ALINA's "Better Left Behind" is the Perfect Prelude to the Singer's Hopefully Forthcoming Debut Album

Alina's fourth EP, better left behind, released on July 24^th, is more polished than ever. After signing with Columbia Records last year, the singer/songwriter has kept herself very busy, and it shows in the quality of her ever improving work.

The better left behind album cover, design by Alina Adams

“Waiting On Me”, a lax but contemplative song, has the perfect feel for an opening track. It’s quick to hook you – new sounds enter throughout the song, ensuring you’re never bored. Alina continues a theme from prior projects of discussing sexual topics in a way that’s figurative but easily identifiable, “We dress up detachment as foreplay, dirty dance between commitment and heartbreak”. This reminds me of, “I’ll fetishize myself till I can’t quite look in the mirror” from her earlier song “Chain Reaction” (2025). It also reminds me of the lyricism of rising singer/songwriter Alyssa Grace – the artists have been interacting in each other’s Instagram comment sections, and it’s sweet to observe commonalities between their work.

In “As Do I”, Alina ruminates on an old relationship in the first verse before slowing down and acknowledging that her affirmations that she’s not alone in missing her ex are more likely wishful than factual. “For my peace of mind, you’re thinking of me all the time”, she sings. The flow reminds me of a cover she did of Alek Olsen’s “Someday I’ll Get It”. I think about this cover often – her singing style makes it gut-wrenching. I’m so glad she wrote and released this song.

Alina pulls more directly from earlier attachment issues-based songs with “14U”. She opens the first verse with, “I think the fact you love me makes me like you a little less” and closes the chorus with the imagery-framed, “On the drive home, I tried to tell you I can’t will myself to be the one for you”.  These lyrics have the same ring as “I’m always second-guessing… should’ve known you’d resent me and I would get bitter” from “Second Guessing” (2025) and “My friends said I’m distant, we haven’t talked since, I guess I’ve always been so afraid of disappointing anyone” from “Self-Isolate” (2024).

“Lie Alone” ventures into the rock realm and expands upon Alina’s great wordplay. She sings both, “I can’t kiss a memory, so I’d rather lie with you than lie alone” and “I keep on saying things I never mean/whether you believe me or you don’t, I’d rather lie to you than lie alone”. She expresses distaste in her actions immediately, “I’m turning into something that I used to hate” – a taste of the guilt I imagine many songwriters feel after admitting to doing others dirty. Honesty is what will ultimately make or break a song, and it absolutely makes this one.

The only song that even remotely fades into the background is “Matter of Time”. It hits an underwhelming middle-ground in production heaviness. However, it’s true to Alina’s discography; she beautifully chronicles feeling unsure about a relationship and uses her voice to its full potential.

“Different Now”, the closer, feels like a potential foreshadow to what the next record will sound like. It has a great mix of folk flow and pop production, reminding me of Ella Jane’s recent Sparkwheel EP, particularly the tracks produced by Mike Irish. If this truly is foreshadowing Alina’s next project, I am overjoyed.

Listen to better left behind here.