User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 1313 Ratings

User score distribution:

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  1. LiamR.
    Jun 22, 2010
    10
    Amazing... Maybe the best album ever?? Do yourself a favor if you still love true hip-hop buy it!!
  2. TrentL
    Jun 22, 2010
    10
    This album is awesome; best album of the year so far and one of his best album I give this album a 9.5/10 . all the songs are awesome. some critics understand that this album is really good.
  3. JaredY.
    Jun 22, 2010
    10
    One of Em's best albums, definitely better than relapse. One of my personal all time favorites.
  4. BlazeM.
    Jun 22, 2010
    9
    Very good album. It's not often that 8 or so songs off one album make it to my ipod. There are some songs that don't capture my attention quite as well, but the overall experience is fairly strong due to: Going Through Changes, Seduction, Space Bound, Cinderella Man, 25 to Life, Almost Famous, Love the Way You Lie, and Untitled.
  5. AndrewH
    Jun 22, 2010
    9
    I don't understand some of these reviews so far. I have listened to the Album twice. the guy from the Guardian couldnt even get the lyrics right ffs!. I feel as though the genre of Hip-Hop, should be reviewed by actual Hip-Hop enthusiasts, because the reviewers so far, seem to be confused to what Hip-Hop and this Album actually represents. 'Recovery' The songs, for most I don't understand some of these reviews so far. I have listened to the Album twice. the guy from the Guardian couldnt even get the lyrics right ffs!. I feel as though the genre of Hip-Hop, should be reviewed by actual Hip-Hop enthusiasts, because the reviewers so far, seem to be confused to what Hip-Hop and this Album actually represents. 'Recovery' The songs, for most parts definately fall into place with the Album Title. And lyrically, Eminem strikes as desperate to get the fans back on his side, after at least 4 years living in his own little world. And even though there is something like an unwritten Law into a Rapper to NEVER show his weakness, This Album tells a story of his 'Recovery' and also His struggles. Songs like 'Not Afraid', 'Love the way you lie', FT Rihanna, 'Talkin to myself', ft Kobe, '25 to life' , 'space bound' and Expand
  6. JacobD
    Jun 22, 2010
    8
    Eminem is back! After the two disappointments in Encore and Relapse, I'm glad to say that Eminem is back, although he has changed a lot. It seems Slim Shady has disappeared (at least for now) which will without a doubt turn of a lot of fans, this is not another Slim Shady LP or Marshal Mathers LP. Style-wise it's more like The Eminem Show, but not really AS good. The album has a Eminem is back! After the two disappointments in Encore and Relapse, I'm glad to say that Eminem is back, although he has changed a lot. It seems Slim Shady has disappeared (at least for now) which will without a doubt turn of a lot of fans, this is not another Slim Shady LP or Marshal Mathers LP. Style-wise it's more like The Eminem Show, but not really AS good. The album has a couple of themes, Eminem's love life, his relationship to Hip/hop and apologies to fans. His rhymes and flow is almost back to the class of the old Eminem, which is good. Overall I really really like the album, but there are a few bad things about it. Eminem sings on a lot of the choruses, and it's painfully bad, his rapping is good, singing horrible. The tracks themselves are not perfect either, tracks like Talkin' 2 myself, Not Afraid, Space Bound, 25 to life and surprisingly Love The Way You Lie (featuring Rihanna) are in my opinion the best, while Won't Back Down (where P!nk does the chorus) and W.T.P are the worst, and they are really bad. The rest of the songs are a mix of average and above average to good. It's a very honest Eminem, and I think his new style suits him, although it's bound to turn a lot of people, his older fans, off. I hope we will see more of the vintage Eminem in the future, but I'm glad to say that Eminem has recovered! Expand
  7. Ridith
    Jun 22, 2010
    7
    The album is good in the sense that it has good songs, such as '25 to life', 'so bad', 'won't back down', 'space bound', and of course 'not afraid', but when eminem said he's gonna go back to his best form, this album doesn't come close...seriously, consider The Marshall Mathers LP or The Eminem Show...this album ain't The album is good in the sense that it has good songs, such as '25 to life', 'so bad', 'won't back down', 'space bound', and of course 'not afraid', but when eminem said he's gonna go back to his best form, this album doesn't come close...seriously, consider The Marshall Mathers LP or The Eminem Show...this album ain't close to those landmarks. Expand
  8. BobL
    Jun 22, 2010
    10
    Return to form for Eminem, much better than the cliched and empty Relapse.
