Asher Roth - 'Asleep In The Bread Aisle' (SRC/Universal)

As an ode to debauchery and the more chemically-driven pursuits of happiness, Asleep in the Bread Aisle starts off on the right foot: "Lark on My Go-Kart" and "Blunt Cruisin'" offer newcomer Asher Roth's take on the stoner anthem, swiveling haphazardly between laid-back portraits of suburban life and occasionally clever wordplay. The beats are smooth, laced with mellow guitar riffs, and complement Roth's psyched-out, nasally delivery.

Asher Roth's problem, however, is when he runs out of things to say; no more poignantly does this issue materialize than on Roth's bubblegum smash hit, "I Love College." The song is Asher's essay on pop appeal; a sing-along chorus, sometimes lame lyrics, and a thesis most of his "contemporaries" (that is to say, suburbanite college students, not dropout rappers like himself) can relate to--"I love drinking / I love women / I love college." Dumb frat-boy chants such as "chug! chug! chug! chug!" undermine the track's lyrical integrity completely, but the arenas that will keep this song in heavy rotation aren't necessarily concerned with Roth's lyricism.

After the hazy introduction, Roth pulls himself from the brink of monotony by the skin of his teeth; braggadocio ("Be By Myself"), embracing his identity as defined by a certain other white rapper ("As I Em"), and rapid-fire delivery alongside an industry giant ("Lion's Roar," featuring a furiously-paced Busta Rhymes) provide shining moments bookended by lamer cuts. The fuzzy guitars and laconic drums that power most of Roth's songs beg for diversity. Throughout the twelve scant tracks, Roth struggles with his voice, his content, and his identity, often resorting to bizarre namedrops and surrealistic humor reminiscent of the rapper Roth tries so hard not to be.

The final two tracks establish Roth as more than a persona, however. "His Dream" is Asher's ode to his father, tinged with violin, a backing choir, and soft bells. Here, Roth's soft-spoken rapping and slowed delivery finally resonates, proving Asher to be more substantive than the early cuts may lead the listener to believe.

With "Fallin," Asher gives the warmest, most enjoyable track on the album, weaving convincing biography with his love for hip-hop. As a coming-of-age story, it provides a glimpse into the rapper that Asher could become. Perhaps with time, Asher may advance beyond drug-addled filler and uncertainty into a rapper deserving the amount of hype and attention he has acquired. As it stands, his premature expulsion into the spotlight has given him the chance to shine as a serviceable rapper with a handful of artistic moments.