MikeNUFC's Recovery Review (Long)

[MikeNUFC]

Okay, I did one on that AliJack thread down the page, but that was based on first listen, and after numerous hearings, my view has changed dramatically on most things on the album

So here goes...

Cold Wind Blows
I love that little intro - would have worked maybe as an opening skit, but I'm sure Em was desperate not to have a skit that would get deleted after one listen. Song kicks off nicely, love the JB beat. First verse is pretty poor, a couple of odd lines in there. But the Mariah line at the end saves the verse Although I hated the chorus at first, I cant get enough of it now. Second verse ups the game. The Michael J Fox line is quality. Third verse gets even better, love the fruit bit.
Outro is kinda annoying but the song as a whole is brilliant - really sets the album up.
8/10

Talkin' 2 Myself
Suprisingly great Khalil beat on this and Kobe - who I honestly never heard of before this - produces one hell of a hook. Perfect for the song. Eminem's bridge - which I hated at first, has grown on me. First verse, despite being standard lyrically, is honest and gives us an even better idea of his situation. Like CWB, Em ups his game as the song goes on and 2nd and 3rd verse are pretty damn good. DJAM reference was nice, but I felt the rhyme at the end was kinda lazy. Adding "and em" to "day" to rhyme with "AM". Also the "shady-crazy-baby" rhyme was a bit obvious and lazy
Real honest song. Definitely not the best "emotional" song on the album but the hook, beat and solid Em verses, delivered with such honesty give a great contrast to the opener.
8/10

On Fire
Best beat on the album. I'd have loved to see Mr Porter on more songs. Em just comes in and slaughters the beat lyrically, though. Rhyming madness. End of both verses are the best parts.
However, not something I'll be listening to as much as some of the other great tracks on the CD, although the flow and the class beat does give replay-value.
8/10

Won't Back Down
It's a well made beat but really doesn't fit with me. Really don't get the point of Pink on the hook and doesnt have that album track feel. No real direction to the song, just throwing out punchlines left right and centre. There are some great lines ("Make like Michael J Fox in the Jaws playin’ with a etch-a-sketch", "don’t make me introduce you to my power tool, you know the fucking drill" + "fork was in the road took the psychopath") but some poor ones too ("I don’t need the fucking swine flu to be a sick pig" + "how you douche bags feel knowing you’re disposable?")
Decent track but beat gets on my nerves. Nice flow, but some poor lines let it down.
6.5/10

WTP
Catchy beat and chorus but nothing to get me excited. Breaks up the overall sound of the album nicely, but just zero real replay-value. 3rd verse is nice, 1st two not so much. Not much else to say really.
6/10

Going Through Changes
Here's were we get to the good stuff. World class sample and, as someone else said, gets the balance perfectly between really sampling it but incorparating it into the song. One of the most honest and touching verses I have ever heard in a rap song in the first verse. Incredibly delivered. Thta was until I heard the second verse - wow. That Proof bit is fantastic - to actaully own up that he can't stop thinking about the actual sitiuation surrounding Proof's death (all the stuff about him killing someone before he was shot) was magnificent (Honesty reminded me of that line in the 3rd verse of Deja Vu). Somehow pulls this off with absolutely zero self-pity. Outstanding. Em really ups the storytelling in the last two verses and the last verse ends the song perfectly.
Very little to fault on this song,
9.5/10

Not Afraid
GTC links in well to this but I've said enough about this track to save a lifetime. Basically, I hate it. - horrible beat, chrous, hook and punchlines
3/10

Seduction
Another one of the tracks which I hated at first, but now am addicted to. Beat is class - fair play boi-1da. I actaulyl enjoyed the little Usher-style vocal sample background thing with Em over the top. Worked well. The flow on the first verse is orgasmic. Love how the tempo increases as verse goes on. Nice Ed Lover reference too. Second verse - like how he incorparted the Jay-Z "awgh" sound into verse. Nice, but also slightly lazy as he uses it to make a rhyme. Not as memorable as the first verse, but some top-notch lines within it. 3rd verse is one of the best on the album, for me. Just the change in tempo of flow while still keeping up the rhyming is world class. I shut the shit down. Your entire arsenal is not enough to fuck with one round - great line.
Song has worked it's way up as one of the best on the CD.
9/10

