The critics have weighed in on Revival, the ninth studio album by legendary rapper Eminem. The results are a mixed-bag at best.

The reviews are in on Revival, the semi-surprising, late 2017 album by Eminem.  Below is what was stated in the ‘Final Thoughts’ section of The Musical Hype review of the product:

Ultimately, Eminem returns in top-notch form on Revival.  Throughout its course, he tackles numerous topics including politics, racism, and father-/husband-hood.  Keeping things interesting, he assembles a star-studded cast and at times, does unique, compelling things with his flow and rhymes. The album is too long, but the quality is indisputable.

Ultimately, at our hands, Revival was awarded a respectable 3 ½ out of 5 stars rating. Selected gems for the project included pre-release singles “Walk on Water” and “Untouchable”, as well as the likes of “Chloraseptic,” “Like Home,” “Framed,” “Offended,” “Castle,” and “Arose.” Most critics didn’t agree with our assessment.  Our 3 ½ star assessment converts to a Metacritic metascore of 70 (where “5 stars” = 100, “4 ½ stars” = 90, “4 stars” = 80, etc.).  The overall aggregate for the project, comprised of 21 professional reviews, is a mere 51.

Positive Reviews

Analyzing the 21 reviews, only seven (~33.3%), were positive.  The most positive hailed from XXL (80), The Independent (UK) (80), and The Telegraph (UK) (80).  Scott Claysher of XXL sums up the “XL” rated project:

While Revival isn’t the defibrillator that Eminem needed to revive his dominance, the album has enough highlights to maintain decent replay value and enough lyrical miracles to keep mindful rap from totally flat lining. His pen game hasn’t lost even half of a step, and he still possesses the neurotic edge that’s always made him such a driving force in hip-hop. It’s refreshing to hear the culture’s beloved Slim Shady pop up and give the people his flaming hot takes on life. Whether that’s tackling police brutality or “booty that’s heavy duty like diarrhea,” Eminem pulls no punches.[1]

Drowned in Sound (70), Rolling Stone (70), Paste Magazine (68), and HipHop DX (64) were less enthusiastic, but still positive.

[1] Glaysher, S. (2018, January 04). Eminem Seeks Redemption on ‘Revival’ Album. Retrieved January 14, 2018, from http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2018/01/eminem-revival-album-review/

Mixed Reviews 

Continuing the analysis, eight reviews (~38.1%) were mixed. AllMusic, The New York Times, New Music Express (NME), and Exclaim all awarded a metascore of 60. Within his 3-star review, AllMusic ‘reviewing god’ Stephen Thomas Erlewine writes:

Aging is never easy for a star but it may be harder for Marshall Mathers, since his earliest records were equal parts rage and pranks — emotions that tend to mellow as the years stack up… [Eminem] didn’t sound like anybody else when he started, and now that he’s conceivably halfway through his journey he doesn’t sound like anybody else either, a quality that can make Revival compelling, albeit only intermittently. Provocative and muddled, Revival percolates with ambition but doesn’t lack in laziness either…[2]

There were four more far more mixed reviews from Pitchfork and Slant Magazine (50), and The Observer (UK) and The Guardian (40).

[2] Erlewine, S. T. (n.d.). Revival – Eminem. Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://www.allmusic.com/album/revival-mw0003132751

Negative Reviews 

The good news for Eminem is that only six reviews (~28.6%) were negative.  The bad news is, that’s nearly one third of reviews, and coupled with lowest scores of the mixed reviews, it weighs down the overall score of Revival.  The kindest of the meanies is The A.V. Club, serving up a metascore of 33. The headline of Josh Modell’s review reads, “Won’t the real Slim Shady please grow up?”[3] Cute.

Spin and Los Angeles Times both awarded a modest (30), while Sputnikmusic only mustered up a 20.  Was it that bad, really? The 405 gave a laughable metascore of 15, which wasn’t nearly as cruel as the 0 awarded by Consequence of Sound.  Really, couldn’t Eminem have put his name on Revival and earned at least some credit? That’s how it works in school at least.  Clearly, critic Dan Weiss isn’t feeling Revival in the least, titling his review “Eminem Fumbles His Confessions on the Godawful Revival.”[4] While the score is harsh, Weiss provides a detailed review that justifies it.

Let’s give credit where it’s due: Eminem’s first album in four years does not contain the lyric “I can make the bitches I rape cum.” But it does feature “Just escaped from the state pen for raping eight women who hate men.” … Revival is the most pleasureless record he’s ever made, so stymied by his worst tendencies that like many other inept apologies from 2017 it only points out how much further he has to go rather than how far he’s come.

What does a mixed bag of reviews say about Revival? Art, regardless of the medium, is polarizing. Regardless how one feels about Eminem or his 2017 album Revival, he’s an artist with his share of classic albums, and those that are simply less impressive. The critics have spoken: Revival is not a classic Eminem album.

[3] Modell, J. (2017, December 17). Won’t the real Slim Shady please grow up? Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://www.avclub.com/wont-the-real-slim-shady-please-grow-up-1821373742

[4] Weiss, D. (2017, December 18). Album Review: Eminem Fumbles His Confessions on the Godawful Revival. Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/12/album-review-eminem-fumbles-his-confessions-on-the-godawful-revival/

Photo Credit: Aftermath