Eminem - Recovery

(Polydor)

Originally intended as a sequel to last year’s Relapse, Recovery looks to re-establish Eminem as the strong, inescapably bratty voice of modern rap he once was. Fully embracing his struggles – drug addiction, loss and the mixed response to Relapse to name a few – tracks like the self-dissecting ‘Talking To Myself’ and the charged-up ‘Not Afraid’ are searingly honest, and suitably profane. Musically, Recovery’ is somewhat of a ‘mixed bag’, covering simplistic dancefloor fodder and sampling Haddaway and Black Sabbath, but at his most focused, ‘Slim Shady’ is just about as lethal (or hilarious) here as he ever was.