Eminem: Encore

[Taco John]

I picked up this CD over the weekend, and must say that I am wholly impressed once again with Marshall's work. I've wondered since I first hear that he was coming out with a new CD what he could possibly do to top The Eminem Show. I thought that was a great CD, well thought out and excellently produced. I say without reseervation that Em topped himself with Encore, but for reasons different than what made The Eminem Show so good.

The suprise ending of this rap opera left me speechless, because even though I should have expected this ending, I had no idea it was coming. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't heard it and have no idea of how he ends the story. I loved how the ending made the CD come around full circle. I first thing I wanted to do once the CD ended was listen to it again to put it all in context.

I'm still struggling with what I think is my favorite song on the album. There are a few that tug at my tails. Evil Deeds is a solid start to the CD. It's not my favorite, but it's a great "rev me up" kind of song. Never Enough is a great listen as well... After consideration, I think my favorite song on the CD would have to be Rainman. The beat on Rainman sticks with me, and the millisecond that I think about it, I'm forced to queue it up on my MP3 player and give it a listen.

"Ass Like That" is hilarious. It's more Eminem attacking pop culture and the different characters he raps as shows a little bit about the range that this guy has. I'm betting it's his next single. It's begging to have a video made for it.

The final touch of this CD is that Eminem included an "Encore" CD with it. So you've got the main CD, which is 20 tracks long (inluding 4 or so skit tracks that help tell the story). The Bonus "Encore" CD contains three new songs. I thought it was a cool and unique idea that I've never seen before.

I give it four and a half stars. Big Weenie took a star away (the only song on the CD that I think about skipping) but the strength of the Bonus Encore CD bumped it up a half star.

[RhymesayersDU]

Wow, interesting take. I downloaded the CD last week, and was definately not impressed with it. I thought the last D12 album (D12 World) was terrible, and I did not think highly of Encore, leaving me wondering just what has happened to our good friend Marshall.

I think Eminem has a lot of skill, but a lot of the choruses were annoying on this album, IMO. I like... maybe half the CD at best, the rest I could do without.

[FADERPROOF]

I wasnt too impressed with Encore as well, but eminems worst work is still better than 99% of rap out there.

Marshall Mathers LP was his best, god that CD will still never get old to me.

A song that TJ didn't mention that really got my attention was "LIke Toy Soldiers", just a cool ass song. Ass like that is really funny as hell, probably my fave on the CD.

[TheManeMan]

I like Puke, and song 11...I cant remember the name of it...At first I didnt like the CD either...but, the more I listened to it, it grew on me...I think every Eminem album has come off with bad a impression to me...so, I wasnt surprised when I first listened to it, asking myself why did I go buy this album...Now, I'm kinda glad I did...oh and Rhymesayers...Piracy is a crime!

[RhymesayersDU]

Piracy is a victimless crime, "Like punching someone in the dark!" - Nelson Muntz

Although in all seriousness, usually if I like a CD, really like it, I'll end up going out and buying it. Sadly, I doubt I'll be buying Encore though, which sucks, because I was fully expecting it to be greatness. :(

[Taco John]

To each their own. I still think it is a great album. Between it and eMotive, that's all that's been in my ear all weekend...

[FADERPROOF]

now emotive is an unreal CD...

[TheManeMan]

Piracy is a victimless crime, "Like punching someone in the dark!" - Nelson Muntz

Although in all seriousness, usually if I like a CD, really like it, I'll end up going out and buying it. Sadly, I doubt I'll be buying Encore though, which sucks, because I was fully expecting it to be greatness. :(


Cant wait for the day that I read a post from you saying, I just got fined 100,000 for downloading music....anyway...I really dont care...Like TJ said...to each there own...

[RhymesayersDU]

Cant wait for the day that I read a post from you saying, I just got fined 100,000 for downloading music....anyway...I really dont care...Like TJ said...to each there own...
Chances are that will never happen. The RIAA can collectively go **** themselves, for all I care.

[RhymesayersDU]

Who/What is/are eMotive?

[Taco John]

A Perfect Circle.

Their eMotive CD is sick. I'm also listening to a lot of Thirteenth Step lately. Another Maynard classic.

[FADERPROOF]

A Perfect Circle.

Their eMotive CD is sick. I'm also listening to a lot of Thirteenth Step lately. Another Maynard classic.

It's truly a great CD, all 3 APC CD's have been great, emotive just adds to the brilliance of Maynard.

[Hotrod]

Yall think that was good you should try out the George Straight 50 #1's talk about sick. Its very word. ;D

[Taco John]

It's truly a great CD, all 3 APC CD's have been great, emotive just adds to the brilliance of Maynard.



I didn't like Thirteenth Step for the first month that I listened to it... But after I bought eMotive I pulled it back out and loaded it up on my Treo. Now I can't stop listening to it. I don't know what my deal was before. This is a *great* album.

It's wierd though... I loved their first album together as a band. But now when I listen to it, it doesn't even compare to Thirteenth Step and eMotive.

Great band.

[Hotrod]

I didn't like Thirteenth Step for the first month that I listened to it... But after I bought eMotive I pulled it back out and loaded it up on my Treo. Now I can't stop listening to it. I don't know what my deal was before. This is a *great* album.

It's wierd though... I loved their first album together as a band. But now when I listen to it, it doesn't even compare to Thirteenth Step and eMotive.

