Poppy Drops ’90s Alt-Rock-Inspired Song and Video, “So Mean”

Crossover metal/pop star Poppy has released a new single and video, “So Mean,” continuing the dive into ’90s alt-pop she’s displayed on her upcoming album’s two previous singles. Is it even fair to associate her with metal anymore?? I don’t care — I’m along for the ride, I’m fully into it — but it’s so fitting and perfect that juuuust as some of the metal crowd was finally starting to accept her, she goes and pivots away. Love it! The biggest middle finger to the arms-crossed metal set.

About that ’90s tilt: “So Mean” finds the singer experimenting with a highly upbeat vibe and jangly guitar chords, almost like Dinosaur Jr. at their most refined. The visual aesthetic is right there, too… are we watching a No Doubt video? Vatican-era Stone Temple Pilots? Hard to tell! But I dig it.

Check out “So Mean” below, as well as “Her” and “Flux.” Flux arrives September 24 via Sumerian Records.