Encore (Deluxe Edition) - Dark Publications

Location: Home » music » General » Encore (Deluxe Edition)

Similar Items:

•	The Eminem Show
•	The Marshall Mathers LP
•	The Slim Shady LP
•	Curtain Call
•	8 Mile

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Eminem's fourth album offers few surprises, but still enough pleasures to carry the day. As evinced by Em's pre-election, pro-voting "Mosh," this is not exactly the same Eminem who seemingly crapped on anything and everything. Encore finds a surprisingly mature Eminem waxing reflective about his battle with Benzino ("Like Toy Soldiers") rather than unloading both barrels. However, it's not all elder statesmanship: "Puke" goes after his ex-wife Kim with incredible scorn, and "Big Weenie" showcases the familiar juvenile humor that made him famous. If Encore has a clear weakness, it's the bland production--the same plodding sound that he and Dr. Dre cooked up on the previous three albums. The exotic flavor of "Ass Like That" catches the ear, but many others run off the same monotonous minor-key melodies and tempos. Of course, people buy Eminem albums to hear him spit first and foremost, and in that regard few fans will be disappointed by Encore; it'd just be nice to see him switch up his sound at some point. --Oliver Wang

Album Description
"ENCORE" is multi-platinum recording artist EMINEM's first full album of new material since 2002's "THE EMINEM SHOW," which spawned the hit singles "Without Me" and "Cleanin' Out My Closet." That album went on the sell over 19 million albums worldwide. He followed up in November 2002 with Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture `8 Mile', which featured the Academy Award winning song "Lose Yourself" and sold almost 9 million copies worldwide. Earlier this year, Eminem's group D-12 released D-12 World (global sales over 3 million) and scored hits with "My Band" and "How Come".

ENCORE, Executive Produced by DR. DRE, features guest performances by 50 CENT, D-12, NATE DOGG, OBIE TRICE, and STAT QUO.

BONUS DISC: This two disc set includes a bonus CD with three previously unreleased EMINEM songs.

Customer Reviews: Read 724 more reviews...

2 out of 5 stars

This album is terrible November 12, 2004
60 out of 79 found this review helpful

I think it is inarguable that Eminem is one of the most talented MC's currently putting out material. That is what makes Encore so disappointing. Lazy raps over monotonous, repetitive production ruin what could have been the album of 2004. Some lowlights:
- Just Lose It: unless you live in a cave you have heard this single; a lazy mishmash of his other work where he stops and just babbles for a while. "Stop, pajama time?"
- A$$ Like That: an entire song as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Reread that sentence. Goes over about as well as you would expect, which is terribly.
- Puke: another ode to Kim. What has been funny, disturbing, or at least interesting in the past has been transformed to an amalgamation of body noises.
- My First Single: more body noises. It seems that Em is determined to prove he could s___ on record and people will still buy it.
The rest of the album is largely forgettable, but saves itself from one star status by having a couple of decent songs. Never Enough with a wicked hook by Nate Dogg (and where 50 cent actually outshines Em) bumps, and Toy Soldiers is an interesting take on the recent Aftermath beefs with near everybody. I think a line for that song sums up the album perfectly. Em says that while the battle (with Ja) was won, he felt he lost it because he but so much effort into it. He is right: that effort translated into excellent tracks. This cd could have used some of that effort. It would be easy to say what Eminem needs to do to make a better album (stop producing, TRY), but in reality the answer is nothing: this is going to go multi-platinum and the fans will refuse to hold him accountable for this hot mess. One can only hope his artistic pride will have him work harder on his next endeavor.

3 out of 5 stars

Good, Funny, But Just Not The Same December 9, 2004
43 out of 68 found this review helpful

The new Eminem album was a bit of a dissappointment.mostly in production. It does have its high points, but it also seems to drag on.

Example: There is nothing on this album the remotely comes close to "Stan" or songs like "I'm Shady" or "Without me". The production and sound is not nearly as raw, much more bass driven, and is almost Phil-Spector-ish. Better songs such as "Encore" (new single) and "Mosh" are highlights, but very dark in nature.

Of course "Just Lose It" is the highlight, and I love this video. Its more typical of his former songs. "Toy Soldiers, (Sampling Martikas song), is a stirring cut also and worth hearing.

I also buy his CD's because, frankly, they make me laugh, since he has the uncanny sense of making a parody out of situations we are all too familiar with. "Big Weenie" and " _ _ _ Like That" brought snickers everytime I played them. "Puke" is another.

Overall, the enhanced deluxe version also has the extra cuts on them, which are just as good as the others.

I guess I am spoiled. Based on what I just wrote, over half of the songs are excellent! And I still gave it a three. The difference is the overall production, in which I wish it was a bit more crisp and raw as stated earlier, and that is all.

This CD is worth buying, and is well worth the money as is all his work since he gives us so many tracks per CD without a bad take in the bunch.

Three stars, Borderline Four.

3 out of 5 stars

Eminem Fumbles with Encore December 28, 2004
28 out of 49 found this review helpful

Eminem has a lot to live up to. Right now everyone would have to agree that he is the best rapper out. The Slim Shady LP was groundbreaking, the Marshall Mathers LP was controversial, and the Eminem Show was neither but it fell in an Eminem safe zone. The reason why I gave his fourth album, Encore, a 3 rating is simple.

