Zig (album)

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Zig
Studio album by
Poppy
ReleasedOctober 27, 2023 (2023-10-27)
RecordedFebruary 2022–March 2023
Genre
Length30:29
LabelSumerian
ProducerAli Payami
Poppy chronology
Stagger
(2022) 		Zig
(2023)
Singles from Zig
  1. "Church Outfit"
    Released: April 4, 2023
  2. "Knockoff"
    Released: July 19, 2023
  3. "Motorbike"
    Released: September 12, 2023
  4. "Hard"
    Released: October 20, 2023

Zig is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Poppy, released on October 27, 2023. The album was released through Sumerian Records, marking her return to the label after briefly signing with Republic. Produced by Ali Payami, the record marks the artist's return to pop music, and features a more industrial sound than her previous album, Flux (2021).

Background[edit]

In a December 2022 interview with Revolver, Poppy revealed that she was working on her fifth studio album.[1] In March 2023, she announced a new single called "Church Outfit", which was released on April 4.[2][3][4] The single marked her return to Sumerian Records following a short signing with Republic Records for her fifth EP Stagger (2022).[5][6][7][8] On July 19, 2023, Poppy released the single, "Knockoff", and announced the album, Zig for release on October 27, 2023.[9][10] Following the announcement, the album was immediately made available for pre-order.[11] The album's tenth track, "Motorbike", was released as its third single on September 12 after being previously leaked online.[12][13] "Hard" was released as its fourth and final single on October 20, with Poppy having performed it live prior.[14][15]

Recording and composition[edit]

Poppy made over 40 songs for Zig, though just 11 made the final tracklist.[16] She primarily worked with Simon Wilcox and Ali Payami, the latter of whom produced every track from the album.[11] The songwriting was organized into four different journals, based on the idea of the song. Poppy said of the album's conception, "I'll come in with a skeleton and we piece it together. I feel the need to make sense of my own code, in an effort to understand myself."[16]

The album has been labeled as dark pop,[17][18][19] industrial-pop,[20] electropop,[17] alternative pop,[21] nu metal,[21] industrial metal,[21] and "dark" electronica.[21] Sputnikmusic described the tenth track "Motorbike" as "sheer bubblegum pop", whereas Sumerian Records describes the final track on the album, "Prove It", as switching between "unfettered and vulnerable" to "double speed, fuzzed-up, distorted screaming."[16]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[22]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[23]
Dork[24]
Hysteria Mag9/10[25]
Kerrang!4/5[26]
The Forty-Five[27]
Louder Sound[17]
Metal Hammer[21]
Slant[28]
Sputnikmusic2.5/5[29]
Wall of Sound8.5/10[30]

Zig received generally positive reviews. On Metacritic, the album received a score of 68 out of 100 based on five reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Critics were positive towards the album's focus on electronic music and Poppy's return to pop, whereas criticism was aimed at the album's predictability and lack of heavier sounds that were present on Poppy's previous records. In a positive review, Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic called Zig Poppy's most "mature work to date" stating, "she lays the viscera on the table, opening herself up like never before and showcasing her most human moments yet."[23] Ali Shutler of Dork wrote, "There's rage, empowerment, peace and giddy joy as Poppy once again shakes things up."[24] Tiana Speter of Hysteria mag was positive towards the album stating, "For fans of Poppy's 2020 savagery I Disagree or 2021's alt-rock pastiche Flux, Zig is certainly an entirely new era for the chameleonic artist...the electro-dance elements fused to Zig's spine proves that Poppy can write a pop song or dazzle with vulnerability like nobody's business – and still scream like a prismatic banshee should the occasion call for it."[25] Luke Morton writing for Kerrang! praised the sound of the album stating, "Such polished production courses through veins of Zig...as the genre-muddling star incorporates elements of industrial, metal and jungle amongst the record's heavier junctures."[26]

Since Zig is, for the most part, a departure from rock and metal sound of her recent work, Lisa Wright of The Forty-Five felt that the album was "a little unexciting" when including how Poppy "left jaws on the floor with her initial metal reinvention".[27] Vicky Greer of Louder Sound had a similar opinion stating, "Zig ushers in Poppy's 'dark-pop' phase, but the thrilling extremity of her best work is missed here."[17] Danni Leivers writing for Metal Hammer was positive about the album's sound stating, "There's a lot of ground covered here, but Zig never feels random or messy. Poppy...views [her] albums as 'timestamps' of her life and for that reason, her genre-bending feels less like an artist following trends...more an avid consumer of art, exploring her influences and making music by her own rules.[21] Steve Erickson of Slant was less positive and feeling that on Zig, "Poppy has become what she's successfully evaded up to this point: predictable."[28] Sputnikmusic had a similar conclusion to that of The Forty-Five and Louder Sound stating, "Poppy seems to be restrained here – as if something is holding her back from embracing her typically wild and unconventional whims."[29] Kayla Hamilton of Wall of Sound was more positive towards the album stating, "Poppy is growing musically, but she is also growing personally. Zig is proof of that."[30]

Year-end lists[edit]

Zig on year-end lists
Publication Accolade Year Rank Ref.
Revolver Magazine Best albums of 2023
2023
—
[31]
Kerrang The 50 best albums of 2023
39
[32]
British GQ Best albums of 2023
—
[33]

Promotion[edit]

In 2023, Poppy and Pvris co-headlined the Godless/Goddess Tour.[34][35]

