Can't imagine an answer that's not Revival. After MMLP2 it was four years. Four long years of "what's next?"
So many changes in the scene in that time. The last album left a lot of people wanting him to try something new, after hearing the same old s---. Radio producers making Imagine Dragons knockoffs, Call of Duty anthems, and songs that sample only the shittiest stuff out there, stuff you want to get away from when you hear it on the grocery store radio.
Still had yet to even hear Eminem on a trap beat. So much great music coming out around him, so many great artists & producers and we weren't hearing a peep of him on any of it (aside from that one time he hopped on The Hills).
There was the anticipation & speculation of "oh this Shady XV's gonna be his next album, it's gonna be a return to form", "oh this Southpaws gonna bring the old Slim Shady out of him", "this new feature should be awesome, can't wait to see what he's up to". And its just the same ol tired s--- time & again.
When he announced Revival with the Campaign Speech & "line in the sand", there was finally something new coming out of him. But it f---in s----d. And then there was the first single, Walk on Water, a follow up on where he's been, showing some self awareness, except, well, the song f---in s----d. Makes Mumford & Sons sound exciting.
And then the album finally came out in its full form and it was literally everything you'd hope it wouldn't be from start to finish. Four whole a--- years to get hit with that.
I don't care what anyone says, Encore is his worst album. The come down off of that high was intense. At least Revival was after MMLP2 and Recovery where the expectation wasn't as high.
Delete Encore. We've got the Straight from the Lab leaks anyway.
