Recovery by Eminem
The world is still in a place of confusion, however, I think that it’s headed towards adapting to new circumstances and healing. If there are two things to be learned about humanity you can say that it is a very resilient and sociable culture. Relationships are important to the human race.
Music is a way that relationships can be cultivated amongst individuals of the human race. One can learn a lot about an individual by the music that they listen to or use in different situations. Music can assist in expressing many things that may not be possible to express in any other way while also helping you to heal.
I apologize in advance if this article feels too heavy or personal, but the album is of great importance to me and stirred up memories that I thought long hidden away. Those memories hurt, but they are now on the way to healing or recovery which is a work in progress. This month the chosen album is Recovery by Eminem, who in my opinion is one of the rap goats. Recovery is Eminem’s seventh studio album that was released on June 18th, 2010 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2011. This 17 soundtrack album was a followup to Relapse which was released in 2009. I have always had a love of music and a different way of classifying my relationships, one of the different terms that I used that seemed to confuse many of the people that I knew at the time was “Soulmate Best Friends” especially when I explained that I may not believe in Soulmates for a partner but there definitely are soulmates in best friends. Similar to a partner but without the sexual tension, though sex was also a complex topic.
But I digress. I was always a fan of Eminem. When Recovery came out I went and brought it for myself. Recovery came out when I was 14 years old, I remember placing the CD in the stereo and singing or dancing till I collapsed in laughter with my two Soulmate Best Friends (one of who may he rest in peace and the other who just left…). Oh, the teenage years filled with so much angst or self-discovery… personally the whole album spoke to me at specific points until it became too much. After it became too much and about 8 years have passed I was hit with the original sadness and rage before the emotional detox and feelings of hope and love.
Eminem has always focused his music on emotions and seems to state feelings that others do not know how to state but then instead of ignoring it he embraces the emotions which is a healthy way to cope and understand situations. The songs that I listen to repeatedly: Talking to myself, Going Through Changes, You’re Never Over, Space Bound and No Love. Ironically those have not changed which offers a form of comfort and understanding which assists in steps to healing and a sense of balance.
Recovery is an excellently tasteful and well named album with a brilliant cover. The image shows Eminem walking down a long empty road with only nature and signs. Although he is alone it subtly feels full of hope and carefreeness as he walks forward. The lack of anything except for nature and the signs which give a sense of nature which helps with recovery, healing, or comfort.
Overall I would give this album 10/10. It is emotional, has great collaborations and lyrics.