I'm going to start by saying that I'm a big fan of Eminem, but I know hes not everyones cup of tea. So, if you aren't too keen on swearing or rude lyrics, I suggest you give this album a miss.

Eminem is a very famous white rapper, who was born in Detriot. His real name is Marshall Mathers III, after his father, Marshall Mathers II. He is also known as Slim Shady. When he was younger, he entered a talent contest, which he came second in, and that's when his career kicked off. He was discovered by Dr.Dre, another famous rapper. 'The Eminem Show' is Eminem's third album, after 'The slim Shady LP', and 'The Marshall Mathers LP'. Eminem had a huge comeback earlier this year, when his single, 'Without me', rocketed in to the charts at number 1. This was closely followed by the album 'The Eminem Show', which had to be released a week earlier than planned, as it was available to download on the net.

I'll start by telling you about the members of Eminem's family that appear on the album:

* His Dad, Marshall Mathers II. Eminems Mum and Dad split up before he was born.

* His Mum, Debbie. She is most famous for being rapped about on Eminem's records (more on that later). She clearly didn't like being rapped about, as she has sued him for it.

* His 16-year-old half-brother Nathan..

* Uncle Ronnie. In 1992, Eminems Uncle Ronnie killed himself. The pair were very close, as the age gap between them was less than 2 months.

* His daughter, Hallie Jade, who is 6 years old. Certain songs on this album prove Eminem adores her.

* Kim, his ex-wife. There have been a lot of songs about Kim on Eminems previous albums. Eminem proved his hate for his ex-wife by having a tattoo which says 'Kim Rot In Pieces' on it.

I bought this album on the day it was released, but as it had a Parental Advisory sticker on it, I had to get my Mum to get it for me. I was suprised to see Eminem in a suit on the front, he looked very smart! The insert leaflet contains lyrics of all the songs in the album, as well as some photos of Eminem , like with him recording, and swimming with Hallie. Anyway, heres the track listing, with a bit about each track, and a rating out of 10 (0-2 = Very poor, 3-5 = poor, 6-8 = good, 9-10 = excellent.)

* Track 1: CURTAINS UP. (skit)

Track 1 is a skit, which introduces the album. It isn't particularly good, as it's just Eminem walking up to the microphone, and coughing.
2/10 This track leads straight in to:

* Track 2: WHITE AMERICA.

This song is about how Eminem catapulted to fame, because of his meaningful lyrics. One minute, he's dying his hair, and the next, he's one of the most famous rappers. This song title sounds racist, but there is not really a lot of racist lyrics in the song. This song is quite loud and shouty.
7/10

* Track 3: BUISNESS.

This song introduces Eminem, and he basically raps about his 'show' and says his hip-hop is in the 'Most rawest and most purest form'. He also says he will continue rapping until his ' Dying Day'. This song has a good beat, but doesn't really have any thought provoking lyrics.
6/10

* Track 4: CLEANING OUT MY CLOSET.

This is one of my favourite tracks off the album, as it seems to be heartfelt and true. Eminem's Mother is mentioned in this track, who I told you about earlier:
'I'm sorry mama, I never meant to hurt you, I never meant to make you cry, but tonight, I'm cleaning out my closet,
For Eminem, cleaning out his closet means bringing up all his old memories that he remembers, like his Dad walking out:
'I wonder if he even kissed me goodbye, on second thought, I don't I just f**kin' wished he would die.'
He describes how he wont follow in his fathers footsteps, he will try and be the best father he can to Hallie. This song shows that Eminem doesn't forgive his Mum his mum for whatever she has done in the past as he says:
'Remember when Ronnie died and you said you wished it was me? Well I am dead, dead to you as can be.'
This song is very catchy, and has good background music.
10/10

* Track 5: SQUARE DANCE.

There's not much I can say about this song because it's not about anything in particular, I think it's quite dull, really. The events of September the 11th are mentioned, and Eminem describes his dislike for American President, George Bush in his lyrics.
'No friend of Bush'
'With a plan to ambush this Bush administration.'
I don't think this song has any real meaning, so I'm giving it a 5/10

* Track 6: THE KISS. (skit)

This is another skit, where Eminem goes round to his girlfreinds house, with a gun, where he spots her kissing a bouncer. Eminem retaliates and this leads straight in to the next track................
9/10

* Track 7: SOLDIER.

This track really shows off Eminems rapping talents, as the lyrics are rapped fastly. This song is basically about however much the world is against him, Eminem will carrying on making records. He explains how he wasnt always like he was today, he he has the attitude he does today because he is trying to gain respect. Eminem will stay strong however much some people seem to hate him.
'I'm a soldier, these shoulders were hold up so much they won't budge, I'll never fall or fold up.'
This song is kind of average, so I'm giving it a :
7/10

* Track 8: SAYIN' GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD.

