Negative Spaces
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Negative Spaces
| type = studio
| artist = Poppy
| cover = Poppy - Negative Spaces.png
| alt = A naked woman is shown from behind, submerged in a pool of white liquid with black wisps.
| released = November 15, 2024
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
- Metalcore
- alternative rock
- {{nowrap|synth-pop}}
- pop metal
- arena rock
| length = 42:24
| label = Sumerian
| producer = Jordan Fish
| prev_title = Zig
| prev_year = 2023
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Negative Spaces
| type = Studio
| single1 = New Way Out
| single1date = June 4, 2024
| single2 = They're All Around Us
| single2date = September 17, 2024
| single3 = The Cost of Giving Up" / "Crystallized
| single3date = October 15, 2024
}}
}}
Negative Spaces is the sixth studio album by American singer Poppy. It was released through Sumerian Records on November 15, 2024. Poppy co-wrote all the songs on the album, while its production was handled by former Bring Me the Horizon keyboardist and producer Jordan Fish. Musically, the album is primarily an metalcore, alternative rock and arena rock album that also features elements of different genres.
Background
On October 27, 2023, Poppy released her fifth studio album, Zig. In several interviews, she hinted at a possible "part two" of Zig, referring to it as Zag.{{cite magazine|first=Ali|last=Shutler|url=https://readdork.com/features/poppy-cover-november-2023/|title=Poppy: "I try not to look back because that's not where I'm going"|magazine=Dork|date=October 27, 2023|access-date=September 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031185314/https://readdork.com/features/poppy-cover-november-2023/|archive-date=October 31, 2023|url-status=live}} During 2024, she was featured on the Bad Omens single "V.A.N" and the Knocked Loose single "Suffocate", which were both met with positive reactions and reviews.{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/bad-omens-and-poppy-join-forces-on-new-single-v-a-n|title=Bad Omens And Poppy Join Forces On New Single 'V.A.N'|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=January 24, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422041155/https://blabbermouth.net/news/bad-omens-and-poppy-join-forces-on-new-single-v-a-n|archive-date=April 22, 2024|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Danielle|last=Chelosky|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2260579/knocked-loose-suffocate-feat-poppy/music/|title=Knocked Loose & Poppy Share New Song "Suffocate": Listen|work=Stereogum|date=April 23, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423195131/https://www.stereogum.com/2260579/knocked-loose-suffocate-feat-poppy/music/|archive-date=April 23, 2024|url-status=live}} In June, she released a new single titled "New Way Out".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/poppy-new-way-out-listen/|title=Poppy gets introspective with heavy single "New Way Out"|magazine=Alternative Press|date=June 4, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605005005/https://www.altpress.com/poppy-new-way-out-listen/|archive-date=June 5, 2024|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Ali|last=Shutler|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/poppy-shares-madonna-meets-metal-single-new-way-out-and-tells-us-how-theres-plenty-to-be-angry-about-3762126|title=Poppy shares Madonna-meets-metal single 'New Way Out' and tells us how "there's plenty to be angry about"|work=NME|date=June 4, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605075813/https://www.nme.com/news/music/poppy-shares-madonna-meets-metal-single-new-way-out-and-tells-us-how-theres-plenty-to-be-angry-about-3762126|archive-date=June 5, 2024|url-status=live}} In an interview with NME, she confirmed that her new album is "around the corner" and that it would be produced by Jordan Fish. On September 17, she released the second single titled "They're All Around Us". The album and its release date, set for November 15, were announced on September 23.