Beautiful Imperfection

Asa
Naive
General | Oct 2011

Reviews

MC Cee
Reviewed 2012-04-04
Asa -- Beautiful Imperfection -- (Naive)

Asa is Bukola Elemide, a French-born Nigerian folk artist. Asa means Hawk in the Yoruba language, and it fits her perfectly -- floating gracefully yet ready to strike. Her unique background is shown through her multi-faceted approach to music: from airy/sentimental acoustics, to glitzy and groovy soul and political folk. "Beautiful Imperfection" is a mature follow-up to her first LP, Asa. Most tracks in English, but a few in Yoruba. No FCCs...so play 'em all!! At least 3,5,6,11.

1. (3:44) -- Mid. Upbeat, catchy track. Brass tubas. Tambourines. 'Whoa hoo' chorus. Starts acoustic but picks up electric half-way in. Feel-good track.
2. (4:16) -- Mid. Acoustic, xylophone, soulful organ. Rock-steady beat. Commanding and foreboding vox. Organ solo mid-way.
**3. (3:46) -- Fast. Sexy, upbeat and dancy. Soulful organs. Big band brass. Groovy bass. Incredibly fresh. Play it!!!
4. (4:45) -- Slow ballad. Quiet, crystal clear guitar. Sharp piano. Bass kicks in with drums, stepping down with the "I need you" vocals.
*5. (3:27) -- Mid-slow. Head bobbing drum beat with matching acoustic guitar and pianos. Jumps up a notch half-way in. Vox in Yoruba.
*6. (5:02) -- Slow. Stand up bass. Snapping fingers. Seductive lounge jazz. Dark and musty. Trumpets in the distance. Nice!
7. (3:52) -- Mid-slow. Almost a western-vibe. Slide guitars, low chords. Echoey vox.
8. (3:40) -- Mid-slow. A wistful "one day" track. Electronics and acoustic mixed well.
9. (4:30) -- Similar to track 7. Acoustic, slide guitars. Yoruba lyrics. shakers and slow congo beats.
10. (4:38) -- Slow. Another wistful, melancholy track about leaving. Pretty 90s feeling.
**11. (3:55) -- Fast. Soulful like track 3. Keys, twang, clap. Yoruba lyrics. A good one!
12. (4:05) -- Slow piano ballad with Saxophone and poetic vox.

Recent airplay

Dreamer Girl
feelin' the musicMay 27, 2012
Be My Man
overtonesMay 20, 2012
Maybe
No Longer at EaseMay 14, 2012
The Way I Feel
No Longer at EaseMay 07, 2012
Be My Man, Broda Olé
No Longer at EaseApr 24, 2012
The Way I Feel, Bimpé
No Longer at EaseApr 23, 2012

Charting

2012-04-07 — 2012-06-09
Week EndingAirplays
Jun 3 1
May 27 1
May 20 1
May 13 1
Apr 29 2
Apr 22 2
Apr 15 1

Track listing

1. Why Can't We
2. Maybe
3. Be My Man
4. Preacher Man
5. Bimpé
6. The Way I Feel
7. Ok Ok
8. Dreamer Girl
9. Oré
10. Baby Gone
11. Broda Olé
12. Questions