Considering how easy it is to get free music online these days – it’s a big deal when I actually choose to buy an album! Man, spending my hard earned money on (essentially free) music, means I’m doing it for a reason. Typically, I buy an album for one of 2 reasons:

1. I really want to support the artist. This usually applies to new, less-popular, and relatively unheard of bands. One band that comes to mind – Meg & Dia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlEiNmVX82Y). I bought their album not only because I really like their music, but mainly because they could actually use money from album sales, unlike those filthy rich artists driving lambos.
2. Their music friggin rocks! In other words – I know they’re going to be at the top of my playlist, I’m most definitely going to be listening to their album well over a hundred times, and my form of respect of awesome music, is buying the album. One artist who fits in to this category for me (and actually sort-of #1 as well), is Kaskade (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raUpjfiWRps). Man, I can’t imagine how I’d get through my work day without him (FYI, his music is brilliant programming music).

Now back to the subject of this post – clearly, Eminem falls into the latter. Mind you, his last 2 albums didn’t quite make my “friggin rocks” list (god damn accents) – but I still ended up buying a track of two – like ‘Beautiful’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgT1AidzRWM). Fuck that single was amazing… almost at ‘Stan’ level.

So – what about Eminem’s new album, Recovery? gold. real, frickin’ gold. I only listened to a few tracks online, but those were enough for me to whip out my credit card and buy it. Recovery is great, not quite Marshall Mathers LP, but most definitely better than his last two albums. Is Em *back*? Who knows, but at least it wasn’t another album of silly lyrics, and middle eastern accents. Recovery brings back the soul, the (real) anger, and the Eminem that we remember growing up with. Lyrics that mean something.

I don’t have time to run through the entire album, but here are a few of my favourites:

Space Bound. Man this song rocks! Chorus is actually decent for once, and it’s been a while since I’ve heard Em rap about someone (kim?!) with soul and passion. And when you listen to this track – it feels like there’s more to just the words. Something deeper. Anyway, even though I’m not sure we’ll ever see this as a single – it’s solid.

Love The Way You Lie (ft. Rihanna). Do I need to explain anything here? This track was leaked early as well, and it blew up all of the web – for good reason! This track is HOT. Rihanna provides a *solid* chorus to Eminem, again rapping about a past love.

No Love (ft. Lil Wayne). Alright – I’m not exactly a Lil Wayne fan – but he’s tolerable here. His lyrics are decent, and I think it goes well with the song/theme. Not the mention that Haddaway remixed background is HOT. How in the world they turn What Is Love into a serious rap beat is beyond my imagination – but I love it. Eminem just rips it up in the second verse. Jump to 2:10 if you’re a Lil Wayne hater.

25 to Life. Another one similar to Space Bound and Love the Way You Lie. Just listen – it’s good.

So Bad. Man this song is brilliant! If you listen to the lyrics carefully, you’ll know what I mean. I listened to it the first time cuz I loved the beat (beats by Dre baby), and only the second time did I actually pay attention to the lyrics – god damn – this song is funny!

Not Afraid. ‘nuff said. This shit is smokin’ hot.

Anyway, I’d ramble on more – but I gotta get some sleep. Just wanted to get most of it written down somewhere so I don’t forget. Two more good tracks I don’t have time to talk about – Cold Wind Blows and Talkin’ 2 Myself.