Poppy "Negative Spaces" Has Metalheds Talking But...

[@METALBIRB]

What's the best Poppy record?

[@neotradnous]

This one

[@irwan86]

This

[@JakeLuden]

This one by a mile

[@UnHyl8urself]

L take!!!!!!!!!!

[@6wackomastermind9]

This one. Unironically.

[@dannyglam2132]

Poppy has been putting out a lot of music for awhile and all of her work is varied. She’s always done whatever she wants, and she doesn’t care if you get it or not. She was nominated and performed at the Grammys in 2021 for best metal performance, so this isn’t her first foray into heavy music. So proud of her and everyone who worked on the album. She’s willing to take risks which a lot of bands would rather stay in their pre conceived genre “scene” and I’m glad she doesn’t.

[@py16667]

This album steps all over the new Linkin Park album, I only bring it up bc I had little interest in this while actually being excited for From Zero lol

[@re5485]

Why do you even compare them lol

[@Beyond_Perspective]

both are great albums

[@mattomke]

I dont think you can compare those albums

[@justicedefreest]

I felt the exact same way. I wish Poppy would have delayed by a week or something so I had a chance to enjoy both albums…cause I’ve barely touched From Zero since I listened to this 😂

[@Linkmitch]

@@re5485 it's just interesting due to fact that Jordan fish who co-wrote and produced the album was hugeley influnced by linkin park, both albums were released on the same exact day. The standards of the creativity heavyrock/metal scene has exploded over the past 4-8 years, LP's from zero doesen't sound as fresh and exciting as the bands that they inspired, negative space is a culmination of all whats happening currently within our scene and it's just sounds fresh in comparision. It's just interesting due to the circumstances of timing and the legacy.

[@vultrex1839]

They're all around us is my favorite song. She proved she can go far in metal. I absolutely loved it

[@Creaky_]

This breakdown is everything thats wrong with alot of the metal/rock community. Everything time we get new artists coming in they are met with "this has been done before" "this sounds like so and so" "sounds artificial" we are never gonna grow the metal space with greetings like that

[@alexkier7429]

Fairly similar to newer bands introducing themselves with "if you're a fan of So and So" or "sounds like So and So" Trying to fit everything into a very specific box or style is what makes a lot of these breakdowns feel like a bunch of buzzwords just for the sake of sounding professional or more seasoned when it's not necessary. People really be saying "it's been done before, it's too similar to X, Y and Z" while also stating "we don't have to reinvent the wheel"

[@xBushxWookiex]

People do realize that 90 percent of music EVERYWHERE has the same formula right? Intro-bridge-short chorus-bridge-med chorus-instrumentals/solo-long chorus-outro? Calling her stuff generic and cookie cutter is calling water wet.

[@UnHyl8urself]

Exactly. Such an L and douche take.

[@irwan86]

Man there so many channel start to talk about this album of the year! 👏💯

[@yassineaarras8570]

i'm sorry but if you call this album the "album of the year" your knowledge of other bands/projects is veery limited because there is no way that this album is even top 3 nor 5 of this year, maybe a bit fun to listen to but it can't be more BASIC ...

[@Codester1222]

Definitely not. It's good but not great like the new Imminence album.

[@irwan86]

@@yassineaarras8570 ok2 sorry, its not album of the year 🙏

[@irwan86]

@@Codester1222 ok2 sorry, im agree with you 🙏

[@yassineaarras8570]

@@Codester1222 yeah Imminence and Allt are the best releases this year imo. the albums of Thrown, Flashgod apocalypse, Knocked loose and Mirar are also great

[@dan_kotsu]

I can see the many influences that sound very familiar. And ya it may sound like it may lack originality but poppy hasn't really done much metal and new to the scene. I think she's just exploring new territory. I think calling it artifical sounding is pretty harsh just from one album.

[@TabbyWithMittens]

Yeah it's a bit weird to me that people call it artificial, but tbh since she started venturing more into the metal and rock side people kept saying it's artificial since the beginning. Hell I remember some people saying she's only doing it for the money (which is bs, because we know pop genre makes the most money and she risked losing fans when venturing to new genres). So I think no matter what she will do, she will get comments like that. As long she's enjoying herself that's good :D Beside it seems like other metal bands recognized her (like Spiritbox) so I say that's the biggest achievement.

