Like a fighter who goes straight for the bruises and just keeps pounding, Eminem can't resist hot-button issues. Sonically, this album has a clean, almost antiseptic sound-but who needs a complex tapestry of samples to distract you when you've got a madly talented rapper having a Tourette's syndrome seizure and inviting you to listen in? A track or two is dazzling. A full hour is like being trapped in a phone booth with Jim Carrey on crystal meth while he rips his diary to shreds.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Brant Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group