REVIEW: Asher Roth - Seared Foie Gras w/ Quince & Cranberry (Mixtape)

This blog is continuing to grow and this hopefully will be the first in many fine music reviews to come.  We all remember reading magazines like The Source or XXL to see what they rated the new music that was coming out, but now there are so many review entities yet we lack that one definite voice of our culture.  What we hope to provide here with our reviews is an outlet where you can get honest opinions of the music, lacking any influence from ad sales, label A&R's, and personal agenda's.  I want to introduce you to another new addition to blog, the fam Relself.  From our extended conversations I've learned he's a real fan of music and has his own taste's that will be reflected in his reviews.  Artist, hit the contact info to submit you're music, because want to focus on the independent artist first and foremost.  Check out the review, and leave a comment.

Asher Roth – Seared Foie Gras Review
by Relself

"Jump ship quick
tell a friend that I'm dumb sick
spit fungus
that'll grow from a dumb trip
twist to a front flip 
son that was some trick 
watch all the dumb chicks hump when I bump this" 
-Asher Roth "lark on my go kart"

As simple and silly as those lines are they actually made Asher Roth listenable to me on my go kart because of the zaniness and the feel that this guy is just having fun on the mic. Even his first single "I Love College" from Asleep in the Bread Aisle had the word fun written all over it. But is there such thing as having TOO much fun with your lyrics?  When Ash spits you want to believe the hype but it comes off lackluster and uninspired. As a result, we get a sugar coated rapper combined with lazy and repetitive rhyme schemes. Sure his beat selection may get you bobbing your head and ready for Ash to "get nasty" but does Ash deliver lyrically? Well... it depends if Ash is in the mood to deliver - and this Seared Foie Gras Mixtape pretty much proves it.

As the mixtape starts out with "Muddy Swim Trunks" I found myself trying to "get into" ash's flow but it just couldn't keep my attention for the moment. Sure there's an okay line here and there but he really tests your patience. This problem persists in the majority of the tracks Seared Foie Gras. After “Muddy Swim Trunks” we have "Pubic Garden," another laid Back Ash track. Ash just basically does Ash. Same zany flow he always does. In one line he says "damn I’m lazy as fuck," and I agree.  The flow’s on point for Asher Roth’s standards but nothing special here. The later "Trash Minutes" speaks for itself. The title of this track is somewhat on point to what Mr. Roth was trying to deliver. I found myself bored out of my mind listening to his lazy flow on this one.  Then there's "Cumbaya". Lots of sexual references in this one (are you surprised?).  If you can get pass the guy who raps first then you would be able to give this a decent 6 out of 10 for effort. Ash drops an OK verse. But I did feel like he was insulting my intelligence when he asked the question "If I’m licking too much nipple do u think I will die?" No ash…Just No. I know you're joking around but remember the key question within this review "Is there such thing as having TOO much fun within lyrics? In this case I would think so. Where a reasonable amount of fun ends, sheer stupidity begins. 

The track "Confidence" represents the disengaging vocal problem with Ash's style.  It just continues to come out vocally stagnant, displaying the content to be just as boring as his flow. There are moments where Asher Roth does sound enthusiastic to be here, such as "Rick Smitts" but on Saigon’s "Come on Baby" how can any serious emcee resist. Overall, there are some listenable tracks here that are iPod worthy such as the catchy “HellaFaded” with Pac Div, and the Brain Bangely affiliated track "Calling Me" where Ash picks up the pace and shows more enthusiasm then usual. The single worthy "Fuck the Money" with B.O.B. and Kanye could undoubtedly receive radio play. Ash saves the best for last with his collaboration with Travis Barker, Talib Kweli, and Blu on "Sour Patch Kids." Kweli and Blu both show as to why their lyricism is respected as they drop their verses with finesse.  Ash (surprisingly) drops some gems as well and puts more effort in his flow then he has the entire mixtape (now only if he would do this MORE). Travis Barker doesn't upset either on this track. You'll find yourself hopping out of your seat juking and jiving to Travis Barker's drums within the hook.

Honestly, I was pretty bored listening to this mixtape and have no desire to go back and listen to it again. But one good thing about this is that I feel that ash is transitioning into his own voice. With the exception of fuck your ring tone dog, he didn’t sound the least bit like Eminem. And that’s great considering that’s basically what his hype surrounds. Progression is a good thing.

If you've been following Asher Roth since "Asleep in the Bread Aisle" you'll most likely dig this mixtape because Ash basically doesn't provide anything new here and sticks to the same formula just over popular instrumentals and unreleased material.  Don't get me wrong I'm all for fun with rap music. Hell, I encourage it but when you're just being downright lazy with it and disguising it with just "having fun," I can't deal. To conclude, if you're into zany raps about weed, joking around on a college campus, random lines about the female anatomy, and just generally looking for a CD to not take life so seriously Asher Roth's music is it. But if you're looking for an emcee to impress and entertain you...I suggest you look elsewhere.

6.8 out of 10

PS: So you dont have to go through the usual mixtape torture I had to go through I put the best songs within the album below. You can thank me later

Best Tracks: 
Calling me
Sour patch kids
HellaFaded
Fuck The money
Ash And Dem
Fuck your ringtones Dog
What Up Truck
Rick Smitts
Muddy Swim Trucks