[@rizumu1]

Poppy has diverse music tastes and gets bored, that’s why she “casts a wide net” in her music, it’s not artificial that’s literally her

[@oaktowndimond668]

I'm a huge poppy fan. I'd give the album an 8.5/10. Maybe an 8 if I'm being overly critical. Amazing personal and reflective lyricism and vocals from Poppy! She's just such an incredible vocal chameleon now! Name another singer that can go from hope sandoval to billie eilish to Avril Lavigne to screaming like a feral banshee and now has added gutterals to the mix. What's it's missing is the more technical mucianship people miss from Chris Greatti... Plus his lead guitar shreds. I think Poppy found her new guitar slinger in johnuel hasney from Toothgrinder. He's currently touring with her. He's also WAY more inventive than Jordan Fish. Listen to their album phantom amour. It's awesome. To be clear, I'm saying get everyone back for round 2. Just add johnuel to the mix. Poppy, Jordan, Stevis, Ralph and johnuel gives poppy a crew that annihilates most groups on the scene, bar none. Stevis (obviously) and Johnnuel also sing as well. Back to negative spaces. The album is meant to be a nostalgic love letter to millennials. It succeeds.

[@shreddingthatjeet]

That’s sick that the guitarist from toothgrinder is touring with her. Hope he contributes to the next album, toothgrinder never got enough love

[@cookieholiday2534]

I definitely miss Chris Greatti.

[@miked4309]

Poppy has been dabbling in heavy music and industrial since `18.

[@Aleblood]

I think the "center is falling out" / KL comparison is a little unfair. When I heard it in my headphones the first time, I thought it skipped to a Norma Jean or Dillinger Escape Plan song for a second. Even once Poppy comes in it starts hitting like the Chariot due to the frantic delivery of the vocals, kinda like Josh Scogin (of Chariot, early Norma Jean) Maybe some parts towards the end kinda sound like Knocked Loose, but I think they weren't the only major influence.

[@ryanhanlon7001]

I definitely enjoyed this more than the LP record. Is it a perfect record? No not by a longshot. But its just really fun listen. Lots of replay value

[@tiagotakao]

Negative Spaces > From Zero

[@UnHyl8urself]

Did it ever cross your mind that her work might be an homage to the artists who inspired her? Writing it off as artificial just because you're overly familiar with the bands she's clearly influenced is an L take. Get off your high horse! Recognizing influence doesn't diminish artistry-your perspective does!

[@killersmentality911]

6.9 was too high. Shit was ass. Hope this doesn’t hurt your feelings man.

[@UnHyl8urself]

​@@killersmentality911pathain ka na sana. You shut your mouth, you brainless trash

[@SamuelStudios]

The problem is this doesn't really feel like paying homage to specific artists bc most of the songs here sound like generic modern metalcore in general. Each song could be "paying homage" to like 100 artists lol.

[@elkotend]

@@SamuelStudios I definitely get that. On the flip side, she normally does a lot of experimentation and I think she did kind of need to do some more basic stuff for a change. I do wish it wasn't the entire album, regardless I'm still a fan. The big showcase in this album in my opinion is the further development of her vocal abilities. I think it's a great album and am looking forward to when she begins experimenting again in the future.

[@bookofjohbe]

Agree 100% wholeheartedly

[@melodicvirginia]

I’ve been listening to Poppy since 2018 and although I Disagree was exceptional this album feels like her most realized work to date, she upped the game in every aspect, the lyrics, vocals, production, melodies, it felt much more polished and deep than anything she’s ever done before

[@scoopskiii]

I wish she didn’t release it the same day as linkin park cause this album destroys Linkin parks album but Linkin park is so big that it kinda overshadowed poppy’s record

[@damientolley2440]

I think it's a fun album with ideas and sounds I've heard before. It's not phenomenal or really inventive but it's cool to hear her transition to this sound and improve her vocals and range. I hope she continues to explore and expand. Maybe she could even take experience from this and really craft her own sound in the metal genre. I've been a fan for a while and I'm feeling a 7 to low 8. I can listen to each song and enjoy them but none really blew me away.

[@oaktowndimond668]

@@damientolley2440 at least poppy didn't base any of her songs on canned power packs like sabrina carpenter (espresso).

[@damientolley2440]

@oaktowndimond668 I have no knowledge of that lol.

