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HEAVN
by
HEAVN Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length studio release for the Chicago artist features guest appearances from Chance The Rapper, Lorine Chia, Noname, and Nico Segal.
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Top Track

Holy
Give me today my daily bread Help me to walk alone ahead Though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no love Oh my smile my mind reassure me... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Pitchfork
    Oct 12, 2017
    84
    Filled with personal memories, affirmations of self, and gazes of society’s racial strife, HEAVN is a singular mix of clear-eyed optimism and Black girl magic.
  2. Consequence
    Oct 12, 2017
    83
    Woods’ brilliance, a voice (both literal and figurative) whose strength is compounded by her many facets. On her debut full-length, HEAVN, Woods lets each of those facets shine, without letting any of them get lost in the glow.
  3. Spin
    Oct 12, 2017
    80
    HEAVN is musically spry and spiritually hefty at 41 minutes, the questioning half of a nationally fraught Q&A that’s long deserved the answers, none of whom are currently running for president.
  4. AllMusic
    Oct 19, 2017
    80
    HEAVN was expanded and reissued a year later by Jagjaguwar, made available on physical formats with a track list that added six interludes and a thick reprise of "Holy." The interludes, especially the one in which children recite an Assata Shakur quote--inserted as a brilliant setup for "Blk Grl Soldier"--are not extraneous.
  5. Record Collector
    Oct 12, 2017
    60
    Ultimately, Woods deserves the hype, though more consistency would deliver fully on her talent.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. All_ButTrU4
    Mar 3, 2021
    7
    Brilliance can be indulgent. This album feels so quintessentially 2016 that it can almost feel forgettable. It's a great example of less isBrilliance can be indulgent. This album feels so quintessentially 2016 that it can almost feel forgettable. It's a great example of less is more. Had the songs been narrowed down so that they do not disrupt the flow it could've had more impact that way. The interludes though relevant and insightful are overstuffed. The heartful opener acts as a preface to the albums conflict:blackness and blackness for women in America. It feels meditative as she chants her perseverance ("you can't burts my bubble") she explores the rampant judgement and commentary of black bodies and actions.
    The rhythmic "Vry Blk " uses an old school hand games rhythm as the baseline for her celebration of her history and how it should be acknowledged and praised. It acts as the angrier sister to "bubbles" mantra. By the time the solange-esqu "Lonely " begins it's already 4.62min into the landscape of Americans injustice. This time the subject matter focuses on self love and peace. Being able to be alone for your own sake. She turns every critique a woman in a society is always expected to aspire to relationships is exposed onto itself. The self titled opus exolores black strength through history as a means of stating our strength. The rest of the tracks follow this concept with singular features from fellow Chicagoans, chance the rapper and noname. This is an intriguing debut from a promising talent. Favourites: lonely, bubbles,vry blk,way up    … Expand
  2. bodakyellow
    May 16, 2018
    7
    If HEAVN's twenty tracks had been narrowed down to about twelve, this album would be much less forgettable as a whole, even if deprived of aIf HEAVN's twenty tracks had been narrowed down to about twelve, this album would be much less forgettable as a whole, even if deprived of a sliver of political and emotional depth. Favourite tracks: Bubble, VRY BLK, LSD, Holy… Expand

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