It’s 2009 and Eminem is back, Dr. Dre is prepping Detox, and Vin Diesel is a box office draw. Suddenly it feels like the early 2000s all over again.
Early today, Universal announced the release of Em’s new album, Relapse, for next month, and this press release was followed by the arrival of the record’s first single, “We Made You,” which was accompanied by a music video that spoofs (amongst others) Kim Kardashian, Tony Romo, Jessica Simpson, Jessica Alba, Bret Michaels, and, uh, celebrity lesbians. Fun stuff.
My thoughts? Disappointing, to say the least. It’s not particularly catchy and comes across like a weak retread of “Just Lose It,” which - in my humble opinion - was one of his lowpoints to begin with. (Yet it was also a smash hit back in ’04, so what do I know?)
Honestly, I was kinda hoping after the past five years of Axl Rose-level hibernation and seclusion, Em would re-emerge with a dark, mature album — a whole record of tracks like “Lose Yourself” — but instead, he’s just recycling his goofier material, complete with that annoying Weird Al vocal inflection. It was funny the first couple times, but now it’s just getting tiresome.
This isn’t a bad track, mind — it’s just a bit underwhelming, especially considering the circumstances.