[@oaktowndimond668]

@damientolley2440 kzbin.infoBwtxTWQWozg?si=4U8UW35zcVOGHY6B

[@alexkier7429]

I think Nik Nocturnal made the best analogy calling it a "jukebox album", it does feel like an introductory album for basically all of her previous stuff but also the newer stuff she's been putting out. I can finally have an album to recommend instead of throwing around all kinds of songs from her discography since it's so varied 😂 If anything it makes me more curious about her future endeavors and her next projects, as it does feel more like a side project than a main one.

[@xBushxWookiex]

I want a poppy and BMTH collab next. Oli, make it happen please

[@cwm8565]

I LOVE her 🙏🏼🫶🏼

[@nicholasmogiba6361]

Best album by far for me. I think Poppy is an artist that likes to experiment, you can clearly tell even with this album. Her 'honest' work is experimentation. She doesn't want to be one thing

[@kr0nekxg347]

negative spaces is my favorite album

[@SFutureReacts]

I appreciate your thoughts on this album although I don't agree all around. I understand your take on the production sounding too "artificial" but I find that to be more of a personal preference than a critique. It would make sense wanting that "authentic" production sound if this were a standard metalcore band but I find the overproduced sound fits their style and song writing perfectly. If this album was "underproduced" it wouldn't hit whatsoever. I also disagree in it lacking cohesion, which goes hand in hand with the production. W review though Birb

[@tiagotakao]

Poppy > Linkin Park

[@nopenope1454]

You ask what the album is trying to convey. Perhaps instead of seeing it as cookie cutter and too artificial, it's conveying that those are problems that already exist within all these different genres, while simultaneously going "hey look, I can do all of that too, and do it exceptionally" almost like a dig/burn

[@slightlygone]

Poppy > LP

[@patfix]

I mean yes, as a metal(death/hard)core fan some of this is kind of bland, but I still enjoyed it. Stand-outs for me are when the 'poppy' style match with the core sound well. Like 'Push Go' and 'Surviving'. Also the production is great (mainly the music side), but the auto-tune(/vocal production) is a bit overdone for my taste. While I'm typing this, you mentioned the same, so we are in agreement there! I did come back more to this album than Linkin Parks - which is surprising. So good job Poppy!

[@adampierce7468]

I reaĺly like it. If you listen from Bubblebath to how she sounds now, It truly is an evolution.

[@alfonsoobando3616]

It's a great album. It's punishing and thoughtful at the same time. She's got one helluva voice. She's hot. She's dark. She's deep. What's not to love here?

[@codyb6849]

Her vocals reminds me so much of Courtney with spirit box poppy grows an screams to her clean or just something else which l love a lot about poppy because her voice is so beautiful and I really did like this album after listening to the first time it really touched me my soul beautiful sound amazing to me l like her album better the Emily an LP’s poppy album a 8.5 to a 9.0 for me metalbirb

[@shiot]

Who knew that Poppy would make the best metal album of 2024

[@munton5150]

Fair. Still love it.

[@zhivik]

I think the hope here is that Poppy can only improve in the direction she is headed - if she wishes to explore that further, of course. I agree that some of the songs sound a bit formulaic, but we can only hope that she will build on this and evolve. Yes, I wish this record were more experimental, but I consider it a solid effort.

[@Victorvonbass]

I enjoyed this. It definitely makes my top 5 albums of the year alongside the new LP album. The Popped Loose song is a bit too heavy for my usual tastes, but overall I feel like these songs are gonna be live bangers and thats all that matters in the end. I saw Poppy way back on the I Disagree tour (drove 11 hrs total that day for that) and its amazing how far she has come. Idk what my favorite track off the album would be so far. I've only given it about 3 spins. I like Crystallized a lot too honestly. That and Vital seem the catchiest.

[@Lingboysc2]

I understand what you're saying. I love the album but it kind of feels like Poppy making "generic" versions of different metalcore styles. It's hard to really hear who Poppy is, besides a very awesome vocalist. I hope she evolves and tries something new and authentically her.

[@Lingboysc2]

not just metalcore* other genres too.

[@Lingboysc2]

to me it sounds like she's been exploring and trying to find her sound. She executes a lot of sounds well, but it sounds like she's featuring on another band's work for most tracks.

[@someguyfromgoogle1481]

She has done a lot of her own sounds in her other albums. "I Disagree" and "Zig" are full of super experimental tracks that I think aren't appreciated enough and she had to go for a more mainstream approach this time so she didn't fall into obscurity.

