Today on my lunch break I walked over to Hot Topic and bought Eminem’s Recovery album. Simply amazing is all I can say.
I love Eminem. Since the first time I heard his voice, I was hooked. And there’s no other rapper who can make me feel as euphoric as he does. I’m visibly excited whenever his music enters my eardrums, my heart skips a beat and everything- it’s intense. I’ve been told I’m obsessed; I disagree. If there’s something that genuinely makes you feel ecstatic, understood, amazed, should there be a limit on how much you indulge in this pleasure?
I don’t think so.
This album is what I’ve been waiting for. I liked Relapse, don’t get me wrong, but it felt as though it was missing something. Same thing with Encore and I have so much respect for him for admitting that. And for apologizing to us- his fans- for it. It takes a lot to admit that a collection of your work was not up to par. That alone is one of the reason I started to fall for his music. He gets so personal, puts himself out there- pain, frustrations, anger, sadness, depression… all of it- to be judged and he does it with such confidence. It’s entrancing and I honestly do appreciate his willingness to be open immeasurably. And this Recovery album delivers all of that and more. I mean there are songs on there- Seduction, W.T.P, Space Bound- that sound like nothing he’s ever done before.
I’m still in awe
And for him to admit that he thought about writing songs dissing Lil Wayne and Kanye West is remarkable. I mean really, how many rappers people publicly reveal the moments in which they felt jealously “rear it’s ugly head”? And I love that he and Lil Wayne collaborated on a song even after Eminem’s confession of said jealousy. Oh and of course the song is amazing, like every other song on the album. I’ve been told “Eminem’s fallen off.” I disagree and I always will because even when his music wasn’t at the height of where it once was, and where it now is, it was still amazing. But I do understand what those who told me he had fallen off meant. The fire was gone. The music felt hollow. But when I played Recovery, it felt voluminous again. Filled with life and energy and soul like it once was only better.
So please forgive me if I sound obsessed, dramatic or simply ridiculous but I am simply overwhelmed with joy at the return of my favorite poet.
