Jul 3, 2025 at 12:44 AM

@AOTWClub

XXXTENTACION scored a 7.7

Standings have been updated

Get your reviews in for Alina Baraz!!

 

Jul 3, 2025 at 2:09 AM

@AOTWClub @Justin Trudeau

Alina Baraz - It Was Divine

Considering how many cosigns she has on this album I'm just going to assume I've heard her at some point and forgot but for all intents and purposes his is my first expose to Alina and it's a good one!

Spent the last couple hours with this album on repeat (while I side quested on Final Fantasy 16 lmao) and it helped me solidifiy some overall thoughts on the project.

My Whole Life is an extremely strong start to the record for me, although they aren't bad by any means the album lyrically wasn't something that immediately jumped out to me overall but everything from the production to the melody and lyrics (the lyrics on Who Got Me are also good) really worked for me on this intro.

I also want to praise the transitions on this album, a lot times they were completely unnoticeable which made it feel like one big song in a positive way. 6lack is an artist that I always loved on features but never dived into his discog, this is no different. Morroco is great.

Frank is a solid track and Endlessly's beats switch is great

The entire run into Off The Grid is stellar imo, Khalid does great. I always love a good Smino feature, dude is just always solid and entertaining.

The 2nd half while still quite good imo is slightly weaker on 1st listen to me although it is already growing on me for repeat listens, I think its just a case of R&B not being one of my genres of choice that initially fatigued me a bit but listening to music with this tempo later in the day I'd super soothing.

I really liked Memo Blue and Who Got Me. The strings on Say You Know are also really pretty. And although I like the guitar Take It Home was a little mid for me, can see it being a grower.

Until I Met You was fun, Nas verse was a nice addition to make sure the record didn't get too monotonous. And The Beginning is also a super solid smooth closer.

Even though R&B isn't what I go to often this is the exact kind that i really enjoy so I want to thank Mr Roo for giving me a new album to vibe to from a lady with a very soothing voice! My only negative would be that the genre itself can make runtime drag slightly but that's heavily dependent on mood.

Favorite Songs: My Whole Life, Morocco, Endlessly, Gimmie The Wheel, Off The Grid, Who Got Me, Until I Met You.

RATING
8/10

 

Jul 3, 2025 at 2:45 AM

Alina Baraz

This is a fairly solid record in my opinion, I gave it two full play throughs the last couple days. I feel like with music like this ive got to be in the right mood to give it a fair listen cause its far from my go too.

Anyways Alina has a very good voice, I enjoyed the sound of most of the songs.

The first track that really grabbed me was "Frank" it has an Amy Winehouse sort of vibe to it.

Gimme the wheel is really smooth, and I enjoyed the production on that song as well.

Say you know is another favorite, I just love the vibe to that song.

Until I met you is great it has Nas so its hard to complain about and he has a solid verse. Anytime I hear him after a period of not listening to him much it makes me wanna jump in. Hes just so good.



Anyways overall i enjoyed this album, its not my favorite thing ever, I probably wouldn't revisit it much just cause its not really my kind of music but its still solid for what it is.

Score: 6.5/10

@AOTWClub

 

Jul 3, 2025 at 11:49 AM

Alina had a song that blew up in 2015 called Fantasy. That’s how I first heard of her, if you ever heard her that could’ve been the song as it’s still her biggest song I think or at least one of the biggest. It was more of an electronic pop track than R&B.

For sure. I love My Whole Life (sunset, sunseeeeet always gets stuck in my head). I agree, Who Got Me probably has the best lyrics on the album.

I’m glad someone pointed this out. It really helps the album feel cohesive and feel like a divine experience which plays into the title of the album

Yeah 6LACK is awesome, maybe I gotta pick one of his albums to show to the group one day. Agree on Morroco, it actually makes me wanna visit Morroco lol

Definitely one of the best songs on the album, she did Off The Grid before Kanye

Fax, he would be another good album pick for the group in the future

Upon relistening to this album one of the things I realized is the 2nd half does seem weaker so I agree with you there. I get what you’re saying about the fatigue which is why I tend to listen to this type of music on chill nights. Although certain songs like Morroco feel great to listen to on sunny days and makes me wanna get out

I’m glad you appreciate Memo Blue. It almost feels more like an interlude track but I think it’s one of the tracks that add a divine feeling to the album, especially with the effect on her vocals and the slow piano. Who Got Me is amazing, it’s lowkey a self-improvement anthem for me. Even if I didn’t realize at the time in 2020, I think this is one of the albums that subtly made me plant the seeds to start my self-improvement journey. Listening to it again in 2025 is a full circle moment, and that’s divine all in itself.

Fax, the use of strings on this album is so nice it feels like heaven sometimes. Funny thing about Say You Know is I made the connection the other day that it sounds like a Gracie Abrams song that isn’t boring.

I get what you mean, Take It Home is kinda repetitive. Although for some reason it really works for me and is one of my favorites on the album, it’s stuck in my head right now.

For sure, Nas killed it. I love having a song called The Beginning at the end of the album.

I’m glad this is the exact kind of R&B you enjoy! No problem I’m just glad you enjoyed it. Great picks for favorite songs and great rating I agree with!

I get that, this music isn’t necessarily the type of music you can throw on at anytime

Yeah she really locked down the sound with this album, very heavenly and cohesive

That’s a big compliment!

True and honestly is one of the best choruses on the album, it has a big feel to it

Almost feels like lying on a cloud

Yeah, having a Nas feature on this album was big. I wouldn’t necessarily expect Nas to hop on this kind of music but he fit really well

Nice, thanks for the review!