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Eminem
The Marshall Mathers LP
label: Interscope
released: 05.23.00
our score: 3.0 out of 5.0
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And
You Thought the Slim Shady LP Was Raw
by:
bill
aicher |
An unbelievable
thing happened last year when Eminem released The Slim Shady
LP. He actually did the unthinkable, and became a respected
white rap artist.
The Slim
Shady LP was
well-received by fans, but many people were sickened by it as
well. There was no denying this was a fucked-up album - and that
is one thing that made it sell. Eminem showed no reservation in
his lyrics, and sang about things people just didn't sing
about. However, there was no denying that it was a great album,
and it helped bring rap music to a broader audience.
Now Eminem
has returned with The Marshall Mathers LP and this time
around he decided to be more raw than before. If you thought the
last album was dirty and vulgar, then don't bother reading any
farther - this album is worse.
Most of the
new songs revolve around what has happened to Slim since the first
album. The main theme throughout the disc is about how he is still
hardcore, and that he hasn't changed. The other prevelant theme
is the problems he has with what people think of him. In "Who
Knew," Eminem sings about how his music is just his music
and that he isn't trying to affect people - that not all the problems
in the world are due to him. The big question I have is if he
doesn't care what people think, why is he rapping about it?
The first
single, "The Real Slim Shady," has blown up on MTV.
If you haven't heard it yet, It focuses mostly on the fact that
he is keeping it real, and that he hates all the pop music, etc.
Eminem's tongue-in-cheek, don't give a fuck attitude takes on
a sarcastic style, which makes it a funny, yet intelligent song.
The only problem is that it doesn't really fit on the disc. The
majority of the album is much darker than this, and the style
doesn't really fit - no matter where it is placed on the tracklisting.
Stylistically
the album is similar to the last one. Dr. Dre produced this one
as well as the last, and the Dre beats and sampling are obvious.
The big exception
is the song "Stan," which is the high point of the album.
This one takes an East-Coast vocal sampling style over a West-Coast
Dre beat. It is a great track about an obsessed fan's letters
and the effect Eminem has had on people. The song is beautifully
crafted and the emotional rollercoaster contained in the letters
is matched perfectly in Eminem's rap style changes. Definitely
one of the smartest tracks on the album.
Overall, this
is just another Eminem album. He swears more than before. He says
stuff to piss people off more than before. It just seems like
he is trying too hard now. Guest artists like Dr. Dre and the
RZA help out - but the album gets to be too long at 18 tracks.
If you are
looking for hip-hop that talks about serious issues, then pass
up on this disc. You have to know what Eminem is like by now,
and if you do then this is great.
As Eminem
points out - he just says the stuff we say behind closed doors
with our intimate friends. He just says it out loud.
24-Jun-2000
4:00 PM
If you
liked The Marshall Mathers LP...
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