Search - Eminem :: The Slim Shady LP (Clean) [Edited Version]

I don't mind edited versions, but this is poorly executed

Gabriel Saraco | Long Island, NY | 11/04/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This review is specifically directed towards the edited version of the album. Now I'm not gonna start on some rant about free speech, or censorship, or whatever. That would just waste my time and yours, since you've already decided that you have an interest in this edited CD.So here's the lowdown. This clean version of "The Slim Shady LP" does a lot of things wrong. The most obvious problem is the editing method used. Instead of dubbing words out, which is the least one ought to expect, they simply scramble/reverse the audio. Not just the vocals, either - the ENTIRE audio section gets altered. Taking out words is one thing, but when the entire beat and instrumental track gets scrambled, it kills the flow of the song. In "Guity Conscience" they also use this awful "scratching" effect on top of the audio - and I don't mean hip-hoppy turntable scratching, I mean a literal, unpleasant SCRATCHING noise that would make you think you had a defective CD or something. At other points on the album, the production gets even lazier as portions of the songs are actually SILENCED. As in no vocals, no backing instremental, no audio. Nothing but a blank space.The second problem comes with the language they choose to edit. In most cases, edited versions are produced in order to remove curse words. On this disc, it's only the "F-word" that gets taken out, so you'll still be hearing "sh--" quite a bit. I'm not gonna get into a debate about appropriate language, but making an edited CD that you still wouldn't be able to play on radio seems rather pointless. Most annoying of all, however, is what DOES get edited on this CD. Every drug reference gets scrambled, which is somewhat understandable, but still frustrating in many cases. But then they go and remove "violent" lyrics, and this is where things get out of hand. Words like "die," "kill," and "shoot" are all removed. Case in point - in "Brain Damage," there's a line about schoolyard bullies roughing up Eminem as a child. Eminem quotes these bullies as saying "You're gonna die!" but the word "die" is scrambled. Elsewhere on the disc, a narrator describes "the legend of Slim Shady" in a parody of Westerns, and relates the tale of how Slim was "shot in the back." The word "shot" is edited. Half of these edits are things you can say in G-rated movies. Taking out curse words is one thing, but what they do to this disc insults the basic intelligence of the listener. It's especially silly in a song like "Role Model," where the message of the entire song is how Eminem is NOT a role model, and how no one with a brain should do anything he describes. You can see the irony here; "sh-t" is left in while "shoot" gets scrambled. Only "Just Don't Give" has been resonably edited, and that's only because the song had previously been edited when it was released as a single. This CD is un unlistenable mess; and even if you're willing to tolerate some "choppiness" in order to get a "clean" version, you'll be disappointed on that front as well. If you're looking for a relatively clean Eminem CD, I'd recommend the edited version of "The Eminem Show." All the edits on THAT album are of professional quality, and they succeed in bringing all the language to a TV-PG level, while leaving most of Eminem's wit intact."

Good Album...but

Gabriel Saraco | 10/24/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Admittedly, this is not an album for the faint of heart. Even the edited version contains some foul language and questionable subject matter.But please, Eminem is not to be taken too seriously. He is darkly comedic. If dark comedy is offensive to you, don't buy the album.On the other hand, the lyrics are clever, the beats rock solid, and the production spectacular."

Phat cd Something you would like if you like rap

Gabriel Saraco | 05/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"you should get this this is a cd even though it wasnt sencored the best in the world but thats alright unless ya cant have swear cd's. The songs are phat all of the tracks are phat. The rap in it is true rap and . Ya got to get this cd cuz it's one of the best and if you like that you should also get Marshall Mathers LP even though its not out..... thats just my opinion though you can deside im just giving you advise.So what ya waiting for get it"