dont take him so seriously (The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem)

Member Name: ryanbritto

Product:	The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem
Date:	06/01/01 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good variety of songs

Disadvantages: no good for children, bad influence

First off, I'd like to say that I believe that people are taking Eminem too seriously. I don't like the lyrics in this album any more than the rest of those concerned; in fact I would hate them, if I thought that Eminem was serious about them. I encourage anybody who is concerned over these lyrics to watch MTV's special "When Lyrics Attack," hosted by Kurt Loder, in which Eminem makes a lucid, well-thought argument for his unique style of music and all its perks and pitfalls.

That said, I will now move on to actually reviewing Eminem's latest album, The Marshall Mathers LP, which I think is one of the most musically adept entries into the music arena today.

The Good:

With this record, Eminem clearly defines himself as a powerhouse musical entity. His songs feature funky beats and basslines, blending with interesting use of keyboard and sound effects, to create a style like no other rapper. Uniqueness is a rare quality in rap music today, which seems to be so full of cookie-cutter songs anymore that it had lost my interest...until this album.

Eminem's unique style incorporates a little of what seems every genre in music today...rap, rock, heavy metal, pop, comedy...if you like any of these, there's something on The Marshall Mathers LP for you.

The Bad:

There are three main categories of people who should not listen to this album:

1) Those easily offended
2) Children
3) Those too closed-minded to look past the lyrics

After all, there is a reason the album carries a big PARENTAL ADVISORY warning label on it: the lyrics are full of hate and anger. I do not condone such behavior, not in any means, but I think that people who cannot (or choose not to) look past the lyrics and appreciate Eminem's musical talent for what it is should know enough not to listen to his music. Besides, I have yet to hear of Eminem actually doing anything like what he describes
in his music.

The Ugly:

There has been way too much controversy over this record. While I can see some people's points about young impressionable minds, anybody whose mind is still that impressionable should still be firmly under parental control, enough that they can't get their hands on this record. When they mature, though, have at it. It's great music.

Summary: