Music Review: Poppy Grows Up And Goes Dark Popy With Genreblending Album 'Zig'
Not quite dark pop, not quite techno, not quite a genre at all, Poppy's fifth studio album, Jig, is instead a mix of styles and an example of how far she's come since her debut five years ago.
“Zig” is a departure from Poppy's old pop sound for those who remember her 2017 debut, “Poppy.Computer”, after her initial introduction to the cute yet strange pseudo-AI character Poppy. First discovered through surreal performance art on YouTube. video from 2015. The bleach blonde android isn't seen in "Jig," but that's not surprising: She's long gone.
Poppy's style and sound are on her second album, Am I Girl? It started to take a heavy metal direction, followed by the darker I Don't Agree in 2020. He toned it down for a more alternative flux and now he's back with Jig, a combo that evolves from his previous works.
Backed by synths and electric beats, the sweet voice of the 28-year-old singer-songwriter, born Moriah Rose Pereira, ranges from heavy metal growls to soulful serenades on "Jig." Trying to get the words out, but there's a confidence to "Jig" that shows he knows exactly what he's doing.
Album highlights include "Knockoff," a powerful pop song, and "Motorcycle," a haunting depiction of a free spirit on a motorbike. (“Girl on a motorbike/Nothing can hold her back/Freedom teaches/I follow her,” he sings.)
The problem lies in bland, repetitive songs like "1s + 0s" and, unfortunately, the self-titled song "Zig" whose chorus goes like this:
"When you zigzag me/When you zigzag me/I zigzag."
Hah?
It's surprising when the rest of the lyrics are just pure poetry. Take these lines from the beautiful “Linger,” for example: “In the whites of your eyes/I see my future life/Bunch the night lilies/Tell me what you'll remember me for.”
Overall, “Jig” is an interesting and experimental mix that shows how Poppy has evolved over the years. Because it combines so many different genres, this album has songs for everyone, so it's definitely worth a listen.
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