From its title to its cover art ... are big footsteps to follow, and "Encore" lags well behind. In fact, the album is all but static, caught between Eminem's old brat-king persona and his evolving ...

Seated on a curtained stage resembling the cover of Eminem’s 2004 “Encore” album ... And Slim Shady urges him to get back to the politically incorrect lane he used to occupy.