By Lamide Akintobi
I’m just an Asa fan. Let’s get that clear first.
This isn’t meant to be a highly technical critique, or an ode to lush arrangements, fanciful riffs and unexpected melodies, although those are definitely present in the album “Beautiful Imperfection”. This is just the view of a girl who’s listened to the CD on her iPod, in the car, and at home. I STILL bump her first album pretty tough, and I’m pretty sure “B.I” will also stay in constant rotation, although, as with everything, I do have my favorites:
“Maybe” is purely about the imperfections of this world, with a dash of optimism thrown in. Lyrics like “I’m waiting for one day to succeed, to break down all the boundaries and be free from those who take from me and mislead me, for they’re greedy & empty” give the song an ‘anthem’ feel, and could just as easily be about unnamed dictatorships around the world as it could be about Nigeria’s incredibly complex political system.
The first single “Be my man” is catchy and unlike any Asa song I’d heard before. Some may say she’s tried to become more commercial and “poppy”, but I choose to believe it’s simply her trying something new, and there’s no crime against that. Is there? This always makes me want me to grab my man and dance circles around him. Score!
“Preacher man” is one of the more relatable & contemplative songs on the album, and will definitely be placed on my Sunday morning music playlist. It’s an unlikely ‘praise & worship’ song, but a fantastic addition.
The award for the ‘OMG no she didn’t!!’ song has to be “Bimpe”, which is probably the cutest diss track I’ve heard in a long while. Somehow, Asa made a “back up off me, bi*ch, or I’ll kick your a**” song cute. And she did it in Yoruba. Major cool points there.
Rounding up my list of favorites would be “Baby Gone”, which will probably make it onto many a ‘broken-hearted lover’ playlist, and “Questions”. I could probably write an epistle on each, but I’m not trying to bore you all.
Those are the songs that immediately struck a chord, but as with the first CD, I’m pretty sure the others will grow on me as I keep listening.
Overall, I feel that “Beautiful Imperfection” is a great, soulful album. It grabbed my heart at first listen, although with some of the songs, I get a sense of déjà-vu, as though I’ve heard a whisper of the melody somewhere before. It’s tough to say which album is better, because I’m still basking in the newness of “Imperfection”, but it’s giving “Asa” a really tough run for its’ money.
With these 12 tracks, I think Asa is trying to show us that she’s still the girl we knew, giving us the same kind of sound with a little ‘jara’ thrown in there, but she’s also letting us know that she’s grown musically and emotionally, and is capable of so much more. I for one, can’t wait to hear what next she comes up with.
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*Akintobi is a Lagos-based journalist and music fan
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