In September 2023, Poppy announced that she would be embarking on the 2024 Zig Tour to support the album, revealing UK dates for February.[36][37] On the same day, she was revealed as a support act for the Bad Omens tour Concrete Forever.[36][37] In November, Poppy was announced as a support act for Thirty Seconds to Mars' 2024 world tour in the United States.[38][39]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Simon Wilcox, Ali Payami and Poppy, except where noted

Zig track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Church Outfit"1:54
2."Knockoff" (Payami, Ian Kirkpatrick, Sean Douglas, Poppy, Wilcox)3:04
3."Hard"2:26
4."What It Becomes"3:38
5."Flicker"2:22
6."1s + 0s"3:16
7."Zig"2:28
8."Linger" (Poppy, Payami, Jocke Berg, Lara Andersson)3:16
9."The Attic"3:24
10."Motorbike"2:26
11."Prove It"2:15
Total length:30:29

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Zig
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[40] 74
UK Album Sales (OCC)[41] 58
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[42] 27

References[edit]

  1. ^ Madden, Emma (December 23, 2022). ""I Was Internally Dying": Poppy Speaks Up and Breaks Free". Revolver. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  2. ^ Brooks, Dave (April 4, 2023). "Poppy Returns to Sumerian Records, Drops New Single 'Church Outfit'". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  3. ^ Pilley, Max (April 4, 2023). "Poppy returns with new single 'Church Outfit'". DIY. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  4. ^ Duran, Anagricel (March 28, 2023). "Poppy shares release date for new single 'Church Outfit'". NME. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  5. ^ Brooks, Dave (April 4, 2023). "Poppy Returns to Sumerian Records, Drops New Single 'Church Outfit'". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Pilley, Max (April 4, 2023). "Poppy returns with new single 'Church Outfit'". DIY. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Carter, Emily (April 4, 2023). "Watch the video for Poppy's killer new single, Church Outfit". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  8. ^ Taylor, Sam (April 4, 2023). "Poppy has released a new single, 'Church Outfit'". Upset Magazine. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Mier, Tomás (July 19, 2023). "Poppy Drops 'Knockoff,' Announces Album 'Zig'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  10. ^ Navidson, Will (July 19, 2023). "Hear Poppy yearn for "that real shit" on dark new song "Knockoff"". Revolver. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Poppy (2023-10-27), Zig by Poppy, retrieved 2023-07-19
  12. ^ Carter, Emily (September 12, 2023). "Watch the video for Poppy's new single, Motorbike". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  13. ^ Enis, Eli (September 12, 2023). "See Poppy's high-octane video for new song "Motorbike"". Revolver. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Enis, Eli (October 20, 2023). "See Poppy go "Hard" in video for catchy new song". Revolver. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  15. ^ Taylor, Sam (October 20, 2023). "Poppy Has Released 'Hard' From Her Upcoming New Album, 'Zig'". Dork. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c "Poppy". Sumerian Merch. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d Greer, Vicky (October 27, 2023). "If you were expecting Poppy's fifth album Zig to deliver metallic thrills you'll be disappointed, but then second-guessing Poppy is always a fool's game". Louder Sound. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  18. ^ Mier, Tomás (July 19, 2023). "Poppy Wants That Real S-t on 'Knockoff'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  19. ^ "Music Review: Poppy grows up and goes dark pop-y with genre-blending album 'Zig'". AP News. October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  20. ^ Jaber, Nisrin (October 27, 2023). "Album Review: Poppy – Zig". Boolin Tunes. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Leivers, Danni (October 28, 2023). "From aggro industrial to nu metal rage to glitchy alt pop, Zig is Poppy making music by her own rules - and it's wonderfully unhinged". Metal Hammer. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  22. ^ "Zig by Poppy Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  23. ^ a b Neil Z. Yeung. "Zig Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  24. ^ a b Shutler, Ali. "Poppy – Zig". Dork. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Speter, Tiana (October 24, 2023). "Poppy Zig". Hysteria mag. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  26. ^ a b Morton, Luke (October 30, 2023). "Album review: Poppy – Zig". Kerrang!. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Wright, Lisa (October 27, 2023). "Poppy – 'Zig' album review: missing some of the zag of old". The Forty-Five. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Erickson, Steve (October 23, 2023). "Poppy Zig Review: A Clever Gimmick That's Slipping into Predictability". Slant. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  29. ^ a b Sowing (October 28, 2023). "Review: Poppy - Zig". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  30. ^ a b Hamilton, Kayla (October 23, 2023). "Poppy – Zig (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  31. ^ "AVENGED SEVENFOLD pick best albums of 2023". Revolver. 2023-12-30. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  32. ^ "The 50 best albums of 2023". Kerrang!. 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  33. ^ "The best albums of 2023". British GQ. 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  34. ^ Enis, Eli (April 5, 2023). "Poppy Announces Summer North American Tour With Pvris". Revolver. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  35. ^ Carter, Emily (April 5, 2023). "Poppy and Pvris unveil The Godless/Goddess co-headline tour". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  36. ^ a b Coward, Teddy (September 20, 2023). "Poppy Reveals UK Headline Tour Dates And Europe Shows Supporting Bad Omens". Rock Sound. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  37. ^ a b Carter, Emily (September 20, 2023). "Poppy announces UK headline dates, and European shows supporting Bad…". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  38. ^ "Thirty Seconds To Mars announce huge world tour for 2024". Kerrang!. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  39. ^ "Thirty Seconds to Mars Announce 2024 Tour with AFI, Poppy, and KennyHoopla". Consequence. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  40. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  41. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  42. ^ "Top Album Sales - November 11th, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
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