Eminem's career is close to the twenty-year mark, and still, the guy is refusing to quit. There's no question his last album was a disappointment, but that's not stopping Marshall Mathers, because there's another compilation of his on the horizon, Shady XV, that we can all be excited about. Sure, it may just be a collection of previous hits (it is), but there's also new song out today (lifted from an upcoming Denzel Washington movie, The Equalizer), and it's worthy of having everyone hoping he's still got more good music to come. The new track is called "Guts Over Fear", and it features Sia singing the hook. It has a mainstream appeal, but what we're liking here is Eminem's demeanor throughout the track. We're so used to hearing his angry-voiced raps, but on the new effort here, his vocals are calm, and well-executed. He does eventually evolve into his intense tone, but it's one that slowly builds on the track, giving the listener some much-needed space to take it all in. As far as the lyrics goes, too, the complex wordplay is still there, so if you've been longing for some Eminem of old, you'll be happy to know that he's returned to his abrasively word-slinging self on the track. Purchase "Guts Over Fear" on iTunes.
Eminem