Eminem Encore (2020 Thoughts)

ItsPwizz · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
So the last couple days at work I’ve listened to Eminem’s entire solo discography and after listening to Encore Deluxe from front to back with no skips I must say this; it’s aged well and better now than before. I remember when this album dropped. I was a freshman in high school and was super excited and super let down upon its release. There were a lot of good songs and a lot of bad. I had high expectations because TES was d--- near a masterpiece and still today is his best album to me and one of the best in rap or music period. So it was a huge let down in quality to me at the time and over the years. But what I did was start from MTBMB worked my way back and let me tell you. What a difference. Encores highs are higher than anything after it to date. Mockingbird is Ems best song since 2004 period. It’s a classic song. And a lot of songs have aged well. From Curtains Up to Mosh is solid, Puke is still a fun listen to me. A couple s--- songs until Just Lose It, except Rain Man is still one of my biggest guilty pleasures as a Em song. Mockingbird, Spend Some Time is a classic Em song, hook and verse. And it’s a pretty solid listen til the end. And of course the bonus Disc is prime Em to the fullest. This album has far more highs and higher highs than any album after it. Period. In my opinion. Of course.

Immy · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
Album still average/bad It's his flow and voice which you miss.

lil uzi vert stan · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
lets go to the tape and see what comrade @WPG had to say:

WPG circa 2011 said

Encore

Evil Deeds

The hook seems indicative of the direction of the song, but in reality I think the beat and hook are innocuous - were they on The Eminem Show there'd be no reason to assume the song would be anything but good. Unlike the poor parts of, say, Nas's career where the problems lie largely in the production, the blame here lands squarely on Eminem's shoulders. I guess the maddening thing about Encore is that the ingredients are there to have an album that's not just good, but potentially very good in the same ways The Eminem Show is good. The subject matter isn't even to blame - it's like he tried to write the most inane song possible given the topics. I guess it's fascinating as a piece of his decline, so it's more interesting than it should be. Still, a terrible disappointment. 6/10

Never Enough

This song receives mild praise from most corners, but it always comes with qualifiers: it would be filler on other albums, 50 Cent is as good or better than Em, the beat is repetitive, there needs to be another Eminem verse. I disagree. Except for the fact that 50 sounds reasonably uninspired, this is a very, very good song and the most obvious (perhaps even the ONLY) moment of total clarity for Eminem on the album. The first 1 bars or so aren't really anything to write home about, and the verse isn't brilliant - but the sentiment is, and it feels more honest than almost anything he's ever done. I've come to think he sounds apprehensive and insecure even in braggadocio on here, but I might be reading that in context of the album. It's nothing brilliant, but it works for what it is. 7.5/10

Like Toy Soldiers

I guess this song has to be good, right? I mean, it's a good premise and there's nothing obviously wrong with the beat or lyrics, at least nothing horrible. But it's just so…flat. The quality of Encore can probably be attributed to the prescription drugs along with general burnout, complacency and probably some mental/personality disorders brought on by the tremendous stress he was under. Still, most of the songs that were bad in theory were at least delivered in a polished manner, but on this track Em even SOUNDS like he's strung out on pills. Now to go one step further, if you pull yourself away from that snare and the content, listen to how lazily written the song is. The sample is pretty great, and it's a capable beat, but the execution is exceptionally poor, especially for someone who thrived on the execution of mediocre ideas earlier in his career. 6.5/10

Yellow Brick Road

First of all, this beat is literally just noise. Again, he's assuming the content will carry the song without any eye toward writing lyrically. Like, this is Eminem, right? He's either coasting on reputation or just genuinely uncaring on songs like these. The verses and hook all could have been written in a manner of minutes, especially for someone with Em's talent level. Now, there are a few compelling parts of the song: the sing-song flow on the second verse is a good choice, especially on such a long song. Second, the song is just inherently interesting because of the fire Em was under for the race matters at the time and the fact that we've actually heard relatively little of Eminem's personal origins on record. But this is the third song out of four where the finished product fails to live up to the premise of the record. I say all that to say this: the third verse is very, very gripping, but even that falls apart when he moves from the X Clan context to the actual Foolish Pride incident. I do appreciate the the apology tinted with misogyny, but I'm once again wondering what 2002 Eminem would have done with this song. 7/10

