“Mystery Meat” is a really cool, promising yarn sweater that you don’t wear anymore, because every time you do, two rows of stitches come undone. Not having an identifiable chorus is something that really stops the listener from buying it. Starting with electric guitars, which at this point aren’t too overwhelmingly panned to the right, compared to previous tracks. “Mystery Meat” may not sound so great going off by the title alone. “Who’s gonna be your bandaid now?” is the song’s motif at the end, and a lyric that would sound great being shouted back by the audience during a live show. Even with some odd rhythms in the pre-chorus, this is the track with most structure yet, and an identifiable chorus. “I’m going to end you,” is the first lyric and the most impactful. Written by Chloe M instead, something different is expected, as its the only song written by someone other than Hartmann. With an harsh and upfront kick-off, “Band Aid” seems to be a promising song in the beginning. The song could’ve been more interesting had it kept that direction and not deviated into different sounds for the last verse. The second verse is the best part, and could be classified as a headbanger. “Top” is fun song to listen to, its short enough to not drone on too long. “The worst thing you can do is not try,” seems like an oxymoron due to the lacking structure, and being all over the place. The song seems to have no chorus, but some lines that could have turned into one. With enough changes to keep you on the edge of your seat, Poppy Patica stuns the listener with the track’s constant unpredictability. However, if the listener focuses on the essence of the song, it could be a comforting song to listen to. The song lands on the cliché of “I want to leave this town,” and simultaneously of “I miss my hometown,” too. Chloe M’s voice joins Peter Hartmann’s on the left on the last verse, but the timing is slightly off, making the sound feel uncoordinated. Near the middle, it has a seemingly fake end, that enhances the second part of the song. The mix is questionable, with the lead vocals panned to the right and almost inaudible on the left, leaving the backup vocals on the left only. Starting with drums and synths, “Burn to Bits” is almost a ballad, but its not too sentimental or romantic at all. “Handprint” is a letter to those feeling lost in their lives, with no clear path, not knowing what’s right or wrong for them, and acknowledging that sometimes its okay, because feeling lost is a part of finding oneself. “I take a stab at what I think is right, and then a bloody handprint on my door, and I don’t know where its from” can represent the consequences for actions that we think are good or harmless, and having to face them, and the pain that comes with them. “I make a sound and it’s swallowed into a hole,” can be a metaphor for feeling like everything you do, can be meaningful to you but meaningless and unimportant to the rest of the world. The song talks about feeling like there’s much to see out in the world, but feeling comfortable and complacent in one’s home, or city. The chorus is a great release after the verses, accompanied by clean electric guitars. “Handprint” begins with an eye catching bassline. The synths at times sound too plastic, but the instrumental arrangement manages to save it a bit. With a lot of elements panned to the right, the mix is left too light and thin in the left ear. The song is a prime example of great potential, great feeling and decent songwriting, but with an unsatisfactory mix. Mildly deceiving the audience with its first two bars sounding like a plastic midi kick, “Awful Sound” turns into not such an awful sound with acoustic guitars filling up the space. “Awful Sound” is a quick and upbeat intro. Originally a solo endeavor, with vocalist and guitarist Peter Hartmann as the frontman and founder, Poppy Patica is currently also made up of vocalist and organist Chloe M, drummer and keyboardist Nikhil Rao and bassist Jeremy Ray. After 2017’s Tripping None, and 2021’s Ridge Record, Poppy Patica comes back with their newest album, Black Cat Back Stage.
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