Asa has already started turning heads around the world with her thought-provoking, energetic songs and now she's releasing her self-titled debut in the States. It's about time, really, since Asa's conscientious topical tunes are not just smart and timely, but also inspiring and catchy.
Love songs and protest music
It's always a delicate challenge when singer-songwriters tackle both the personal and political. There's a risk of coming off too preachy or self-important, which makes artists that pull it off that much more impressive. Asa's self-titled American debut displays her innate ability to straddle that fine line artfully.From the gut-tugging, heartbreaking narrative of "Subway" (purchase/download) ("The whole wide world is killing me," she sings in an earnest, non-melodramatic way, if you can imagine that's possible) to the provocative political push of "Jailer" (purchase/download), Asa proves herself to be not only a gifted songwriter but also a gifted deliverer of songs. There isn't a single dull moment on this disc, and every song—even the darkest ones—shine a little light. It's a remarkable debut.