{{cite magazine|first=Gregory|last=Adams|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/poppy-announces-new-album-negative-spaces/|title=Poppy announces new album 'Negative Spaces'|magazine=Revolver|date=September 23, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923164829/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/poppy-announces-new-album-negative-spaces/|archive-date=September 23, 2024|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|author=Tyler Damara Kelly|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/poppy-announces-her-upcoming-album-negative-space|title=Poppy announces her upcoming album, Negative Space|magazine=The Line of Best Fit|date=September 23, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923162946/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/poppy-announces-her-upcoming-album-negative-space|archive-date=September 23, 2024|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.kerrang.com/poppy-announces-new-album-negative-spaces|title=Poppy announces new album Negative Spaces|magazine=Kerrang!|date=September 23, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923162351/https://www.kerrang.com/poppy-announces-new-album-negative-spaces|archive-date=September 23, 2024|url-status=live}} On October 15, two songs, "The Cost of Giving Up" and "Crystallized", were released.{{cite magazine|first=Emily|last=Carter|url=https://www.kerrang.com/poppy-has-just-dropped-two-very-different-new-singles|title=Poppy has just dropped two very different new singles|magazine=Kerrang!|date=October 15, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117024229/https://www.kerrang.com/poppy-has-just-dropped-two-very-different-new-singles|archive-date=November 17, 2024|url-status=live}}
Composition
Musically, the album has been described as metalcore,{{cite web|first=Neil Z.|last=Yeung|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/negative-spaces-mw0004364836|title=Negative Spaces AllMusic Review|work=AllMusic|access-date=February 6, 2025}}{{cite news|first=Dave|last=Simpson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/nov/15/poppy-negative-spaces-review|title=Poppy: Negative Spaces review – screams and sweetness as metalcore meets loungecore|newspaper=The Guardian|date=November 15, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241116014815/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/nov/15/poppy-negative-spaces-review|archive-date=November 16, 2024|url-status=live}} alternative rock,{{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Reed|url=https://www.avclub.com/poppy-negative-spaces-review-album|title=Poppy gets more consistent—but no less interesting—on Negative Spaces|newspaper=The A.V. Club|date=November 21, 2024|access-date=November 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121170639/https://www.avclub.com/poppy-negative-spaces-review-album|archive-date=November 21, 2024|url-status=live}} synth-pop, pop metal, arena rock,{{cite magazine|first=Emma|last=Wilkes|url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-poppy-negative-spaces-jordan-fish|title=Album review: Poppy – Negative Spaces|magazine=Kerrang!|date=November 15, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241119181304/https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-poppy-negative-spaces-jordan-fish|archive-date=November 19, 2024|url-status=live}} and industrial, with elements of hyperpop,{{cite magazine|first=Tom|last=Morgan|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/poppy-negative-spaces/|title=Poppy – Negative Spaces|magazine=Clash|date=November 15, 2024|access-date=November 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241115131648/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/poppy-negative-spaces/|archive-date=November 15, 2024|url-status=live}} grunge, space rock, and tech-metal.{{cite magazine|first=Merlin|last=Alderslade|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/poppy-negative-spaces|title="Negative Spaces is one of the catchiest, most consistent records of 2024." Poppy has gone and made a full-on arena metal album, and it absolutely bangs|magazine=Metal Hammer|date=November 14, 2024|access-date=November 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241115135418/https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/poppy-negative-spaces|archive-date=November 15, 2024|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 86/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/negative-spaces/poppy|title='Negative Spaces' on Metacritic|website=Metacritic|access-date=February 6, 2024}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev2 = The A.V. Club
| rev3 = Boolin Tunes
| rev4 = Clash
| rev5 = Distorted Sound
| rev6 = DIY
| rev6score = 9/10{{cite magazine|first=Rishi|last=Shah|url=https://diymag.com/review/album/poppy-negative-spaces|title=Poppy – Negative Spaces|magazine=DIY|date=November 15, 2024|access-date=February 6, 2025}}
| rev7 = The Guardian
| rev8 = Kerrang!
