Now, I know some of you guys absolutely adore Recovery, and so you should! It's a great album to listen and vibe to. Some of you like it, some of you hate it, some of you think Em should throw himself in a great big hole for using the beats he did.
Here's why I think Recovery is fucking badass (probably just basically an a track-by-track review but with a current connection to his new album). Here is also why I think his new album's expectations are rooted in Recovery's content.
When I say "you" in this thread, I'm talking to those who throw Recovery away as a shit album.
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Cold Wind Blows: Shady is up front and ruthless on this track. Name drops, witty remarks, offensive phrases and sick ass fucking rhyming. Great way to start off the album. Plus his delivery is off the chain and makes you wanna get up and just fight something. People are clamoring for Shady to come back on his new album yet don't see he was here all this time on Recovery. Right here.
Talkin' 2 Myself: Not much to say about this track other than it addresses a few things about his hiatus and how his mind was churning throughout it (I myself have been asking for more inside-looks of his thought processes during his drug days/hiatus). It's a great introspective track, albeit he sacrificed his rhyming on here, but it's still an enjoyable track nonetheless. Your standard introspective track.
On Fire: Holy shit, he goes IN. Lyrical miracle, rap your ass off. This is probably made with leftover notes from the Relapse era. People are looking for Em to do something like this again, and I agree. These types of tracks where he just focuses on flow and rhyming his ass off is a pleasure to hear and hopefully we get a new song like this on his new album.
Won't Back Down: This song either grows on you or it doesn't. People say the beat is jumbled but it's just the open hi-hats. He tried his hand out on a rock beat (a harder rock beat that is) and just experimented. It's a decent track for me, but hopefully he'll stray away from this on his new album.
W.T.P.: A concept storytelling track about a party. Hilarious images and sick rhyming/delivery. You guys want more of this and yet don't see that he has some on Recovery, an album which you throw away for some reason.
Going Through Changes: This... is one of the most deep, touching, emotional and tear-jerking songs I've ever heard. He really went into his mind to tell us how he feels about his daughters, Kim, Proof, and the drugs. Hopefully we'll get another song like this but with a different subject, like how he feels about signing SH/Yelawolf and shit. Something deep and thought-provoking (for him AND us).
Not Afraid: A bombastic single to get his name back into the spotlight. Some of you hate the Relapse trashing but at least he's opinionated again. Hopefully that carries onto his new album.
Seduction: A tricky song. Conceptual. Nice imagery. He seems extremely back in his element on this track with his calm and collected flow and sinister delivery. He needs more songs like this.
No Love: An awesome pump-up track with a shitty feature. One of the best flows he's ever used. This is definitely a song to work out to like many of his older songs (Till I Collapse, etc)
Space Bound: A concept love-song, very well executed, to say the very least. Great imagery here along with a sick melodic hook. Made a great single and a great video. He pulls this type of song off with flying colors.
Cinderella Man: Till I Collapse Part 2! Like No Love, a great pump up track with SICK lyrics and a great flow. One of the best beats on the album as well. He should do continuations of his old songs on this next album. Anyone thinking a Stan Part 2?
25 To Life: Another love song... right? Wrong. This one crept up by surprise as one of my favorites on the album and most listened. Great storytelling and delivery coupled with a haunting female hook. Not sure if he could do a song like this again, it's basically a one-time thing.
So Bad: Here we go. A Dre beat. He definitely needs more of these on his next album. He goes all Shady on the women on this one. Crazy interesting.
Almost Famous: Whoah now. A concept track of his early days and his hunger to prove himself? Holy shit, that's awesome. Perhaps we could get a sequel to this with him talking about how he got the fame and how he coped with all the media shitting on him and talking about him all the time. That would be interesting. "Finally Famous"?
Love The Way You Lie: Got a huge pop star on the hook, but the overall message and lyrics speak for themselves without a huge face to go along with it. You can relate to this if you've ever been bullied or been in a relationship like that. Hell, it doesn't even have to be a physical relationship with a person or something, could be an object or a song you relate to. So many avenues to take from this song personally. I hope Em can concoct another gem like this one on his next album.
You're Never Over: The rightful dedication Proof deserves; a happy yet somber one. Uplifting. Intense. A one-time thing for a friend who passed away. Great song and a great way to end the album.
Untitled: Or is it the end of the album?? Sick delivery and rhymes on a classic beat. TES Em is out in full force here, or so it sounds like! More songs like this please.
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Okay, after that review... What I'm trying to say is that what critics are calling for on his next album: concepts, lyrical masterpieces, storytelling, delving into the mind of Eminem. That's great and all but don't overlook the fact Recovery is brimming over with these!
Errrr... my final message with this? Recovery deserves more credit than it gets and he should take elements from this great album to craft an even better album for 2013.