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.

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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]

Blender

With Encore, Eminem rediscovers his sense of play and lets it run naked and screaming across the stage. [Jan/Feb 2005, p.100]

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.

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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.

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E! Online

His scattershot approach at taking on everyone and everything gets a wee tiresome after a while.

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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]

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]

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.

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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.

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New Musical Express (NME)

The pedestrian half of 'Encore' only serves to underline how awesome the other half is. [20 Nov 2004, p.53]

Pitchfork

Encore is a fourth fascinating record from Eminem, but it's also easily his weakest and, in many ways, tamest album to date.

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All Music Guide

Encore never resonates the way his first three endlessly fascinating albums do.

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Mojo

An awkward faceoff between Mathers the prankster and Mathers the cultural and would-be political agitator. [Jan 2005, p.96]

Q Magazine

So, does it match expectations? No. [Jan 2005, p.122]

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.

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Dot Music

You’d believe this was a “Weird Al” Jankovic record had you tuned in halfway through.

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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]

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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.

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Billboard

Here, there are moments when he entertains us and other times when he doesn't.

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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]

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.

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Austin Chronicle

The real Slim Shady is officially in real danger of becoming clichéd. His free pass expires here.

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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.

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Drawer B

It’s trite rehash after trite rehash followed by pointless filler.

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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.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 217 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Russell D. gave it a6:
I think the only reason I can tolerate this album is because I'm a fan. It took me 2 years to buy the album after I heard "Just Lose it", and its a disappointment, but its got a few good songs on there. I also think its funny how you can tell an eminem fans age by what their favorite album is. The younger they are, the more likely "The Eminem Show" is their favorite. See if I'm right...

Lief S. gave it a0:
Anybody who gave this album above a 3 should stop listening to rap, ur just messing up what albums sales should really be like and are the reason real hip hop is dead, there is not 1 song on this album worth listening to, he should never make a form of music again.

Edward H gave it a5:
Man I'm all even of diz album by Em it haz bad songz but it has a few dat stand out. Like "Monkingbird" and "Toy Soldiers" Koz I'm a sucka for dat reel pheelin' songz y'all know dat 4 reel! But hopefully he comez bak wit sumthin' special lata on wheneva his ready 2 drop a hit album again. I'll come bak as a fan when he makes an awesome ass album again like tha Awesome Eminem Show. But till den I'm undeceive on Em at tha moment.

wiggetty w. gave it a10:
Keeps getting better and better. Second only to The Eminem Show.

mike h. gave it a10:
Anybody who says slim shady is a bad rapper is a complete loser and dont no what their talkin about because eminem is one of the greatest rappers ever and his new cd is the same. It has great beats and still good lyrics. So it is a great album

mike hawk gave it an8:
Eminem will never loose what he has!

jake p gave it a10:
grate

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