*** Eminem

THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP

(Aftermath/Interscope)

In which Marshall Mathers continues the adventures of Slim Shady under the stage name of Eminem -- and in the post-death-of-the-author era, that's enough to keep a team of American-studies majors working for years to come. The creator of the breakthrough "My Name Is . . . " carries through with all the skills that made that "novelty" hit so indelible: polyrhythmic rhyming delivered in a Roger Rabbit spit-take of lips, tongue, and palate percussion; narratives that tell stories rather than merely hack out coupleted invective; and a multiple-point-of-view first-persona of Marshall/Eminem/Slim that coolly comments on his own fame/misogyny/bad attitude even as he's driving it at you full speed. The masterpiece is probably the single "Stan," available here unexpurgated so that the obscenities aren't robbed of their rhythm, the fan of the title writing letters to Slim while Dido sings prettily in the background with the percussive "scratching" of felt pen on paper. Of course, you'll also have to put up with the Stanley-Kowalski-on-crack no-fun rant of "Kim," and the occasional beneath-his-talents imperative to like him or "suck my dick." Dr. Dre again provides the keyboard-and-tubular-bell melodic accompaniment. The combined talents of Eminem and Dre are pretty irresistible. Otherwise, each of you will have to find your own answer as to why you're singing along to the lovely little hook "You don't wanna fuck with Shady/'cause Shady will fucking kill you." And, believe us, you will sing along.

-- Jon Garelick