Chosen Music: Eminem’s Recovery

Rumors circulated last year that Eminem’s comeback Relapse would be a double album, and needless to say, it was hotly anticipated–after all, the rapper had juicy details to share about his former drug addiction. And when the record did in fact eventually leak in 2009, Slim Shady further reinforced this theory when during a mid-album skit, he asserted that “it’s two albums.”

After its release, though, it became official: Relapse was one album. The aborted second half, however, was hinted at during interviews, and soon became referenced as Relapse 2.  In early 2010, Relapse 2 was finally given a release date and an official title, Recovery.  It did in fact exist and would come out only a year after the return. So how does Recovery stack up against its predecessors? Let’s just say that after Relapse‘s tepid sales and lukewarm reviews, it’s a recovery in more way than one.

What makes his seventh effort so fundamentally different from all other Eminem albums is the notable absence of his crazed alter ego, Slim Shady. Mathers, now a father of  two grown daughters, is slightly less immature and retires his tenure as the court jester of rap. And to his credit, the maniacal, unpredictable character had gotten stale over time–its nice to see Eminem evolve as an artist.

Fully sober and fully recovered, Eminem seems to have regained his flow and he’s armed with sharper rhymes and a faster delivery. His piercing one-liners, as featured on the first track on the album, “Cold Wind Blows” are effective, dirty and referential. “You can get the dick, just call me the ballsac,” he raps, “I’m nuts, Michael Vick in this bitch, fall back you mutts.”

“Talkin’ 2 Myself,” produced by DJ Khalil, is one of the best tracks on Recovery and features a noteworthy cameo by relatively unknown, Kobe. It’s whipsmart, yet one can still clearly hear Em’s lyrics. Being his own biggest critic, Em raps, “It’s different them last two albums didn’t count, Encore I was on drugs, Relapse I was flushing em out.”  In a game of constant bravado, it’s a pleasant surprise to hear a rapper admit the weakness of his past efforts and the determination to make up for them.

And as far as the Rolodex is concerned, Em has an impressive roster of collabs on this one. “Won’t Back Down,” features Pink’s impressive lungs, and Rihanna shows up and off on “Love the Way You Lie.” Even Lil Wayne makes a special pre-prison appearance  on “No Love,” a track which boldly samples Haddaway’s “What is Love.” I’m not sure if this decision is brave or just truly ridiculous. But frankly, we’re surprised no one’s thought of it before.

But what makes the album most memorable is that Recovery is far more personal, featuring an Em at his most vulnerable. That sentiment can largely be summed up by its first single, “Not Afraid.” Its message is one of triumph and redemption. The story of a troubled musician done with the roller coaster of a lifetime, and ready to face the world unafraid.