There’s a distinct split in Eminem’s catalogue, somewhere between Relapse and Recovery, when the inarguable firebrand genius of yore became self-appointed godfather of white rap, trading anarchic pill-fuelled shock-comedy for scathingly serious self-help.
Revival, presumably the final part of this trilogy, straddles these two extremes while containing more unwelcome spatterings of Rick Rubin-produced rap-rock intended to provide continuity with the patchy The Marshall Mathers LP 2.
Meanwhile, Beyonce, Pink and Ed Sheeran contribute unmemorable choruses over second-rate beats as the former Slim Shady rails against Trump and apologises to his mum.
• Eminem. Revival. Aftermath/Shady/Interscope.
• ★★ (out of five)
Single download: Untouchable
For those who like: Rappers past their use-by date
— Jeremy Quinn