  9. chada.
    Jun 22, 2010
    9
    Great album Better hooks and more polished production and it would be a classic! A must have for any true Eminem fan Skillful metaphors and fierce wordplay culminate Eminem's best effort since 2002 A Must-buy.
  10. SpencerG.
    Jun 22, 2010
    10
    In his top 3 albums for sure. Also, it's the best album of the year hands down!
  11. laki
    Jun 22, 2010
    10
    Most of these 'reviews' have got it all wrong. em is back to doing what he does best, expressing himself. whether you dig the content of his lyrics or not, he's got that same fire he had earlier in his career. the beats on this album are sick. i don't get why some reviews consider it 'inconsistent'. i consider this album his most consistent of his career. Most of these 'reviews' have got it all wrong. em is back to doing what he does best, expressing himself. whether you dig the content of his lyrics or not, he's got that same fire he had earlier in his career. the beats on this album are sick. i don't get why some reviews consider it 'inconsistent'. i consider this album his most consistent of his career. there's not one bad song here, earlier albums have a few tracks that i skip, but not this one. that's consistent to me. the lack of dre is a GOOD thing. i felt that the dr. / em combo was getting tired and formulaic. working with other producers has kept things fresh, not inconsistent. the album does offer variety, and versatility. there are aggressive songs, emotional songs, funny songs, etc. and each one is performed with that classic em enthusiasm that was lacking on the last two albums. this might be his best work to date. i'm disappointed in these reviews, and i will not trust any review i read anymore. i heard this album. let me stress the word ALBUM and NOT 'collection of singles'. i think that may be why the critics say it is inconsistent. it's because they forgot how to appreciate a full rollercoaster ride of an ALBUM. not every track has to sound exactly the same. don't get spoiled by the current state of the music industry that focuses on individual singles. ALBUMS do exist and this is one of them. this album is for his fans who understand his work and his progression, not for some schmuck reviewer who listens to a ton of other crap. Expand
  12. ThomasM.
    Jun 22, 2010
    10
    This album is a masterpiece. Space bound, almost famous, and The near death experience of Going Through changes... That songs sends Chills down my spine. If that song doesn't Touch you then you have no soul. Please support This cd by buying it. Let him know that We, his fans know that he is back!
  13. JusL
    Jun 22, 2010
    9
    Best Rap Album in Years, How is Drakes and BOB's piece of a shit albums rated better than eminem's latest recovery album on this web site. All i have to do is laugh. He is 100 bars above any one else in the game. Just imagine if dre produced this whole album it would have been one of the greatest of the last two decades. too bad he didnt and that is the only downfall of this Best Rap Album in Years, How is Drakes and BOB's piece of a shit albums rated better than eminem's latest recovery album on this web site. All i have to do is laugh. He is 100 bars above any one else in the game. Just imagine if dre produced this whole album it would have been one of the greatest of the last two decades. too bad he didnt and that is the only downfall of this album it doesn't have dre's prefection. Expand
  14. BrentK
    Jun 22, 2010
    10
    Remember Eminem? Well, of course you do
  15. Lukasz
    Jun 23, 2010
    8
    Better than Relapse and Encore but TSSLP, TMMLP, TES are still the best.
  16. AlexP.
    Jun 23, 2010
    8
    Not his best album, but considerably better than relaspe. His flows back, and beats are different but refreshing. Keep it up eminem.
  17. AndrewT.
    Jun 23, 2010
    10
    This album is so sick it going to be a number one seller for sure.
  18. darrylt.
    Jun 23, 2010
    10
    Great album eminem is back,he clearly put alot of heart into this album, most of them critics that have slated the album must be jealous of his comeback or maybe they cant get over all there own problems or addictions. haters i think there called.
  19. RobbieO.
    Jun 23, 2010
    10
    The Album is one of the best hes ever done. Hes finally gotten back to his roots and lost that accent that riddled Relapse.
