Eminem
Curtain Call: The Hits

THE REVIEW

It seems only right, with the upcoming release of Eminem's album "Relapse," and after a slight disappointment with his latest single "We Made You," which nonetheless showcases Eminem's still number-one flow in rap, to give its due space to one of the latest official releases from the blond or ex-blond. Tracklist with respective ratings and review:

   1. "Intro (Curtain Call)"    sn

   2. "FACK"      7.5/10                          

   3. "The Way I Am"    10/10

   4." My Name Is "        8/10

   5. "Stan (feat. Dido)"   9.5/10

   6. "Lose Yourself"        8.5/10

   7. "Shake That (feat. Nate Dogg)"    5/10

   8. "Sing For The Moment"         8.5/10    

   9. "Without Me"                       9.5/10

  10. "Like Toy Soldiers"             9/10

  11. "The Real Slim Shady"        8.5/10

  12. "Mockingbird"                     10/10

  13. "Guilty Conscience (feat. Dr. Dre)"   9.5/10

  14. "Cleanin' Out My Closet"                 8/10

  15. "Just Lose It"                                     8/10

  16. "When I'm Gone"                             10/10

  17. "Stan (live) (feat. Elton John)"        sn

Bonus tracks in the deluxe edition:

 18. "Dead Wrong (With Notorious B.I.G.)"   8/10
 19. "Role Model "                                          9/10     
 20. "Kill You"                                                  9/10
 21. "S*** On You (With D-12)"                   7.5/10
 22. "Criminal"                                                9.5/10
 23. "Renegade (With Jay-Z)"                         9.5/10
 24. "Just Don't Give A F***"                        9.5/10

Let's talk about "Curtain Call - The Hits," a collection containing not his best pieces, but his most famous ones. Sure, tastes are subjective, but I believe every true Eminem fan would agree that at least "Just Lose It," "Cleanin' out my closet," "Like Toy Soldiers," "My Name Is" and "Sing for the moment" are not only not his best pieces but not even among the best songs of the albums they were in. I would have agreed more with good old Eminem if he had taken the opportunity to include less known but nonetheless more appreciable tracks, and I'm referring to "Hellbound," "Run Rabbit Run," "The Kids," "97 Bonnye & Clyde," "Infinite," and many others.

Commercial choice? Who knows? Would the CD have sold more with tracks heard on the radio and TV hundreds of times and well-known, or with lesser-known songs that might have represented an opportunity to let new fans (at the time) know the old Eminem, consequently broadening the products sold following a positive response? Well, who knows.

In any case, this album does not represent Eminem's definitive retirement from the scene, but rather a sort of semi-retirement, a way to convey that what came before the curtain fell is now over, and the show will be less frequent than in previous times. Talking about Eminem's retirement is quite incorrect, since despite his last solo album dating back to 2004, in 2005 there was this collection, in 2006 "The Re-Up," which can be considered more or less his album, and then there were the collaborations and appearances in various albums, rare but still present, not to mention the numerous freestyles released on "Shade 45," Eminem's radio station. Therefore, there has not been total silence from Eminem in these 5 years.

Regarding "Curtain Call- The Hits," there's no need to talk about the hits, which have already been discussed in the reviews of his previous albums. It can be said that the tracks are arranged in an excellent manner, alternating between the more cheerful and the more serious and committed songs. Additionally, we find the presence of 4 new songs (more or less):

"FACK," an expression in a playful version of Eminem of his enjoyment during a sexual encounter.

"Renegade," with the collaboration of Jay-Z, as well as a remake originally featuring Royce da 5' 9''. Eminem's part remains unchanged, while obviously the novelty lies in Jay-Z and the considerably better beat. This piece is still a classic, one of Eminem's best, a response to all those who say that Jay-Z is better compared to the rapper from Detroit. In terms of flow, text and rhyme complexity, and expressiveness, Eminem (at least in this song), completely outshines Jay-Z.

"Shake That," a rather forgettable piece.

"When I'm Gone," and here there's just one word: masterpiece. One of the best beats ever, not particularly complex rhymes but a beautiful text and phenomenal interpretation by Eminem, who every time he makes a song about his relationship with Hailie Jade, his daughter, it always results in a masterpiece ("97 Bonnie & Clyde," "Hailie's song," "Mockingbird"). An unforgettable and incredibly touching song. I repeat: a masterpiece of the entire musical panorama, not just rap music.

Little else to say, except that, as mentioned before, many of the songs present are far from Eminem's best, yet this is a perfect CD to listen to if you are a recent fan of Eminem and want to explore all his nuances, from the more cheerful side to the more serious and the "Slim Shady" side. Every time you buy an Eminem CD, you know before even listening to it that it's worth the money spent and it will not disappoint expectations.