Apr 12, 2018

It's widely known that this album was his first solo effort in 4 years. The sentiment throughout his newer interviews talking about the album was that he felt like he needed to put an album out after so much time. It is also known that he was unable to work with Dre during the beginning stages of the album because he was taking a break. Not only Dre but there's been mentions of planned rap features that "didn't work out". So with all that being said, and the general theme of insecurity and uncertainty in the album led by Walk on Water, it makes me wonder if the label played a part in the album being so bad, pushing Em to release something that would appeal to the charts.

The features were 99% pop artists. As much as it seems like that's who he only collaborates with nowadays, he's had no more than 4 features who could be considered as such on each album since Relapse. He has 8 pop features on Revival which is not only alarming but out of character. This was also the first album in his career to not feature a rapper with a verse.

The crux of this album is it's insistence of outdoing Relapse and building on the success of Recovery. It's the last of the Re- trilogy. This somewhat explains why there's songs that sound like Recovery leftovers, a tracklist that is dominated by pop artists, and an awkwardly placed Relapse inspired song in Framed.

But it creates even more questions. Why did he double down and make an album that is so similar to Recovery yet even more forced, more pop friendly, and more poorly sequenced? What compelled Em to put songs like Believe, Castle, and Arose on an album with songs like Heat, Need Me, and Remind Me? The answer could be so he pleases all his fans with something for everybody. Or it really could be that he picked songs that would appease the label in that they would chart based on their pop appeal. There's lines off MMLP2 (his best post hiatus album don't @ me) that come to mind when I assess Revival.

"They want me to flip at the label, but I won't succumb to it
The pressure, they want me to follow up with
Another one, after Recovery was so highly coveted
But what good is a f---in recovery if I fumble it?
Cause I'ma drop the ball if I don't get a grip"

These 5 bars just might be a foreshadowing of Revival. The success of Recovery being so immense due to LTWYL and the project's pop appeal has Interscope pressuring Em to come out of hiatus and continue to rinse and repeat the formula. As big as Eminem is, even he doesn't have complete freedom to do what he wants while signed to a major.

Revival comes off as a half-hearted effort to top the charts like his did with Recovery. The sequencing is so bad, it seems that he just threw songs on the middle of the album that's skeleton consisted of WOW, Believe, In Your Head, Castle, and Arose. Compared to those 5 tracks, the majority of the rest are inferior and seem like pandering to the billboard top 100.

Chloraseptic - attempt to take on the mumble rap trap trend

River - attempt to recreate LTWYL success

Like Home - attempt to create political radio friendly song with a hot button issue

Tragic Endings - attempt to recreate LTWYL success

Nowhere Fast - attempt to create political radio friendly song

Need Me - attempt to recreate LTWYL success

The fact is that the nucleus of this album is so poorly put together and forced leads me to believe that Eminem not only treated Revival like a chore but isn't the only one to blame for the failure of this album. The rollout, the delays, and the tracklist might have all been the fault of the label.

And if he goes to Def Jam as anticipated and puts out a solid body of work that's true to the hip hop sound he claims to be passionate about, then the forced pop crossovers that have been prevalent since Recovery and came to a head with Revival were all Interscope's doing. They were the reason the ball was dropped.

TL/DR - Probably

 

Apr 12, 2018

Its better than your threads about ghetto milkshakes and ignorant hip hop opinions

 

Apr 12, 2018

h--- The Sequel and MMLP2 weren't nearly as bottom of the barrel as this album was

 

Apr 12, 2018

I think so yes but Em is weak and easily manipulated and led it seems, it's like he doesnt know what he wants to hear now so is letting hits and popular perception drive it. I bet he was fine with all the pop s---, he probably thinks it's what people want from the sales. But doesnt seem to realise he's catering to pop fans, not his fans. I just dont think he has any vision, hes said himself he doesnt know how to act. He has no idea of what he wants to sound like, hes just desperately trying to please people... which is a tragic ending for the once mr dont give a f---.

 

Apr 12, 2018

Wow I think you're onto something

 

Apr 12, 2018

You typed all that up but he’s been making the same music since 2010 but just getting progressively more out of touch

 

Apr 12, 2018

OP is reading too much into but yeah, he's a popstar of course that's a part of it, but another is general lack of faith in his own abilities. He's been pumping out vapid sellout music since at least Recovery, which was almost definitely made in response to the lukewarm response and sales of Relapse, a project made up almost entirely of him making the music he wanted to make at the time, for better or worse.

 

Apr 23, 2018

revival is sincerely s---

 

Apr 13, 2018

Lmao at the part about Dre taking a break. He’s been on a break for like 15 years

 

Apr 12, 2018

Jimmy Iovine left and old heads left...about time Em left that pop hole...is Aftermath still with them?

 

Apr 17, 2018

Most 20 year olds dont

 

Apr 13, 2018

or, get this, revival is the result of a washed up, ex-junkie rapper trying to be good when he is s--- now

 

Apr 13, 2018

Em still a good rapper
He needs a cohesive sound and a theme for next album. Like relapse.
Revival was the wost project of his career

 

Apr 13, 2018

Revival was lazy as f---. Contractual obligation most likely.

 

Apr 13, 2018

could be, but alot of people who were on his record label are gone so maybe he likes to make pop songs for his other demographic. at his age he should be making hip hop and working with legendary acts instead of Skylar Grey or Pink.

 

Apr 13, 2018

Lmao the only threads that "continously" do that are two from yesterday. I spark conversation and make better threads than alot of people here. You're being biased you obviously dislike me because your forum buddy does

Edit: Revival and Nice For What both came out within the last 4 months with the latter coming out last week so what are you even talking about?

Like I said theyre irrelevant to you cause you're obviously biased

 

Apr 12, 2018

People can be as dismissive of this notion as they like (for Likes!) but I think this is quite possibly true. You also have to figure Em might've been in the loop about Paul taking on the role of CEO at Def Jam long before any one else. I think Em is planning to make a big splash with his first album on Def Jam (and possibly his final album), and has been saving the best for last, so to speak. Last single off Revival may just be Believe and will leave those words in our heads as we wait and wonder if Em still has anything amazing in store for us after the rather lacklustre Revival: Do you still believe ... in Em?

With the taste of Revival still in people's mouths, a lot of people may feel the answer is a firm No. But guess who likes to be the underdog? Em will be back to prove the haters/critic wrong cuz there is nothing more dangerous than a hungry Mr. Mathers.

 

Apr 12, 2018

says no one ever I assure you

you cant f--- w/ me tone

back down

 

Apr 12, 2018

s--- thread ban op