Music

Eminem's new single is a total mess

by Tyler Munro

As expected, Eminem released his new single last night. The Billy Squire sampling “Berzerk” is the first official lead off of The Marshall Mathers LP2, and while Shady’s first singles are never wholly indicative of the album to come, this one’s a total mess.

First, the good. The hook is absolutely huge and can clearly be expected in any number of ad campaigns this coming fall. Use of “The Stroke” makes for a sound that’s somewhere between “Lose Yourself” and “Sing for the Moment” and its tense, fist-pumpable build up is sure to sell a ton of cell phones, video games and bubble gums come the changing of seasons. Basically, it’ll be the new “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark.”

It’s not that Eminem’s raps aren’t good, because they threaten to be more often than not, but “Berzerk” doesn’t go anywhere. It reeks of Rick Rubin, whose production lately often seems more attention getting than substantial. Eminem’s playing a character here, which songs like “The Real Slim Shady” and “Without Me” have prepared us for, but even that can’t explain the references and gibberish that litter the song.

Whether it’s the voice-cracking first verse or the Kid Rock inspired nonsense at the end of the second, “Berzerk” feels unfinished or rushed. The Beastie Boys nods are nice early on, but they don’t really fit and disappear fast as they’re heard. There’s something there, I’m just not sure it’s enough. Eminem seems like he’s just dicking around here.

Granted it’s better than “Survival,” but that’s not expected to be on MMLP2 and, in the end, where’s the merit in comparing two different kinds of turd?