The Slim Shady LP review

This is where Eminem as we know him came in. The foul mouthed, angry yet poetic genius with launched to fame with his second album which is from the point of view of his alter ego, Slim Shady. It was critically and commercially successful yet also very controversial. Here are my thoughts on what is guaranteed to be an hour of madness, rage and lyrical mayhem of the best kind.

Tracks:

1. Public Service Announcement: 8/10 a bit random but a hilarious start to the album. This unconventional intro lets you know you're in for something different.

2. My Name Is: 8/10 while the lyrics are a much occasionally, this brutal, unstoppable and at times hilarious anti authority anthem hits like a baseball bat to the face. This is how you introduce an alter ego.

3. Guilty Conscience: 9/10 it's not for the easily offended, but it's not being offensive for no reason. It's going deep and saying meaningful things in the most brutal, hard hitting yet ridiculously entertaining way possible.

4. Brain Damage: 9/10 while the beat is nothing eye catching, this powerful track shows that underneath all the rage filled, authority hating persona with both middle fingers permanently raised while spitting out many questionable lyrics, there is a thoughtful, soulful artist who isn't just swearing for no reason.

5. Paul (Skit): 5/10 a superfluous skit, but it makes you smile and plus how many other artists put skits in the middle of their albums?

6. If I Had: 8/10 the jarring tonal shifts between the verses and choruses weaken this track a bit, but it's as powerful and depressing as ever.

7. 97' Bonnie & Clyde: 9/10 more chilling than many horror films, this is undeniably disturbing and doesn't boast any immediately clear message, but the truth is 97' Bonnie and Clyde is actually pretty deep. I see this as superior to Kim, since that one was just a bit too much but this feels more subtle, meaningful and tragic.

8. Bitch (Skit): 6/10 it feels unnecessary but it's quite amusing and shows Eminem's self awareness.

9. Role Model: 9/10 really quite brilliant. Let's be honest: has anyone ever come up with a more hilarious, sharp and effective way to slam their critics? All in all, entering a rap battle with Eminem would be like the Tellytubbies going to war with the Daleks.

10. Lounge (Skit): 6/10 just an intro to the next song so it's hard to judge. It's moderately interesting overall.

11. My Fault: 5/10 this one's just a bit ugly to be honest. The rhyming is impeccable, but I don't know whether or not I'm supposed to laugh or be moved. I'm neither.

12. Ken Kaniff (Skit): 6/10 kind of funny but a bit difficult to get.

13. Cum On Everybody: 7/10 the outrageous verses are on target, but the chorus misses completely.

14. Rock Bottom: 9/10 Slim Shady may have spent much of the album behaving badly, yet it's a testament to Eminem's lyrical ability that despite all of this, thanks to all the bleak poetry in this track we sympathise hugely with Shady and our emotions hit rock bottom alongside his.

15. Just Don't Give a Fuck: 7/10 it's as polished as ever but all it does is tell us stuff we already know: Eminem is a lyrical genius, he wants to offend everyone as much as possible etc.

16. Soap (Skit): 4/10 can someone tell me why this is on this album?

17. As the World Turns: 5/10 it's technically good in many ways, but all the meaningless misogyny makes this song very difficult to enjoy.

18. I'm Shady: 8/10 more solid hip hop madness where you just have to respect Eminem for being brave enough to actually use these lyrics.

19. Bad Meets Evil: 8/10 ugly and familiar, yet still highly entertaining and brilliantly written.

20. Still Don't Give a Fuck: 8/10 a rage fuelled, emotive, outrageous and bleak finale.

Best song: Role Model
Worst song: Soap (Skit) if you count it as a song. If not, then My Fault

Summary: Few albums I've encountered required the 'Parental Advisory Explicit Content' sticker more. This album needs a 'Not for the Easily Offended' sticker too. This is outrageous, but it's not all shock for shock's sake. It's funny in some songs, while genuinely moving in others and in general you just have to embrace the madness. The writing is impeccable, Eminem is a brilliant performer and overall this is a very good album which earned him his much deserved fame. Still, many lyrics are questionable, the songs contain similar themes and like so many albums it loses momentum in the second half so it's not quite a home run.


Final rating: 8/10