Eminem

Artist : Eminem
Album : Encore (Universal Music)

The thing about Eminem is that while he makes a living and fame out of offending and making a fool out of people (and himself), there is still more to him as an artist than all the hype surrounding him.

The whole Michael Jackson brouhaha is perhaps unnecessary and too much, and Eminem should not have done it in the first place. But on the other hand, he knows too well that controversy sells and often that is what people need to be recognized.

However, once you skip Just Lose It and listen to the rest of the record, you will find Eminem to be a gifted musician and great lyricist.

Encore is not as phenomenal and fun as the previous albums, but it thankfully lacks the pomposity and boisterousness from which its predecessors suffered, which is great.

In other words, Eminem has matured. The juvenile humor is still there in Puke and Big Weenie, but he is more reflective or even political like in Mosh, a Bush-bashing cliche that still has it.

The sound, however, gets a bit monotonous after a while, with recycled sound creeping in here and there (except for Latin- flavored Ass Like That).

Let's wait and see what he comes up with next. -- Hera Diani