concept of the album? Rehab. 12 steps, the reflection, the celebration, and then him being himself again.

The beginning were flashbacks, the middle were stories of Slim Shady and what the drugs did to him, the ending was him slowly coming out of his drugged state, and accepting it.

People don't give Eminem enough credit. He's not stupid.

It's not that hard to catch on to, and it's not complicated. You just have to listen. I mean, come on, he made three albums worth of material. It's no coincidence that these songs were picked for Relapse.

Relapse isn't really about what Eminem says, it's about how he says it. 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. That might not quite make Relapse culturally relevant -- recycled Christopher Reeve jokes aren't exactly fresh -- but it is musically vital, which is all Eminem really needs to be at this point.

[Wic Kid]

Just found this review of Relapse, makes some good points

First, pay attention to the album's title. Relapse. It's titled that for a reason. This is important. Make sure you know what Relapse means. I'm guessing you know, you seem like a smart person.

He's not just Relapsing on drugs here. He's relapsing into Slim Shady. Keep this in mind.

"Dr. West" starts it off. So Em is about to come out of rehab here. They mention the 12 steps. Keep this in mind. 12 STEPS. Remember this. Now, as Dr West and Eminem exchange words, West starts pressuring Eminem to take drugs again. West turns into the devil, and then an alarm clock rings. Eminem has woken up. Obviously it was just a dream.

Guess when he wakes up at? Yeah, "3 A.M.". Now, he flashes back the night before. He takes you through the night and what happened. By the third verse, Slim Shady is in full control.

Now he flashes back again and tells you about how he became addicted to these drugs. He explains that it was his mother's fault. "My Mom" tells you this story.

He has another flashback in the song "Insane" telling you about him being raped as a child. And a number of other things about his mother and step father.

Eminem comes to the realization that he's crazy in "Bagpipes From Baghdad" which is what he's telling you through the song. That's why he raps about Mariah and how he wants her back, and basically brags about how he can kill you easily.

As you can tell in that song, Slim Shady is back. So, he decides to reintroduce himself to the world. In the next song "Hello" he does just that. He also basically tells the drugs brought Shady out.

"Same Song & Dance" follows Shady in stalking, inviting, and murdering his celebrity crushes Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, and some chick Tonya. Which is also the skit before.

"We Made You" is basically a lighter version of "Same Song and Dance" and is basically telling all of the lady celebrities that they want him even if they don't.

"Medicine Ball" tells you that Shady is laughing in your face because he uses you and the world as his medicine ball while telling you he's making a fool of Hannibal Lector, and teaming up with Dexter to do some crazy s***. And, of course he gets Christopher Reeves to come and lay his verse and how he hates Eminem. Shady tells you that it's time to hate him again for using you and the world.

"Stay Wide Awake" tells another crazy story of Shady and how you shouldn't doubt him. He tells you you better stay awake or he'll kill you and uses a story of him and a chick named Brenda as an example.

"Old Time's Sake" is him slowly coming back to his senses and is having some of Shady's thoughts, but also having a good ol' time with Dr Dre.

"Must Be The Ganja" is him telling you that it must be the ganja that's making him high. But by the third verse, he's telling you that all he needs is a pen and paper for lyrics. Basically it means that rapping is getting him high again.

"Deja Vu" is him accepting what these drugs do/did to him. He tells you how it effected certain people including his daughters and telling you that he's been through it before.

"Beautiful" is him reflecting on this.

"Crack A Bottle" is the celebration of him beating these drugs and becoming sober.

"Underground" is him telling you that he's back and he's going back to his crazy, witty rhymes that he used to do early on in his life.

12 STEPS! Count the songs. From 3 A.M. to Deja Vu. 12 songs. Deja Vu is the song where he accepts his problem which is the last step. Each of the first 12 songs were steps and stories to a larger one.

The whole concept of the album? Rehab. 12 steps, the reflection, the celebration, and then him being himself again.

The beginning were flashbacks, the middle were stories of Slim Shady and what the drugs did to him, the ending was him slowly coming out of his drugged state, and accepting it.

People don't give Eminem enough credit. He's not stupid.

It's not that hard to catch on to, and it's not complicated. You just have to listen. I mean, come on, he made three albums worth of material. It's no coincidence that these songs were picked for Relapse.

Relapse isn't really about what Eminem says, it's about how he says it. 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. That might not quite make Relapse culturally relevant -- recycled Christopher Reeve jokes aren't exactly fresh -- but it is musically vital, which is all Eminem really needs to be at this point.

Damn...This must be the most intelligent post written about Relapse. To be honest, this kinda raised its value in my eyes. Good work.