Mosh

Swizz captain awesome this is some quality political commentary huh? Just garbage here, guys. The political aspects of this song are flaccid and embarrassingly elementary, but they're better than the PAINFUL first verse that ends with "rubberband man, yeah, he just snaps back." I don't think I'm being dramatic here - this song is almost unfathomably bad in light of who he was fewer than two years before recording this. In the past, his failure was often choosing to make inconsequential songs that still showed a good amount of skill. Admit it - if this was the first Eminem song you'd heard, you'd think he was an entirely unremarkable rapper. The beat could have been the kind of setting where the Eminem of old would dance all over the place and blow us away, but the slow, plodding flow and headache inducing lyrics expose it for what it is - dull. It loses bonus points for failing to be an indictment of one of the easiest targets in American political history. 4/10

Puke

What? Why does this exist? Even if he took the time to write these verses, the song's probably a lost cause. It isn't that offensive sonically, but Em makes me want to k--- myself on this. How's it even possible that this made it out of the studio session? I have nothing else to say about this. **** this. 2/10

My 1st Single

This concept wouldn't even be entertaining if it was written well, but it's not. The hook is gross, not funny or appealing. The song only works (kinda) if the verses are clever and impressive, but they're not. They're dull and embarrassing. A lot has been made about Em's technical ability on Encore, but is this really any more impressive than anything he'd done to this point in his career? This is a train wreck. So no, the RAPPING isn't bad, but you'd have to have a degenerative brain disease to think it comes close to saving the song. 2.5/10

Rain Man

Okay, now to be completely honest, this song is infinitely more enjoyable than almost anything on Encore. (Ironically, it kind of sounds like it could be on Relapse.) It's entirely stream of consciousness and sloppy, and the second verse (and the whole song, really) is very, very sophomoric. I don't think this song works for any of the reasons Eminem expected, but it works on at least a really, really basic level. It's completely indicative of his falloff, but the beat is hypnotic and it's a pretty entertaining car crash to watch. 5/10

Big Weenie

This…isn't. I know this is the intention of the hook, but when you listen to this you REALLY think Em's regressing into childhood. The second verse, especially the bars preceding the 'crunch n munch' bit, is really impressive from a delivery standpoint. But how the **** is this a song that gets released to the general public? I mean, isn't this enough to spur someone's friends to hold an intervention, especially if you know he's on drugs? I'm very aware my review has deteriorated into me shouting through my keyboard about how much this album sucks, but isn't that pretty much the experience of listening to Encore? This is just trash. 3/10

Just Lose It

I apologize if this writing gets sloppy, I just took two dozen Vicodin. Really, it's hard to explain what an insult this song is to everyone who'd given Eminem a dollar of their money to this point in his career. If a 12 year old wrote this song, I'd be mildly, mildly impressed. If a 30 year old construction worker wrote it, I'd recommend serious psychoanalysis to figure out why they were so deeply entrenched in childhood. When one of the most talented rappers in the world makes it… 1/10

a--- Like That

Alright, so I'm gonna make a club song. Over a middle eastern beat. With an arabic accent. But here's the catch! I'm going to do it from the perspective of a puppet dog from a late night talk show! 1/10

Spend Some Time

Eminem's verse on this song is ****ing tremendous, ask M Solo . It's a 10/10 verse, and the beat is excellent. I don't love the hook, but it's serviceable. The song should be a 9/10 solo song from Em, but as well know, it's not. What's with Obie giving two of the worst performances of his life on his only two opportunities to be on Eminem albums? Stat Quo's verse is awful, I'd never be caught listening to it in pub-a-lick. 50's verse is also really, really bad but has the gem "I said you have very nice lips, with my imagination, I can see em sucking my ****" Em's verse eats up enough of the song that it's not bad, but it characterizes Encore's squandered potential pretty well. 6.5/10