This track is all about how Eminem feels like quitting because of all the pressures fame brings. He says that if he could go back and start his life again, he wouldn't choose a career in rapping, because he hates living 'alienated', and everyone hanging on to evrything he says:
'I love my fans, but no one ever puts a grasp on the fact that I've given up everything I had.'
This song has a lot of understandable feeling, so I'm giving it an:
8/10

* Track 9: DRIPS.

This is a song about how a women has been messing around behind her mans back, and sleeping around, and she manages to get AIDs and passes it on to her man. The words in this track are well picked, and some of the descriptions are funny, but I don't think I'll go in to them now!
7/10

* Track 10: WITHOUT ME.

I'm sure you are familiar with this track as it was the first song to be lifted from the album as a single. It went straight in to the charts at no.1 earlier this year. It's a song about how it's boring without Eminem, and the world is empty without the controversy he causes.
'20 million white rappers emerge, but no matter how many fish in the sea, it'd be so empty without me.'
These lyrics mean that when Eminem was so sucsessful as a white rapper, others tried to copy him, and steal some of his sucsess, but but they failed, as there is only one Eminem, and he is unique. This song has a very catchy beat, so it gets full marks:
10/10

* Track 11: PAUL ROSENBURG. (skit)

This is a really dumb skit, which has no meaning. I think it's Eminem just showing off that he owns a gun, because it's someone complaining that he is 'shooting his gun off'.
1/10

* Track 12: SING FOR THE MOMENT.

This is my favourite track off the album, as it is so true to life and meaningful. It's about how a child idolises a rap star, and he can relate to what the star is rapping about, because, like Eminem, he comes from a broken home, and feels that the only thing that saves him from going crazy is music.
'It's like these kids who hang on every statement we make, like they worship us.'
In part of the song, Eminem raps about how the press make everything he says twice as controversial. This song is:
'For anyone who's ever been through s**t in their lives, till they sit and cry at night, wishing they'd die.'
This song has a heartfelt chorus sung by S.Tyler:
'C'mon! Sig with me, sing for the year, sing for the laughter, sing for the tear, then maybe tommorow, the good lord will take you away.'
The song contains a guitar solo by Joe Perry of Aerosmith, which is great. I think this is by far the best song on the album, and I hope it gets released as a single in the UK.
10/10

* Track 13: SUPERMAN.

This is a song about how Eminem gets loads of female attention, for his money, and women pretend to be interested in him, and throw themselves at him, but he isnt interested, because he doesn't want to make the mistakes he made with Kim.
7/10

* Track 14: HALLIES SONG.

This is another brilliant song, which Eminem sings for his daughter. Eminem adopts a sweet singing voice in this song, as he describews his lovely little girl, Hallie. He describes how lifes pressures get on top of him, but when he sees his daughter, everything seems alright again.
'But then I see my baby, and suddenly I'm not crazy.'
Eminem shows his love for his daughter in this track, by using sweet and thoughtful lyrics:
'I love my daughter more than life in itself'
At the end, Eminem adds a special message to Hallie:
'Hallie, remember when I said if you ever need anything, Daddy would be right there? Guess what? Daddy's here and I aint going nowhere baby. I love you.........(kiss).'
This song is excellent:
10/10

* Track 15: STEVE BERMAN. (skit)

This is another skitwhere Eminems manager is about to tell him his album is not up to standard, Eminem shoots him, then his manager changes his mind and says the album is great.
5/10

* Track 16: WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS.

This track features D-12, the Hip Hop group Eminem is also a member of. This track is about how Eminem, and other artists rap about real-life stuff, so music gets confused with real life 'When the Music Stops'. This song is nothing special, though it does featurea range of rappers (Bizarre, Swifty, Kon Artis, Von, and Proof).
5/10

* Track 17: SAY WHAT YOU SAY.

This song is an average Eminem track, with his usual moans in. This is one of a few tracks that lets the album down, as I don't think it ahs any particular meaning, which the other tracks do.
3/10

* Track 18: 'TILL I COLLAPSE.

Eminem raps about how he puts so much effort in to his career, and it wears him out. This is another poor track.
4/10

* Track 19: MY DADS GONE CRAZY.

This track features Hallie, Eminems daughter. It is a good track, after the last few poor ones. Verse 3 is particularly meaningful:
'More pain inside of my brain than in the eyes of a little girl inside of a plane, aimed at the World Trade, standin' on Ronnies grave, screamin' at the sky, til clouds gather, it's Clyde Mathers and Bonnie Jade.'
This track has a catchy courus, and is a well picked last track for the album.

* Track 20: CURTAINS CLOSE. (skit)

This is a good end to the album, it is a funny skit, performed by Ken Kaniff. It mocks Eminems recent number 1, Without Me:
'Guess whos back, back again, Ken is back, tell some men, rub my back, rub my back, rub my back.'
10/10

So, overall, this is a good album, but some tracks let it down. My favourite tracks are
'Cleaning out my Closet'
and
'Sing for the Moment'.

I think it will keep Eminems fans quiet for a while, anyway.