Review Summary: I like Encore. It's got a unique sound and it doesn't get the fair treatment that his other albums get, and quite frankly, I feel that this is an underrated album.
People seem to hate this album mainly cause it's different. But it's not that different when you look at it. There are serious songs in the beginning and end, the middle from My first Single to Ass Like That are the funny songs people would expect to hear from Eminem, they're just not spread out like his other albums were. I don't think the backlash of this album could've been avoided quite frankly, as if he kept his albums having the similar sounds his first three had, as most didn't know about Infinite until years later, they would have said that he had no creativity. He does something like this, people want to have his music be like it used to be. People either don't want change or don't want the same. He's evolving, and yes he was on drugs during this album, but still Eminem sounds a hell of a lot better than other artists on drugs when they make an album.
The album, to me, has a similar sound of The Slim Shady LP from 1999, in the sense it's a mix of both goofy and serious songs. But unlike SSLP, Encore is structured with all the comedic songs are in the middle of the album, while the serious songs are the book ends of the album. SSLP mixes up the comedic and serious songs, so for a few songs on the album it's serious, then it'll get to a comedic song or two and so on. It's like a rollercoster. And that's fine and great for that album, but the structure of Encore is really interesting and unique. The first 3 major label albums are similar with the structure of SSLP, but The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show have a more mature perspective than Slim Shady. Encore is a follow up of The Eminem Show, hence the title. But since the entire middle section is comedy and not a mixture of some serious songs here and comedic songs there throughout like the other albums were, it seems to make the album automatically bad, as a lot of the criticism is with the middle section of comedic songs. He did something different on the album and it got flack for that.
But again, this couldn't be avoided in my opinion regarding the backlash. It's his fifth album, overall fourth major label album, and his previous three efforts have somewhat of a similar tone, regarding mixing serious with comedy on his albums. He does something like this, that breaks the mold, the album sucks. But if he went with a similar style of his previous albums, he'd get flack for doing the same thing over and over.
At this point in his career, Eminem's albums have sold millions of copies, this one sold a lot of copies and even more than some of his previous ones for the time, and became 5X Platinum within a few weeks, which is something that happens a lot now whenever there's a new album by Eminem. But looking back, with grammys, multi-platinum albums, number 1 movie and an Academy Award under Eminem's belt, there was a lot of expectations for Encore, and as a result, Encore didn't live up to them. I also think people want to just dislike something to dislike it and not have an informed opinion of their own, as they just go with the flow. Also, Em said in the song "Be Careful What You Wish For" that enough time hadn't passed yet for people to like it. Eminem has pretty much ignored this album with the exception of a few songs. I don't think he should, but I understand why, with the drugs during this time. I personally think this is a classic album. I understand that some don't like it cause he was high on drugs, that's fine, but if you think of what he went through during this time, and you listen a lot of the great songs on there that get over looked, due to the backlash, I think people can appreciate it more.
I think this album could be a Cult Classic album in the eyes of those with an open mind to the album, as well with the perspective of what was going on with Eminem at the time. If there are Cult Classic films, why not albums? People seem to like this album more and more as time goes on, at least from what I've seen, and I think this is my favorite Eminem album. Like Toy Soldiers is my favorite song off of it, it has a great message about why beefs in hip-hop need to end, also can allude to real life, with those that have problems with each other either at work, your neighbors, friends etc. I like it because it's different, as well as all of the reasons I listed above, I don't think that's a bad thing. Encore, for some of you, may not be your favorite Eminem album, but when comparing it to a lot of other rap albums today, it is a classic album. I'd say give this album a chance. And if you don't like this album already, maybe give it another listen, with some of the things I've listed. Mainly have an open mind if you will re-listen to Encore. I think you may be suprised by the album.
