Eminem

Eminem Recovery (Universal)

At his best on his sixth major label release, Eminem displays a machine-gun delivery that's a marvel to listen to. Sadly, many of the 17 songs are framed behind uninspired beats that sound like he is creatively treading water.

'I sincerely apologise if all that I sound like is I'm complaining,' he raps on Going Through Changes, based around a Black Sabbath sample. But it's hard to accept his remorse as his venom courses through this 77-minute album. When he's not viciously attacking critics, he takes on his old standby Mariah Carey and rap itself on 25 to Life: 'F*** you hip hop, I'm leaving you/My life sentence is served.'

Eminem even trashes his last two releases in Talkin 2 Myself. 'Them last two albums didn't count/Encore, I was on drugs/Relapse, I was flushing them out.'

There is evidence Eminem is growing up and taking stock. Instead of nearly dissing Lil' Wayne on Talking 2 Myself, he gets the rapper to join him on one of the more invigorating songs. When this mostly Dr Dre-free album's best moments are hook-filled duets with Pink and Rihanna, it may be an admission that the way forward may be as a distinctive rap foil. Otherwise, his continued anger and confused narcissism may wear out his most fervent fans.