| rev9 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev9score = 8/10{{cite magazine|first=Caitlin|last=Chatterton|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/poppy-negative-spaces-gets-arena-ready|title=Poppy gets arena-ready on Negative Spaces|magazine=The Line of Best Fit|date=November 18, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121221943/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/poppy-negative-spaces-gets-arena-ready|archive-date=November 21, 2024|url-status=live}}
| rev10 = Metal Hammer
}}
Negative Spaces received critical acclaim, with critics calling it a return to form for Poppy following the more mixed reactions of Zig. {{Metacritic album prose|Negative Space|positive|86|7}} Ryan Ciocco of 411Mania wrote, "Negative Spaces sees Poppy delivering a faithful return to her metal leanings from early this decade but also...synth pop and industrial sounds as well. Her voice will either enchant you, scare you, or manage to somehow do both...while the instrumental performance is really good on this one...Poppy is the focus."{{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Ciocco|url=https://411mania.com/music/poppy-negative-spaces-review/|title=Poppy – Negative Spaces Review|work=411Mania|date=November 18, 2024|access-date=November 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241118054318/https://411mania.com/music/poppy-negative-spaces-review/|archive-date=November 18, 2024|url-status=live}} Writing for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung stated, "Poppy continues to push the boundaries of heavy music and the limits that genre can impose on an artist." Ryan Reed of The A.V. Club called the album "her most cohesive set of tracks to date." Nisrin Jaber of Boolin Tunes reviewed the album before its release. She revealed that it featured raw, poetic lyrics and versatile sound shifts that highlights themes of self-doubt, deferred growth, and a struggle for motivation. Tom Morgan of Clash wrote, "A stylish, impactful and accessible collection, Negative Spaces is music for our post-genre, post-everything digital age. It's a remarkable artefact of this era of music." Shania Richards of Distorted Sound wrote, "This album proves Poppy is more than a metal vocalist, nor is she a mere pop-turned-metal singer; she is gradually evolving into something far greater."
Rishi Shah of DIY called it "A masterpiece, showcasing her ability to meld reliable sound palettes with some audacious new tricks." Dave Simpson of The Guardian stated, "On her sixth album, the multi-genre star seems to be having an identity crisis – but...she clearly trusts her own instincts." Emma Wilkes of Kerrang! felt that the album's producer, Jordan Fish, formerly of Bring Me the Horizon, has an "overwhelming influence on the album's sound" and "crowds out Poppy's own distinctness at times". However, they were still positive stating, "As scattered as it can be, its hit rate remains high and it's never content to just coast." Caitlin Chatterton of The Line of Best Fit called it "a sprawling [and] surprising album that proves a heavier sound looks good on her." Merlin Alderslade of Metal Hammer wrote, "Poppy has decided to hone in and focus her energies on creating a full-on modern metal record, bringing in former Bring Me The Horizon man Jordan Fish on production duties," and called it "one of the catchiest, most consistent records of 2024."
= Year-end lists =
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Negative Spaces track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| all_writing = Poppy, Jordan Fish, and Stephen Harrison, except where noted; all tracks are produced by Fish.
| title1 = Have You Had Enough?
| length1 = 3:38
| title2 = The Cost of Giving Up
| length2 = 3:17
| title3 = They're All Around Us
| length3 = 3:25
| title4 = Yesterday
| length4 = 0:48
| title5 = Crystallized
| writer5 = {{hlist|Poppy|Fish}}
| length5 = 3:06
| title6 = Vital
| length6 = 3:20
| title7 = Push Go
| length7 = 3:33
| title8 = Nothing
| length8 = 3:04
| title9 = The Center's Falling Out
| length9 = 2:25
| title10 = Hey There
| length10 = 1:29
| title11 = Negative Spaces
| length11 = 2:55
| title12 = Surviving on Defiance
| writer12 = {{hlist|Poppy|Fish|Julian Gargiulo}}
| length12 = 3:28
| title13 = New Way Out
| length13 = 3:23
| title14 = Tomorrow
| length14 = 0:52
| title15 = Halo
| writer15 = {{hlist|Poppy|Fish}}
| length15 = 3:41
| total_length = 42:24
}}
Notes
- All track titles are stylized in lowercase.
Personnel
- Poppy – vocals, layout
- Jordan Fish – production
- Zakk Cervini – mixing, mastering
- Ralph Alexander Granter – drums on all tracks except "Yesterday", "Hey There", "New Way Out", and "Tomorrow"
- Stephen Harrison – guitar, production assistance
- Julian Gargiulo – mixing assistance, engineering assistance
- Sam Cannon – photography
- Eddie Kepner – layout
Charts
Release history
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{MusicBrainz release group|fe83cc29-01a9-4650-95ca-d3e135c07278|name=Negative Spaces|type=album}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_niD1Iv98iPDQUlXiVAWNKeRjxKTByhopQ ''Negative Spaces'] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
{{Poppy}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Jordan Fish
Category:Alternative metal albums by American artists
Category:Alternative rock albums by American artists
Category:Metalcore albums by American artists