[KillahBee]

Damn...This must be the most intelligent post written about Relapse. To be honest, this kinda raised its value in my eyes. Good work. [/quote]
Same here I never realised that there was 12 songs between 3am and Deja Vu, 12 songs = 12 steps, I never woulda even thought about that, maybe there was more to Relapse than I thoguht

[paperboyslim]

Just found this review of Relapse, makes some good points

First, pay attention to the album's title. Relapse. It's titled that for a reason. This is important. Make sure you know what Relapse means. I'm guessing you know, you seem like a smart person.

He's not just Relapsing on drugs here. He's relapsing into Slim Shady. Keep this in mind.

"Dr. West" starts it off. So Em is about to come out of rehab here. They mention the 12 steps. Keep this in mind. 12 STEPS. Remember this. Now, as Dr West and Eminem exchange words, West starts pressuring Eminem to take drugs again. West turns into the devil, and then an alarm clock rings. Eminem has woken up. Obviously it was just a dream.

Guess when he wakes up at? Yeah, "3 A.M.". Now, he flashes back the night before. He takes you through the night and what happened. By the third verse, Slim Shady is in full control.

Now he flashes back again and tells you about how he became addicted to these drugs. He explains that it was his mother's fault. "My Mom" tells you this story.

He has another flashback in the song "Insane" telling you about him being raped as a child. And a number of other things about his mother and step father.

Eminem comes to the realization that he's crazy in "Bagpipes From Baghdad" which is what he's telling you through the song. That's why he raps about Mariah and how he wants her back, and basically brags about how he can kill you easily.

As you can tell in that song, Slim Shady is back. So, he decides to reintroduce himself to the world. In the next song "Hello" he does just that. He also basically tells the drugs brought Shady out.

"Same Song & Dance" follows Shady in stalking, inviting, and murdering his celebrity crushes Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, and some chick Tonya. Which is also the skit before.

"We Made You" is basically a lighter version of "Same Song and Dance" and is basically telling all of the lady celebrities that they want him even if they don't.

"Medicine Ball" tells you that Shady is laughing in your face because he uses you and the world as his medicine ball while telling you he's making a fool of Hannibal Lector, and teaming up with Dexter to do some crazy s***. And, of course he gets Christopher Reeves to come and lay his verse and how he hates Eminem. Shady tells you that it's time to hate him again for using you and the world.

"Stay Wide Awake" tells another crazy story of Shady and how you shouldn't doubt him. He tells you you better stay awake or he'll kill you and uses a story of him and a chick named Brenda as an example.

"Old Time's Sake" is him slowly coming back to his senses and is having some of Shady's thoughts, but also having a good ol' time with Dr Dre.

"Must Be The Ganja" is him telling you that it must be the ganja that's making him high. But by the third verse, he's telling you that all he needs is a pen and paper for lyrics. Basically it means that rapping is getting him high again.

"Deja Vu" is him accepting what these drugs do/did to him. He tells you how it effected certain people including his daughters and telling you that he's been through it before.

"Beautiful" is him reflecting on this.

"Crack A Bottle" is the celebration of him beating these drugs and becoming sober.

"Underground" is him telling you that he's back and he's going back to his crazy, witty rhymes that he used to do early on in his life.

12 STEPS! Count the songs. From 3 A.M. to Deja Vu. 12 songs. Deja Vu is the song where he accepts his problem which is the last step. Each of the first 12 songs were steps and stories to a larger one.

The whole concept of the album? Rehab. 12 steps, the reflection, the celebration, and then him being himself again.

The beginning were flashbacks, the middle were stories of Slim Shady and what the drugs did to him, the ending was him slowly coming out of his drugged state, and accepting it.

People don't give Eminem enough credit. He's not stupid.

It's not that hard to catch on to, and it's not complicated. You just have to listen. I mean, come on, he made three albums worth of material. It's no coincidence that these songs were picked for Relapse.

Relapse isn't really about what Eminem says, it's about how he says it. 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. That might not quite make Relapse culturally relevant -- recycled Christopher Reeve jokes aren't exactly fresh -- but it is musically vital, which is all Eminem really needs to be at this point.

This makes me view the album so much more differently. well put

[DƎRDYPK]

Relapse was a good album
not his best
but he showed lyrically he is as good as ever
im glad his changing content on Relapse 2

word

[professor]

[chiasmus]

12 steps... Have only seen that now after it has been pointed out. Should have paid more attention What this also highlights is the importance of listening to an album as a whole. I guess the use of MP3s kinda ruins that nowadays though, as songs get shuffled up, and if an album has any kind of sequence, it is lost.