No Love
So, Wayne kicks the song of well. Not as good as poeple are making out but a decent verse. 4 lines where he doesnt even rhyme anything, though. Decent sample used in the hook, Em's singing is hardly breathtaking but solid all the same. But then he comes in and just murders this verse. Flow, delivery, some quotable ass lines make this song what it is. Kanye reference was hilarious.
Great track, kinda contridcitory though - apologises to fans for putting out his last 2 CDs previously, then makes a song hitting back at people who doubt him. Weird. But the quality of the song and verse make up for it.
9/10

Space Bound
BEat is a reason not to have Jim Jonsin on the album. Horrible. Em's verses are average at best, the concept I still dont understand, but dont really wanna know to be honest. "I get the shakes
My body aches" was cringyily bad. Really don't get the hype about this song. Dud.
5/10

Cinderalla Man
I love the Til I Collapse vibe this song creates. Doesn't touch the brilliance of that track but gets pretty close. Really has those witty quotable lines back that we havent seen for years. Dunno who's on the chrous but I love it. The random who's on the beat does a great job as well. Love "who forms pyramids and raps circles around square lyricists" and "so batchin ya eyelashes, and keep winking and blown kisses, cuz your flirting with death". I love the build up to the chorus as well, Em has got that spot on. Infectious.
9/10

25 To Life
Not my favourite track, but as close to perfection as Recovery gets. I love the smooth, clean chorus. Sets the tone fantastically. I'd already heard the song was a concept before I heard it so it's hard to tell whether I'd have cottoned on to it or not. Other rappers have done this, but Em executes better than anyone - the verses don't make it obvious but give that idea that there's eomething more to it than just about a woman. Every line is crafted incredibly. "You screaming as I walk out that I'll be missed But when you spoke to people who meant the most to you, You left me off your list" is my favourite line. In some ways the "Fuck you Hip-Hop" bit is good becuase it clears it up for the average listener but a little dissapointing because it makes it kinda too obvious.
9.5/10

So Bad
Far and away the most addictive and infectious song Em has ever released. Verses are well written and structured but it's that great Dre beat and chorus that make it impossible to not enjoy for me. Flow at the end of the first verse is so smooth and lovely. Some clever ass lines in there as well. That pointless and unnecesary "dynamite" bit lets it down slightly
8/10

Almost Famous
My favourite track on the album. Chorus is so mysterious and eery and sets up the song perfectly. Intertwining random punchlines within the story is just pure genius. Never heard anything like it. The flow is spine-tingling. 2nd verse is my favourite verse on the album. Not best, favourite. Song has the best punchlines of any, as well. I would pay so much money to see a video for this shit. Would be crazy.
My favourite song (tied with Deja Vu) since The Eminem Show.
10/10

Love The Way You Lie
Despite my initial hatred for Rihanna on this song, I've come to find her chorus bearable. Still annoying though. Em's verses, despite really not catching my attention at first, are actaully pretty special. First is expertly written and is pretty touching. Second verse is my favourite in the song though. Love the way he starts of all "lovey-dovey" then just switches it. Really catches the mood of a violent relationship, just hits that change in tone expertly. Hate the "window pane/pain" punchline at the end though.
Good song, with 2 solid verses and one stand-out one.
8.5/10

You're Never Over
I'm not usually influenced by people on here, but the way some members have talked of this track and why it's great, has really made me appreciate more. You can feel that emotion, obviously, but as some said, becuase it's not slow, sad and downbeat it makes for such a unique and non-cliched tribute. Second verse starts kinda slowly but gets better as it goes along and the ending is incredibly touching. Definitely put a lump in my throat. Chorus suits the song, when I actaully really listen. Still think he says "youuuuu" like a 7 year old but meh.
Would have been on a 7 on first listen but definitely upping that score.
8.5/10

