Whether this is a new album or the other Side of what was supposed to be his previous album is the question. It’s presented as the latter; Eminem albums don’t begin with random “love” songs; but it’s actually more of the former. Unless you include Infinite and unless I’m stretching it too far to consider the existence of Kamikaze a response to the negative reviews of Revival, which isn’t bad to me, there is no Eminem album that doesn’t conceptually connect with another.

While he should’ve upped its sixteen tracks to twenty to even it out, this Side B; a nostaglic reference to cassette tapes from the 1980s and 1990s; is aesthetically on par with side A. That means more so-so songs with verbose verses. Eminem’s quick-paced expert-level rhymes, laced with some clever but several corny similes and metaphors, are a real chore to listen to these days, though one of the album’s best songs; Alfred’s Theme; forgos a chorus. Killer is another minor standout.

Framed was a quirky Relapse, but Eminem hasn’t tapped into the “old Shady”; the one whose skills I’d put against any rapper alive or dead; for a whole song since Underground. He came damn close on that pleasantly surprising Shady XV introduction, but he’s too scared, or too politically democratic, to even call people “faggots” now for fear of being “canceled” despite bravadic claims of the contrary. He actually puts a disclaimer after a line about Migos and apologizes to Rihanna.

It’s good to hear Dre rapping again though. He also helps make a couple of these beats. Rhapsodic music fits the theme of Discombobulated, but the song should’ve kept his initial production. I would’ve also liked to hear Eminem on a beat from DJ Premier; speaking of hip-hop legends; who does provide a funky-fresh scratch epilogue to Book Of Rhymes. The rapper has a lot of those, but it seems he’s long forgotten that it takes more than rhyming words to make a good rap album.

my rating : 3 of 5

2020

The title and first few seconds suggest another Relapse, but don’t hold your breath. That would be suicide. The concept here is homicide. This is Music To Be Murdered By, but it’s not the bloody horrorfest fans of that aforementioned album; I’ve mentioned it in every Eminem album review since; may have been hoping for.

There’s an Alfred Hitchcock theme, but the song concepts suggest another standard Eminem project, which has become somewhat predictable. Family therapy sessions, tainted “love” songs, an epic political anthem; they’re all accounted for. There’s also a rap boast throwback with Slaughterhouse.

Royce Da 5-9 steals the show on that one with just 16 bars; the last eight of which match peak Bad Meets Evil. That’s “just” 16 because Em rarely holds himself to that standard anymore. Of all the words he rhymes, “succinctness” escapes him. His verse is 40 bars. Better than Lord Jamar, yes, but way too long.

Eminem is a candy shell of his former self, which he seems to acknowledge, but even with these silly similes and double entendres; “I put that on everything like ranch on Neverland”; he’s better than most of his peers. That’s both a testament to how great he once was and how nowhere near great most rappers are.

The worst of this Music isn’t the verses though. Nor is it the beats, which include some bangers. It’s the hooks; the downfall of most albums. Most are okay, but Yah Yah; Q-Tip’s part is like a bridge; and Lock It Up; I hate Anderson Paak’s voice; are downright annoying. Where’s Swae Lee when you need him?

Ed Sheeran actually sounds pretty good on Those Kinda Nights; a fun dance anthem featuring Bizarre of D-12. It’s one of the album’s better songs. The beat, chorus and verses all pass an adequate level of quality. Listen to the “jokes aside” to “so am I” bit; an increasingly rare example of Eminem being effectively concise.

my rating : 3 of 5

2020

audio review : Music To Be Murdered By [ Side B ] ( album ) … Eminem