Encore has a lot of problems. First, Eminem's tone in many of the songs is very low which is not his style. On his previous three albums his menacing lyrics were piercing and loud. Another problem with Encore is the fact that Eminem gets too personal. On "Like Toy Soldiers," he talks about Ja Rule, Benzino, and the beefs he had with them. He goes on and on about how he is not gonna beef with anyone which is quite annoying after a while for a guy who is supposed to be the best rapper in the industry. It seems like Eminem whines instead of rap on that song. Dr. Dre, who was sorely missed on most of the production on the Eminem Show, gave Eminem a lot of great beats to work with, but Eminem fails to deliver with the ferocious lyrics like he has in the past. An example of this is "Mosh" where Dre's beat is incredible & you think Eminem would bust out with one of the best rhymes ever heard on wax since Nas at "Live at the Barbecue," but he doesn't deliver. This is a current trend throughout the album which left me scratching my head after I listened to it.

Album Overview:
1. Curtains Up
2. Evil Deeds - Disappointing open to the album. Not as grimey as previous openings like "Kill You" and "White America."
3. Never Enough - Eminem recovers nicely on this song and it is one of my favorites. 50 Cent and Nate Dogg help out our favorite white rapper with nice cameos.
4. Yellow Brick Road - One of those low tone Em songs. Gives more depth about Marshall's past which gives you an interesting listen.
5. Like Toy Soldiers - I expressed my opinion about this song in the above paragraph. America loves to promote songs about Eminem's personal demons (see "Cleanin Out My Closet" and "The Way I Am") but they are going to be pressed with that kind of material that can be a good single on this album.
6. Mosh - I was really disappointed with this track. Dre's beat is menacing, but Eminem fumbles with his lyrics.
7. Puke - Sigh..........this is one of the skippable tracks on the album. The song is about Kim and the beat is irritating.
8. My 1st Single - This song is alright......but it seems to have no direction just like a certain other song on this album (you'll see in a bit).
9. Paul (Skit)
10. Rain Man - Talks about Christopher Reeves and Eminem has a line at the end that says "I don't gotta make no god damn sense / I just did a whole song and I didn't say [...]." My point exactly about this album.
11. Big Weenie - This song is just plain silly. This is supposed to be a song that takes shots at all of his critics but it's ridiculous and skippable.
12. Em Calls Paul (Skit)
13. Just Lose It - Not much to say. You've heard it already. You've seen the video. Case closed.
14. A** Like That - Talks about the Olsen Twins, Hillary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, and other women he would like to be with. Just plain ridiculous. Can you say.....filler?
15. Spend Some Time - Obie Trice and 50 Cent helps out Em on this track about trifling women. One of the better songs on the album.
16. Mockingbird - He is talking to his daughter and his niece about why everything is the way it is and everything is going to be alright someday. Good idea........bad execution.
17. Crazy In Love - You have to have an acquired taste for this one. It's definitely skippable for me.
18. One Shot 2 Shot - D12 makes a nice cameo here. One of my favorites.
19. Final Thought (Skit)
20. Encore/Curtains Down - Great way to send off the album with Dr. Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent collaborating to create an anthem that will tear the club up. I wish he could've had more songs like this on the album.

Overall I would have to say that Eminem, even when half-trying, can still release a satisfying album. Encore is just part two of the Eminem Show's depression trip. Eminem's first two albums were hardcore and gritty and his last two have been laid back and depressing. That technique worked with the Eminem Show but not Encore. Em, just go back to the hardcore stuff we know and love.

3 out of 5 stars

Did he set the bar to high??? November 12, 2004
26 out of 36 found this review helpful

The biggest downside to any entertainers success is the standards that they then set for themselves. Eminem's two previous albums (Marshall Mathers LP and Eminem Show) are hip-hop royalty. This album falls short.

There are flashes on this CD however (Never Enough, Yellow Brick Road, My 1st Single, Mockingbird), but overall the songs fail to meet the standard set by songs on his previous albums. Most of the beats are great. Dr. Dre has seperated himself from other producers in the biz and continues to do so with this effort. However, the subject matter of the rhymes are scattered. Dare I say some of the lyrics sound "pop-ish". Maybe that is a bit harsh but this album sounds more like the D-12 album released earlier this year. More comedic rhymes than rhymes with substance.

Eminem has some camios on this album. Most notably that of 50-cent. To me, this album is an invitation for 50 to take over Eminems throne as rap's king. I don't know when 50's next cd drops, but if it's as good or better than his last, Eminem better look out.

In closing, I feel we have been spoiled. Eminems venom and ferosity in his past albums is what made me a fan. I don't think he was angry enough for this one. My advice would be for someone to piss him off. We all know what happens when you do that. Maybe that is why no has done that in the past couple years. Maybe that is why his material on this album ran a bit thin.
Hoopdrm819@yahoo.com

4 out of 5 stars

Also see Music Dude "Music Dude"s review November 13, 2004
23 out of 33 found this review helpful

Its obvious Eminem is exhausted from the constant beefing and making underground songs due to the beef with Benzino and Murder Inc. Not to mention he was working on Obie's album, D12's album (which is a tremendous follow-up to devils night), and G-unit albums both as a group and solo. Encore was meant to piggyback The Eminem Show and close that chapter of his life. The beefs are over. He had to address the Benzino racism allegations publicly on the album. Hes tired and still put out Encore. Now lets clairify something. Jay-Z has put out like 10 or 12 albums. Some of them weren't so hot. Even if Encore is Eminems worst music yet, its only bad by Eminem standards and its still better than 90% of whats out there. This album is definitely worth buying whether you are an Eminem fan or not. He will rest, something will piss him off, and on his next album he will rebound. But most importantly, 50 will be back soon, and he will undoubtedly sit in hip-hop's throne....at least until Em releases album #5

Powered by Associate-O-Matic