"I've been working on it for over a year. You know how it is—you make songs, and as you make the new ones, the old ones get old and you throw them out. The album is called Revival. It’s a reflection of where I’m at right now, but also I feel like what I tried to do was diversify. I’ve tried to make a little something for everyone" - Eminem
1|Walk on Water
Topically I see what Eminem is trying to do but the production just isn't interesting enough for repeated listens. His choppy flow that is featured on a number of tracks here doesn't help its case either.
2|Believe
Believe begins the run of two trap-influenced songs and works, and look, no female sung hook. I like the contrast between the hooks and verses.
3|Chloraseptic
Chloraseptic on the other hand sounds like Eminem trying to parody the generic trap sound by amping up his voice and incorporating trap adlibs. Generic trap adlibs are annoying as it is and just that, generic, and Eminem would be better off staying away from them. Parodying or not, it just sounds strange.
4|Untouchable
Like Joyner Lucas' 'I'm Not Racist', this features Eminem rapping from different perspectives. The whole 'white boy, white boy' is a bit ehh, but I like this song. The production switches up, as does the rapping, which at times features the choppy flow referred to earlier but at other times it's great. I don't get why this song was so poorly received by some.
5|River
I have no problem with Ed, but I don't like the hook here.
6|Remind Me (Intro)
"You make me do things / I normally wouldn't do”
7|Remind Me
I think the previous interlude may go some way to explaining the odd choice to rhyme over 'I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll'.
8|Revival (Interlude)
9|Like Home
Eminem, and Alicia are patriotic here, and Em goes at Trump and says some potent things but again, I don't like the hook, or the production much either. A bit of a waste. I feel the content would've been better over a harder beat too.
10|Bad Husband
Topically again, there is something here with Eminem talking about his marriage with Kim and his faults as a husband and feeling compunction for Kim, but the poppy production and hook do little for me.
11|Tragic Endings
A touch better than the previous songs but follows a similar formula.
12|Framed
Sounds like something from 'Relapse'. Catchy hook with Eminem telling a story about how he has been framed for murder. Again, it's just Eminem on the hook. One of my picks from the album. It is also less pop than most of what's here, and again, there is a bit more of a natural flow.
14|Heat
Can tell this is one of Rubin's songs.
17|In Your Head
Another interesting sample choice with The Cranberries' '[Album110943]' being the hook here. I don't mind this. Framed aside, the best song since 'Untouchable'.
18|Castle
Eminem's rapping sounds more natural here. It's another song about Hayley, his daughter. I like the hook that switches up between Liz's singing and Eminem rapping.
I wouldn't call myself a big Em fan. 'The Eminem Show' is my pick from his discography but as far as whole complete projects go I could almost leave the rest. As a rapper though I rate him highly but I find his beat choices in many cases a waste of his talent. If it's not his beat selection, too often it's been his voice or his unappealing choppy flow here and on his recent albums. I'm with some other reviews that state the producers as a large piece of the problem here. I understand an artist who goes pop for sales, but Eminem is Eminem, he doesn't need to. Why is there so much pop shit on here? Why 'The Eminem Show' is my favourite Eminem album is because while I think the beats are the best he had, more to the point is because it is a mature album. He is spitting more mature shit here but the production isn't up to scratch. I don't get it. For someone who is such a hip hop head, grew up on the classics, clowned pop and pop rap in the infancy of his career, and would sell regardless, I don't get it... This isn't one of the worst albums of all time like this site would have you believe but he really should be doing better. I went and listened to his older albums after this and if you do the same you may appreciate releases like 'Encore' more.
Comments