Untitled
Havoc beat is fuckin' crazy, Em spits fire. Not much wrong with this, really. I'd have liked to see the hook longer though. Also, some of the lines remind of MMLP so much. That ironic, witty humour is there in abundence. This: "Unfashionable and ’bout as rational as a rash on a fag’s asshole/Now let’s take that line run it up the flagpole/With Elton, see if he’s cool with it" is classic. One of the best lines on the whole CD. So, so clever.
Overall, the song is solid, lyrically great and becuase of it's reminder of his early work, gets a high rating.
8/10

Bit of caluction says my overall result is 7.8 but as the whole album clicks, the balance of style of tracks is perfected and the concepts are brilliant, it'll get an 8 - maybe going up depending on it's replay value over the next few week. 17 tracks with only 4 that dont match to the rest; and 2 of those - WBM and WTP - are still decenct-ish tracks is not bad at all.

Bad points:
-The shouty delivery is used too often
-Some contradictions in there
-Relapse-hating.
-Influenced by fans

[slimsoxshady]

i actually expected you to be a lot more critical especially after the Not Afraid rampage lol
i have a lot more 10/10's in my review but other than the hate on Space bound and Not Afraid, this seems like a pretty fair assessment of the album after 5+ days

[Bistnal]

Nice review. I actually agree with a lot of your points, granted, I'd give On FIre a higher rating and So Bad a lower rating. Hmm, maybe I should post my own 10 page review

[MikeNUFC]

i actually expected you to be a lot more critical especially after the Not Afraid rampage lol

Ha. I'll never like NA.

But I was too critical on first hearing of the album. It continues to grow on me.

[KillahBee]

Great review
I would have given On Fire a higher rating, and Space Bound is probably my favorite track on here (I know this song isn't for everyone) but other than that I agree with almost all of what you said

[MikeNUFC]

Just listening to On Fire again. Gotta up that shit to at least a 7.5. Track's crazy.

[Emadyville]

Pretty good review, I don't agree with everything but it's all opinion., Great job tho

[MikeNUFC]

On Fire's going up to 8. Talkin 2 Myself down to 8.

[MikeNUFC]

137 views and only 7 comments?

Fuck you.

*Cheeky bump*

[Mikey1990]

nice review
but space bound is dope

[Hiphopdane]

You're Never Over
You can feel that emotion, obviously, but as some said, becuase it's not slow, sad and downbeat it makes for such a unique and non-cliched tribute

Never thought much about this but it's true that it makes it more original. I'm still not feeling it too much though since the chorus and production (not a bad beat, just not appealing much to me I guess) ruin it for me. Maybe it's one of those tracks that I will play on repeat in a month or two.

[dR3]

Nice review. I expected a much lower "grade".

[MikeNUFC]

You're Never Over
You can feel that emotion, obviously, but as some said, becuase it's not slow, sad and downbeat it makes for such a unique and non-cliched tribute

Never thought much about this but it's true that it makes it more original. I'm still not feeling it too much though since the chorus and production (not a bad beat, just not appealing much to me I guess) ruin it for me. Maybe it's one of those tracks that I will play on repeat in a month or two.

Yeah well as I said I disliked it at first but when I listed to the song with that in mind it improved greatly.

[Wic Kid]

Mike, my man. Almost Famous IS his best track since TES, without a doubt. Cant believe that someone could actually hate on the super-ultra-mega-turbo-fuckin-awesome chorus.

11/10

[MikeNUFC]

Mike, my man. Almost Famous IS his best track since TES, without a doubt. Cant believe that someone could actually hate on the super-ultra-mega-turbo-fuckin-awesome chorus.

11/10

If that song was a girl, she'd be dead by the time I'd finished with her.