Great band.


Sorry I just have to ask.........you listened to a cd for a month that you didn't like ???

[FADERPROOF]

I didn't like Thirteenth Step for the first month that I listened to it... But after I bought eMotive I pulled it back out and loaded it up on my Treo. Now I can't stop listening to it. I don't know what my deal was before. This is a *great* album.

It's wierd though... I loved their first album together as a band. But now when I listen to it, it doesn't even compare to Thirteenth Step and eMotive.

Great band.

Mer De Norms just had that harder edge to it which I liked, but since the new bandmembers have made APC jsut have that chemistry which makes it better.

13th step was just a beautiful album while Mer De Norms had that dark thing going, its like Tool's lateralus to aenima, lateralus was more of a beautiful celebration of things while aenima was just deep dark CD.

Emotive pulled off something that no band could do today, they tackled untouchable anthems, made them their own all while giving the original bands/singers their proper respect in doing so. Just a perfect CD by a Perfect circle...I'm still waiting for the next tool CD though.

[PatsWin2002]

Sorry I just have to ask.........you listened to a cd for a month that you didn't like ???

Hilarious!

[Rock Chalk]

Chances are that will never happen. The RIAA can collectively go **** themselves, for all I care.

you are right, chances are it wont happen but if you think the RIAA can go collectively **** themselves before they **** a lot of people up for STEALING, you are a sadly mistaken little boy child.

[RhymesayersDU]

you are right, chances are it wont happen but if you think the RIAA can go collectively **** themselves before they **** a lot of people up for STEALING, you are a sadly mistaken little boy child.
Define a lot of people. There are zillions of people who download music every single day.

[ozomulsion]

I picked up this CD over the weekend, and must say that I am wholly impressed once again with Marshall's work. I've wondered since I first hear that he was coming out with a new CD what he could possibly do to top The Eminem Show. I thought that was a great CD, well thought out and excellently produced. I say without reseervation that Em topped himself with Encore, but for reasons different than what made The Eminem Show so good.

The suprise ending of this rap opera left me speechless, because even though I should have expected this ending, I had no idea it was coming. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't heard it and have no idea of how he ends the story. I loved how the ending made the CD come around full circle. I first thing I wanted to do once the CD ended was listen to it again to put it all in context.

I'm still struggling with what I think is my favorite song on the album. There are a few that tug at my tails. Evil Deeds is a solid start to the CD. It's not my favorite, but it's a great "rev me up" kind of song. Never Enough is a great listen as well... After consideration, I think my favorite song on the CD would have to be Rainman. The beat on Rainman sticks with me, and the millisecond that I think about it, I'm forced to queue it up on my MP3 player and give it a listen.

"Ass Like That" is hilarious. It's more Eminem attacking pop culture and the different characters he raps as shows a little bit about the range that this guy has. I'm betting it's his next single. It's begging to have a video made for it.

The final touch of this CD is that Eminem included an "Encore" CD with it. So you've got the main CD, which is 20 tracks long (inluding 4 or so skit tracks that help tell the story). The Bonus "Encore" CD contains three new songs. I thought it was a cool and unique idea that I've never seen before.

I give it four and a half stars. Big Weenie took a star away (the only song on the CD that I think about skipping) but the strength of the Bonus Encore CD bumped it up a half star.

WOW, Sounds like you're a true Eminem fan. I'm sure I will enjoy the new CD as well. But I think the Slim Shady LP was by far his best work though.

[Taco John]

Sorry I just have to ask.........you listened to a cd for a month that you didn't like ???


I kept putting it in an out. I guess I just wasn't in the mood for it at the time or something.

[Taco John]

WOW, Sounds like you're a true Eminem fan. I'm sure I will enjoy the new CD as well. But I think the Slim Shady LP was by far his best work though.


That was a good album. Really raw. I like that album a great deal, but Marshall still hadn't really stretched his talent yet with that album. I think I like the Marshall Mathers LP the best, because there was still a lot of rough edge to him, but he'd gotten some high pressure practice by then and was a veteran of the industry. The Eminem Show was great because of how polished he made the CD. In the first CD, he's a gut struggling to find his place in life, the second CD, he was being swallowed by life whole, and in the third CD he had life by the throat and in charge of the situation. I just like the progression and look at it almost like a trilogy, because of the story they tell. The guy puts it all out there for the world to see.

I wonder if Encore is going to be his last CD...

[Kid A]

To each their own. I still think it is a great album. Between it and eMotive, that's all that's been in my ear all weekend...

I've loved eMotive. The covers of Imagine and When the Levee Breaks are very different from the originals, but great. I didn't like A Perfect Circle when I heard them at first, but, like Tool, they have really grown on me. Keenan is the man!

[Kid A]

...I'm still waiting for the next tool CD though.

I think I read a rumor somewhere that Tool might break up and Maynard would focus only on APC. I really hope that isn't true. Both bands are great, but they are also quite different.

[KcMizzou]

I seem to be in the minority, but I love "Encore".

It freaked me out to hear the "Crazy on You' sample. My mom used to play the hell out of that when I was just a kid... it's kind of a personal favorite.

My current favorites are Rain Man, Spend Some Time, Mosh, Mockingbird, Toy Soldiers, and the finale, "Encore". (Something about Dre and Em, they play well off each other. There's a nice contrast there...)