  20. Jeff
    Jun 23, 2010
    9
    This is one of Eminems best albums vy far, his intensity, and lyrics are reminiscent of the MMLP, his metaphors on this album are ridiculous, noone evern close to his level of wordplay, its one if not his most honest personal album, I actually thought Relapse was one of his best albums, lyrically it was amazing, but when you hear Recovery, he elevates to a whole new level. These so called This is one of Eminems best albums vy far, his intensity, and lyrics are reminiscent of the MMLP, his metaphors on this album are ridiculous, noone evern close to his level of wordplay, its one if not his most honest personal album, I actually thought Relapse was one of his best albums, lyrically it was amazing, but when you hear Recovery, he elevates to a whole new level. These so called critics don't know shit when it comes to lyrics, Its true, no matter how awesome an album is, he still will never ever get the props he deserves, "On Fire" he talks about that to some degree. Overall a fantastic album that any hip hop fan should buy, cuz like he has said so many times before, he's back!! Expand
  21. DanielO
    Jun 24, 2010
    8
    Good album, bit too apolegetic.
  22. Schmidty15
    Jun 24, 2010
    7
    Big fan of Pitchfork.com but man...they blew it on their review. The only thing holding this album from being a true classic are EM's corney sing-songy choruses. Lyrically, I'm not sure if I've ever heard EM spit with so much conviction. Rejoice Slim Shady fans....he's back!
  23. BrandonT.
    Jun 24, 2010
    10
    Album is dope. Em keep killing them.
  24. MullardS
    Jun 24, 2010
    10
    This is the only cd ive listened to over the last 2 weeks. some of the beats (So Bad), themes (WTP, Wont Back Down), and hooks (Youre Never Over, On Fire) arent always on point, but lyrically, Recovery is unparalleled in hip hop right now. 25 to Life, Talking 2 Myself, Almost Famous, and Love the Way You Lie are perfect examples of Eminem at his best across a wide range of genres. By This is the only cd ive listened to over the last 2 weeks. some of the beats (So Bad), themes (WTP, Wont Back Down), and hooks (Youre Never Over, On Fire) arent always on point, but lyrically, Recovery is unparalleled in hip hop right now. 25 to Life, Talking 2 Myself, Almost Famous, and Love the Way You Lie are perfect examples of Eminem at his best across a wide range of genres. By taking out a couple of fillers and redoing some hooks, there is a perfect CD within the lengthy Recovery. I give a 10 because even though its slightly flawed, it's some of the best music in today's hip hop. Expand
  25. Nejc
    Jun 24, 2010
    10
    It's just amazing how great album Recovery is after all the disappointments in the last 5 years. Although I really liked Relapse. This one is just on another level.
  26. JamesS.
    Jun 25, 2010
    9
    Great album...I'm sick of the funny, joking, waste of time Eminem has filled some albums with. This is real from top to bottom.
  27. TommyK
    Jun 25, 2010
    9
    This album has shown why Eminem is on the level of the all time greats. His records evoke different emotions and with great variety. Unlike his last album "Relapse" this album isn't in a accent. This complements the subject matter of the raps. He mainly raps about his deceased best friend Proof from D12, his struggle with drugs, and his comeback to rap.
  28. Noirling
    Jun 25, 2010
    9
    I don't understand music critics, I suppose, because this album is excellent. There were at least 5 songs on it that I would deem hit worthy. The rest were 4 and 3 star quality. It's time to get off the HATE EMINEM bus, people. This stuff is touching and tight. Peep it.
  29. ChaseB
    Jun 22, 2010
    9
    This is definitely a great album. Yes, it's true that his lyrics seem to stumble about in some places, but on the whole, it is a great record, and a grand return to form by THE master rapper.
  30. BigB.
    Jun 22, 2010
    10
    Back to being the emiem of old. Great album!
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 28
  2. Negative: 4 out of 28
  1. No matter how cleverly he's rhyming, which varies, he could use subject matter beyond married-to-the-game and his traditional obsessions. But with Shady in the shadows, rarely are these themes lifted by Em's long-recessive sense of play.
  2. Much of Recovery centers around such themes as romantic devotion and anxiety, but the resulting material rings unsurprisingly hollow.
  3. Sadly, a piecemeal approach to production (Dr Dre has just one credit) leaves the album lacking an abiding mood and drowning in fashionable soft-rock samples.