[Bistnal]

Wow, KillahBee, that was a really good review you found. I never noticed that before. 12 steps to rehab, 12 songs. it just makes it an even better concept album and even though I don't think it's near his best, it's his best at making a full CONCEPT album. Just made listening to the album a bit better. I might even re-listen to it again now, maybe.

[Relapse.LP]

Yeah, I feel all you Upstate mothafuckas for real, yo, word.

[dR3]

Just found this review of Relapse, makes some good points

First, pay attention to the album's title. Relapse. It's titled that for a reason. This is important. Make sure you know what Relapse means. I'm guessing you know, you seem like a smart person.

He's not just Relapsing on drugs here. He's relapsing into Slim Shady. Keep this in mind.

"Dr. West" starts it off. So Em is about to come out of rehab here. They mention the 12 steps. Keep this in mind. 12 STEPS. Remember this. Now, as Dr West and Eminem exchange words, West starts pressuring Eminem to take drugs again. West turns into the devil, and then an alarm clock rings. Eminem has woken up. Obviously it was just a dream.

Guess when he wakes up at? Yeah, "3 A.M.". Now, he flashes back the night before. He takes you through the night and what happened. By the third verse, Slim Shady is in full control.

Now he flashes back again and tells you about how he became addicted to these drugs. He explains that it was his mother's fault. "My Mom" tells you this story.

He has another flashback in the song "Insane" telling you about him being raped as a child. And a number of other things about his mother and step father.

Eminem comes to the realization that he's crazy in "Bagpipes From Baghdad" which is what he's telling you through the song. That's why he raps about Mariah and how he wants her back, and basically brags about how he can kill you easily.

As you can tell in that song, Slim Shady is back. So, he decides to reintroduce himself to the world. In the next song "Hello" he does just that. He also basically tells the drugs brought Shady out.

"Same Song & Dance" follows Shady in stalking, inviting, and murdering his celebrity crushes Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, and some chick Tonya. Which is also the skit before.

"We Made You" is basically a lighter version of "Same Song and Dance" and is basically telling all of the lady celebrities that they want him even if they don't.

"Medicine Ball" tells you that Shady is laughing in your face because he uses you and the world as his medicine ball while telling you he's making a fool of Hannibal Lector, and teaming up with Dexter to do some crazy s***. And, of course he gets Christopher Reeves to come and lay his verse and how he hates Eminem. Shady tells you that it's time to hate him again for using you and the world.

"Stay Wide Awake" tells another crazy story of Shady and how you shouldn't doubt him. He tells you you better stay awake or he'll kill you and uses a story of him and a chick named Brenda as an example.

"Old Time's Sake" is him slowly coming back to his senses and is having some of Shady's thoughts, but also having a good ol' time with Dr Dre.

"Must Be The Ganja" is him telling you that it must be the ganja that's making him high. But by the third verse, he's telling you that all he needs is a pen and paper for lyrics. Basically it means that rapping is getting him high again.

"Deja Vu" is him accepting what these drugs do/did to him. He tells you how it effected certain people including his daughters and telling you that he's been through it before.

"Beautiful" is him reflecting on this.

"Crack A Bottle" is the celebration of him beating these drugs and becoming sober.

"Underground" is him telling you that he's back and he's going back to his crazy, witty rhymes that he used to do early on in his life.

12 STEPS! Count the songs. From 3 A.M. to Deja Vu. 12 songs. Deja Vu is the song where he accepts his problem which is the last step. Each of the first 12 songs were steps and stories to a larger one.

The whole concept of the album? Rehab. 12 steps, the reflection, the celebration, and then him being himself again.

The beginning were flashbacks, the middle were stories of Slim Shady and what the drugs did to him, the ending was him slowly coming out of his drugged state, and accepting it.

People don't give Eminem enough credit. He's not stupid.

It's not that hard to catch on to, and it's not complicated. You just have to listen. I mean, come on, he made three albums worth of material. It's no coincidence that these songs were picked for Relapse.

Relapse isn't really about what Eminem says, it's about how he says it. 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. That might not quite make Relapse culturally relevant -- recycled Christopher Reeve jokes aren't exactly fresh -- but it is musically vital, which is all Eminem really needs to be at this point.

Damn... Where did you find that? Best Relapse review I've ever seen, excellent thinking.

Relapse has WAY more value now, for me...

[Solace]

Damn i never thought about 12 step thats clever

[Bistnal]

Damn i never thought about 12 step thats clever

Em's sometimes smarter than people give him credit for

[Relapse.LP]

Fact remains the accent sucks.