Mockingbird

Em might sound even more drugged out here than he did on Like Toy Soldiers. In lots of ways, this is more unlistenable than Like Toy Soldiers and Yellow Brick Road because it's totally paint-by-numbers as far as Eminem subject matter goes. He does nothing here he hasn't done far better in the past. More than that, for a guy who's had tremendous technical ability for most of his career, on Mockingbird he sounds like a netcee reading lyrics off a piece of paper. Listen to him say 'under the tree' and a bunch of other phrases - it's awful. The perplexing thing to me is how so little effort could be put into a song. I mean, the album's the only thing Em had to produce over two full years, and he probably spent more than enough time in the studio to do things properly. The only conclusion to draw would be that he genuinely didn't care and had no-one who was willing to stand up and say how bad it was. 5/10

Crazy In Love

Some of you kids think this is about hip hop, right? It's not. It's just about a girl. And it's pretty weak and generic from a writing standpoint. It's an interesting, unconventional song in other regards though, and it's rewarding for a few listens. But after more analysis, it's too dull to really draw you back. The sample is good, but don't you just want to listen to the original? At least this song sounds as though there was more legitimate effort put into it than most others, but it's still not good. 5.5/10

One Shot 2 Shot

And you guys are SAD D-12 broke up?

The beat sounds like something I'd laugh at on soundclick. Bizarre was bad on Amityville, right? But he was at least crazy, shocking and unique. He's just bad here, and everyone else is painfully generic, except Eminem, who sounds like he's at a little kid's birthday party and writing something bad to entertain himself. Which in lots of ways, he is.

3/10

Encore

The beat and hook are good enough to prevent the song from being a write-off. The lyrics are painfully boring, but the song's not supposed to be life-changing. It sounds good, and unremarkable as it is it's listenable. The bridge before the second verse was embarrassing to listen to when this album came out while I was in 7th grade, but other than that the song's innocuous and does what it needs to do. Too bad it's way too late to save the album.

6/10

The album gets rounded down from about 4.4 to 4.0 because of how overlong and unbearable it is, and because it comes on the heels of a classic album. **** this.
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to me, it was always a sign of how creatively frayed em had gotten, tho the machismo and swagger still carried portions of it. and coupled w straight from the lab mightve been a pretty respectable, trimmed back product, if not on the same tier as the first three. now, however, to ur point @ItsPwizz , compared to the current rappity rap and ~~Effort of his modern stuff, him slurring + farting + Pee Wee laughing and still nearly coming somewhat charismatic is refreshing... in hindsight.

JEB · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
I'll revisit and give my 2 cents. I do know it's better than Revival

Guma · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
I feel like when Encore songs leaked Em just wanted this album to tank he was so over his fame that's why he recorded bunch of nonsensical songs.

Guma · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

cpt awesome WPG joint acc said

lets go to the tape and see what comrade @WPG had to say:

to me, it was always a sign of how creatively frayed em had gotten, tho the machismo and swagger still carried portions of it. and coupled w straight from the lab mightve been a pretty respectable, trimmed back product, if not on the same tier as the first three. now, however, to ur point @ItsPwizz , compared to the current rappity rap and ~~Effort of his modern stuff, him slurring + farting + Pee Wee laughing and still nearly coming somewhat charismatic is refreshing... in hindsight.
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Yo can you get back to me in the PMs?

Guma · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

Guma said

I feel like when Encore songs leaked Em just wanted this album to tank he was so over his fame that's why he recorded bunch of nonsensical songs.
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Also that whole Foolish Pride ordeal got to his head and damaged his confidence.

froboy6942 · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

Immy said

It's his flow and voice which you miss.
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Yes...we all miss it.

M Solo · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
It's much, much better than his last 4 albums.

