I came in with low expectations, and I'm on my second listen, but.........this is his best album since Relapse. The signs were there that this was going to be a more focused album than he normally makes (concept album, less features than usual, in-house or self-production). This is the album I wanted from Eminem at this point in his career. He sequenced it well, took the concept seriously, found a way to make his new style sound better, and he once again showed that he knows exactly how to flow like he did back then. He just chooses not to. I was shocked when I found out "Renaissance" was a new song, not an updated one.
My problem is that the album kept going.
I feel like the concept reached its conclusion with "Guilty Conscience 2," and that should have been either the last track or next-to-last. After that, it feels like the kind of album I was expecting from the beginning. Everything after "Head Honcho" is weird to me besides "Tobey." "Temporary" is weird, "Bad One" sucked, "Somebody Save Me" sucked. He went almost the whole album restraining himself and he still felt the need to slip into old habits. Why were there two songs about Hailie? I enjoyed the majority of this album and once again, if he had cut some songs, it would be a fantastic album. But the best part is that all the disposable songs are near the end, so it will be easier to edit.
Maybe "Temporary" will grow on me, but this is what I'm thinking after "Guilty Conscience 2."
1. Head Honcho
2. Tobey
3. Guess Who's Back
There. That's the end of the album, good night.