[@Lingboysc2]

@@someguyfromgoogle1481 I agree. I love I disagree

[@Twizzybeatzz]

I don't think I'd call it my record of the year, simply because the instrumentals sound generic as all get-out, BUT I can comfortable say I enjoy it much more than linkin park's new stuff. Great record here

[@Aslanalali]

She ateeee

[@DavidSanchez-tm6gg]

9/10 for me! The other albums where too "experimental" and poppier (no pun intended) for my taste!

[@SeventhCircle77]

It's a pretty good album, catchy for sure. Most are just good some a great

[@lightningmonky7674]

I wasn't that huge in the album (cept for the centers falling out) but I love when any artist does the opposite of going from metal to pop

[@Ghost-lx5tm]

I feel like he is very new to poppy's music, but every single album she's put out have songs that are all over the place genre wise, not just negative spaces. Saying that this album is "casting a net" would be like saying every single album she's put out is the same way, instead of saying she's making music she wants to make, no matter the "genre". Not to mention saying she's "casting a net" is a huge disservice to the effort she's put into her songs.

[@iJellySpoon]

Each song takes me back to a certain point in my life via specific artists, a lot of variety and it all ties together very nicely. I think stale is a little bit too harsh in this case, you've given higher praise to songs that are 10x more "generic". Respect the opinion but I think you need to remember it's not always that deep yaknow.

[@theopinson3851]

Oh man…I hate it when pop artists sell out and write pure screaming metalcore tracks just to sell records. 😂 Honestly, I think she’s just making the music she wants to make based on what’s inspiring her, which has trended towards the heavier side lately.

[@XavierMacX]

Her first metal tracks were over four years ago. So yes, she literally just does what she wants. In her words, she already has enough success. Afaik she's always had that attitude as well.

[@ghosface353]

I almost the same rating as fantano, as he give it a light 7.

[@UnHyl8urself]

Imagine not having a mind of your own to make your own assessment, so you willingly relinquish it and name-drop someone else’s review as your point of reference. Classic sycophantic behavior.

[@SoldierSpiderx]

the fact I never heard of Poppy till she had a song with Bad omen, she did ok those, I didn't really like the song those so I ignore her but when she came on knocked loose doing suffocate and I heard her scream, I was shock, I was said this ain't the same Poppy who was on bad omen, my theory that she heard people didn't like her on the song like me and other, to prove them wrong she double down and fucking kill it on suffocate, I only her apology and I bet other to cause we all though she was just on Bad omen cause they was popular and when she drop they're all around us, I sold now I a fan

[@XfreshcakesX]

Linkin Park’s album was poopoo. AOT is either this or ALLT

[@dexxfilm]

Im so conflicted with this album because its almost a guilty pleasure on one hand.... but also logically looking at it, its doing too many trendy things that took the personality away from a Poppy record. I dont know. Its so damn catchy but its Poppy if she wasnt Poppy. I dont know how else to explain it.

[@darksydeflow]

She needs a real band behind her, not a producer.

[@mazdashinka]

Exactly

[@ItsAmplified]

I've been a huge hater of Poppy since she started...not gonna lie I do like this album quite a bit

[@Pyschedelicfunk]

Poppy is a babe

[@fzrlzly]

8:51 i know you meant. GENERIC.

[@silent_anon404]

Linkin Park >> Poppy

[@dylanjohnson4557]

I mean. You can't take her music too seriously. She's still a pop musician at the end of the day. It's just a bit of fun

[@ghostridergamer5641]

??? she is so far from a pop artist right now your a hater or a person who hasn't even listened to her since 2018

[@dylanjohnson4557]

@ghostridergamer5641 Not a hater. Frequent listener actually. I'm not saying it's literal pop music (although, crystalized is a good nod to her roots) It's just fun music you don't have to think about in the same sense that pop is. It's just metal pop like Babymetal

[@k33vv]

She’s not a pop musician…. she’s called herself post genre

[@melodicvirginia]

Calling poppy a pop musician is crazy. She started out making pop music and never fully abandoned it but the vast majority of her recent stuff is hardcore, idk why y’all love to dismiss her like that

[@dylanjohnson4557]

@@melodicvirginia Yeah. If you took it at face value then yeah she's a metal musician. But she's a solo vocalist with either a metal band backing or pop track behind her. In the same vein that I consider Marilyn Manson to be an alternative pop singer

[@7ChaosBlack]

Not metal but more importantly really shit.