ItsPwizz · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

cpt awesome WPG joint acc said

lets go to the tape and see what comrade @WPG had to say:

to me, it was always a sign of how creatively frayed em had gotten, tho the machismo and swagger still carried portions of it. and coupled w straight from the lab mightve been a pretty respectable, trimmed back product, if not on the same tier as the first three. now, however, to ur point @ItsPwizz , compared to the current rappity rap and ~~Effort of his modern stuff, him slurring + farting + Pee Wee laughing and still nearly coming somewhat charismatic is refreshing... in hindsight.
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I can agree with a lot of what’s said but after almost 16 years I’d go from a 4/10 to like a 6/10. But I do not agree with Mockingbirds rating and review at all. Yes it is nursery compared to anything he’s done but sonically it sounds amazing to me and is a prime Em song just based on its sound and replay value for me. I’m all about rappity rap, I love technical writing but if it jeopardizes the song quality then that diminishes it. Em use to be able to do both. Atleast Encore sounded like music. And not battle raps over decent to s-----y beats.

WPG · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
encore >>>>>>>>>>>>> everything he put out in the 2010s

ItsPwizz · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

Immy said

Album still average/bad It's his flow and voice which you miss.
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I agree that his voice and flow helps the album but at the same time it’s a sonically better listen than most of his music after it.

WPG · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

ItsPwizz said

I can agree with a lot of what’s said but after almost 16 years I’d go from a 4/10 to like a 6/10. But I do not agree with Mockingbirds rating and review at all. Yes it is nursery compared to anything he’s done but sonically it sounds amazing to me and is a prime Em song just based on sonically and replay value for me.
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it’s a maudlin piano loop, corny drums, and a disinterested monotone. what “sonically sounds amazing” about it?

ItsPwizz · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

WPG said

it’s a maudlin piano loop, corny drums, and a disinterested monotone. what “sonically sounds amazing” about it?
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His story telling is on point, and the hook is classic. Yes you can tell the drugs are taking over in his voice but it doesn’t take away from the song to me. To me, it’s a classic Em song and I know a lot of people off the forum would agree.

emss7717 · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
take out big weenie, my 1st single, a--- like that and just lose it and you have a near classic especially if u count the deluxe edition tracks

lil uzi vert stan · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

WPG said

encore >>>>>>>>>>>>> everything he put out in the 2010s
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I feel like you’ve come around on Evil Deeds in particular if I have our text convos memorized accurately (I do) . Want to recant any of ur 2011 testimony ?!??

DKC · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
Agree with everyone who said Encore / Relapse are so much better than anything in the 2010s and beyond. I've said this before but despite their flaws they at least feel like you're listening to an album by Marshall Mathers.

icecube · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020
^ what @cpt awesome WPG joint acc said

Puke, a--- Like That, My First Single, Just Lose It, One Shot Two Shot to name a few by memory are just beyond awful it's not even funny.

But the bonus songs pull it out of the ashes into a passable project. But still bottom of the pile.

RetiredAccount · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

Donkey Kong Cuntry said

Agree with everyone who said Encore / Relapse are so much better than anything in the 2010s and beyond. I've said this before but despite their flaws they at least feel like you're listening to an album by Marshall Mathers.
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Definitely, the crux of the Eminem experience is his witty banter, which even in encore and relapse was present (even if misfired). His songs felt like he was having a conversation with you and they made you feel like you were part of the overarching story of his career and fame.
Much more impressive than anything else he tried afterwards.
At least he’s becoming more self aware the past two albums

Boos · Jun 17, 2020

Jun 17, 2020

cpt awesome WPG joint acc said

lets go to the tape and see what comrade @WPG had to say:

to me, it was always a sign of how creatively frayed em had gotten, tho the machismo and swagger still carried portions of it. and coupled w straight from the lab mightve been a pretty respectable, trimmed back product, if not on the same tier as the first three. now, however, to ur point @ItsPwizz , compared to the current rappity rap and ~~Effort of his modern stuff, him slurring + farting + Pee Wee laughing and still nearly coming somewhat charismatic is refreshing... in hindsight.
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Was browsing RB in the beginning of quarantine since I still had to go into the office, but with largely nothing to do since no one was calling, so I wanted to see how people reacted to MBDTF and Recovery in real time. It was shocking to me how many people hated Wayne at the time, when in reality he was the biggest rapper on top of his game. Was more shocked to see WPG also in the “Lil Gayne” hating crowd. Didn’t he write a book about him? Obviously peoples’ opinions change, and I respect and enjoy reading his now, but d--- lmao

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