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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Encore
by Eminem
The fourth full studio album for the multi-platinum superstar features appearances from Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Nate Dogg and D-12.
| LABEL: |
Aftermath |
| RELEASE DATE: |
12 November 2004 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Rap |
NOTES: Some versions come with a bonus CD.
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
100
Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
Funny, catchy, clever, and irreverent past his allotted time.
90
Uncut
The standard is so consistently high, sides so conclusively split, even after six years' familiarity with his schtick, that genius is the word. [Jan 2005, p.116]
80
Blender
With Encore, Eminem rediscovers his sense of play and lets it run naked and screaming across the stage. [Jan/Feb 2005, p.100]
80
RapReviews.com
His verses sound lazy and unfocused... Nevertheless, "Encore" does prove one thing: that even half-trying, Eminem is still better than most of the rappers beside him with plenty of personality to spare.
80
Rolling Stone
Encore isn't as astonishing as The Marshall Mathers LP. Few albums by anyone ever will be. But in the time-honored manner of mature work, it showcases a phenomenally gifted musician and lyricist doing all the things he does best.
75
E! Online
His scattershot approach at taking on everyone and everything gets a wee tiresome after a while.
75
Los Angeles Times
The album has a familiar shortcoming: Once again, Eminem is guilty of not knowing when to stop in the studio. [8 Nov 2004]
75
Spin
It includes some of the most thoughtful music of Eminem's career, and some of the butt-stupidest, and while there's a lot to like about both, the album feels transitional and muddled. [Jan 2005, p.95]
70
The Onion (A.V. Club)
For the most part, Encore's strained, vaguely sad, regressive wackiness makes a lucid and compelling argument that Eminem should retire Slim Shady and let the real, serious Marshall Mathers stand up and be heard.
70
PopMatters
It's true that Encore represents a drop-off in lyrical attention to detail from Mathers, and even 2002's The Eminem Show. But Mr. Shady is still the best MC on the planet, and Encore is still a lyrical tour de force, even if there's not as much de force as on previous records.
70
New Musical Express
The pedestrian half of 'Encore' only serves to underline how awesome the other half is. [20 Nov 2004, p.53]
65
Pitchfork
Encore is a fourth fascinating record from Eminem, but it's also easily his weakest and, in many ways, tamest album to date.
60
All Music Guide
Encore never resonates the way his first three endlessly fascinating albums do.
60
Mojo
An awkward faceoff between Mathers the prankster and Mathers the cultural and would-be political agitator. [Jan 2005, p.96]
60
Q Magazine
So, does it match expectations? No. [Jan 2005, p.122]
52
cokemachineglow
While the best of it is good enough to promise a fruitful and substantive future, the worst of it suggests that in a few years time, Mr. Mathers may be little beyond a slightly intimidating class clown.
50
Dot Music
You’d believe this was a “Weird Al” Jankovic record had you tuned in halfway through.
50
The New York Times
"Encore" is almost willfully uneven: it includes some of the most exhilarating songs Eminem has ever recorded, alongside some of the most inert. [15 Nov 2004]
50
The Guardian
Often, he sounds bored, as if he's going through the motions. The flat and repetitive music follows suit - even Dr Dre's production lacks its usual inventive spark.
50
Billboard
Here, there are moments when he entertains us and other times when he doesn't.
42
Entertainment Weekly
On an album that sags with filler and trite rehashes, he sacrifices the rich, multi-textured productions of The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show for thug-life monotony, cultural zingers for petty music-biz score-settling, and probing self-analysis for juvenile humor. [19 Nov 2004, p.80]
40
Tiny Mix Tapes
There is too much focus (or carelessness, perhaps) on his herky-jerky flows that match drum for drum, and the simple rhymes and tired messages are pathetic.
40
Austin Chronicle
The real Slim Shady is officially in real danger of becoming clichéd. His free pass expires here.
36
ShakingThrough.net
It's not simply the weakest album of his otherwise impressive career; it's one of the poorest performances from such a high-profile talent in recent memory.
30
Drawer B
It’s trite rehash after trite rehash followed by pointless filler.
0
Stylus Magazine
His beefs have become so infinitesimal that he’s started to unconsciously parody our LiveJournal culture, a minor event or misunderstanding generating reams of dialogue, running commentary and painstaking minutiae. In short, he’s no more compelling than one of those non-famous drama queens in your life you already find insufferable, just another loser who blows up non-events, and it’s transformed the long-running Eminem Show into the most myopic, hand-wringing, self-reflexive stuck-in-the-mud soap opera of our time.
The average user rating for this album is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 216 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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