Search - Asher Roth :: Asleep in the Bread Aisle

No No No

Paul C. O'nolan | Irving, TX | 04/22/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Have we really been so inundated with commercial club rap music that this is what people are turning to for good hip hop? While I do give this guy props for thinking outside of the box and breaking down barriers in rap music, I don't think that he is as talented as the masses claim.



Let me lay it out for you. He doesn't possess any of the traits that make for a great rapper. He does not have a good flow, his lyrics are too simple, and he lacks energy in his vocals. The way I see it, a rapper's voice is his instrument, and this dude equates to Jimi Hendrix playing a banjo.



I like the idea of what this guy wants to be, but honestly the album is just not worth listening to. I think that dude became popular before he had time to master his craft properly.



P.S. You want a white dude that makes original music? Look up Mac Lethal's Ashes to Ashley."

I Really Tried To Like This Album

Avid Reader | USA | 04/30/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I really tried to find some saving grace on this album, but I just couldn't. As I listened to track after track, I found myself going from wanting to turn it off, to wondering why I'm listening to it! Asher needs to cut away from Em, that's for sure! There's a market out there for his music; sure, but not if it's a rehashing of Em! He needs to find his own niche and stick there. All in all, I would say this album was a 1 star and this artist needs to play himself!!!!"

Eminem? No...but he's still worth the listen

Bryan A. Mabe | Portland, Oregon, USA | 04/21/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As with a lot of new artists now days it is difficult to pinpoint what sort of material to expect from them when all we hear is what the record label wants us to hear to obtain that first impression. Well, if you were one who was in the mixtape market you would know that Asher Roth dropped a mixtape last year with DJ Drama and DJ Cannon entitled "The Green House Effect." It is this mixtape where Asher attempted to get the respect to the true hip-hop heads. It showed that the dude can actually rhyme with skill and cleverness. "The Lounge" and "Start the Show" are two tracks from that mixtape that show a clearer picture of who he is as an artist than the single that came out for "Asleep in the Bread Aisle," which was "I Love College."



However, after you get through "I Love College" there are some very well put together songs that make up his official debut album. "Fallin'" is my favorite track on the album and shows Asher rhyme over a Nottz beat. Within this track he reminisces on how he found to love the art of hip-hop. I can relate a lot to this track. "His Dream" is another song which Asher sheds his reputation from "I Love College." In this track, he expresses how he was influenced by his dad, but took a different path because he was influenced by hip-hop more. Another great track.



From there though, the album goes back to play with some disposable songs which I think are more label influenced than Asher's own intentions. "Lark in My Go-Kart," "Bad Day," "Blunt Cruisin'," are all tracks specifically for the feel good audience. It will remind listeners of Eminem's own "comical" tracks which made up of most of Eminem's last album, "The Eminem Show."



And with all albums, there must be a club banger in there somewhere and that is where the "She Don't Want a Man" comes in. And actually, the song is not a bad song. It is probably the most radio/club friendly song on the album and will probably be an eventual single.



"As I Em" is a song directed directly to the critics who believe this young man is trying to take Eminem's fans. It is something that needs to be said by Asher to clear it all up. It's a good track.



All in all the album is not a bad album by any means. A lot of people will be turned off of Asher by getting the misconception that he is trying to take Eminem's spot. He is NOT Eminem. He will never be. He is still a great MC who will entertain you.



Best Tracks:



"Fallin'"

"Sour Patch Kids"

"His Dream"

"Be By Myself"

"As I Em""