RetroHash

Early comparisons to Eminem may have helped Asher Roth break through the doubters’ ranks pretty quickly with his surprise hit “I Love College,” a funny and smooth-flowing ode to partying and college life with zero pretentions to be anything else. But that comparison gives way to faint evocations of Macklemore on *RetroHash* (an anagram of Roth’s name), the follow-up to Roth’s 2009 set *Asleep in the Bread Isle*. It feels like all of its five years in the making; it\'s smart and broad and deep. R&B, pop, indie rock, and hip-hop vibes permeate with equal enthusiasm. It\'s also fun, but with less of the dumb-youth kind of fun. It’s the sound of a talented artist growing up, sharpening his lyrical prowess and pulling musical memories and influences out of their dark corners and into the light. The lead single, “Tangerine Girl,” is a blissed-out, slinky tune that merges styles and ideas with utterly delicious morsels in a similar way that Beck did 20 years ago on *Mellow Gold*. “Tangerine Girl” is surrounded by moody soul, the warmth of vinyl hiss, speedy and sassy word gymnastics, and pop culture nods (he works in references to everything from *Soul Train* to TED talks). It has more sexiness than his weed-smoking, testosterone-loaded younger self could ever have mustered.