By: Jacob Stewart
While I Disagree is really gimmicky in terms of just jumping around from style to style, it’s still enjoyable due to Poppy’s creativity both lyrically and embracing styles of music she clearly likes. Even if it only works its magic the best on the first listen, and nothing else.
That being said, the magic is seen the best on the title track, I Disagree, and the single BLOODMONEY. Which are both incredible bangers. Especially BLOODMONEY.
“KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT YOU’VE BEEN PLAYING NICE AND GO BEG FOR FORGIVENESS FROM JESUS THE CHRIST“
The album is also pretty good in terms of frontloading all of the best music on the front, with Concrete being a really well put opener to disclose to the listener how weird/wacky the album is going to be. Anything Like Me is a big guilty pleasure to listen to, and the closer Don’t Go Outside is a really well done interpolation of the first five tracks over an incredible acoustic guitar melody. Some of the lyrics parallel the themes of the album well, as it’s a very good “F the music industry and do what you want on your own terms”. Fill The Crown, while annoying in terms of vocals, pushes this theme pretty well that it seems like it’s intentionally being annoying because that’s how Poppy feels when she’s being controlled. Sick of the Sun is also just nice vibe fuel.
Outside of those, Nothing I Need through Bite Your Teeth are unfortunately either too gimmicky to their detriment (Concrete shares this problem but it at least works well in its placement as an opener), or they’re incredibly boring filler tracks. It makes the middle of the album kind of awkward, especially following Fill The Crown.
Still a really good album from Poppy.
