"Underscores - Wallsocket" The Hyperpop Album of 2023?

 

    Am I just reviewing artists that I saw live this year? Yes obviously, because it was one of the best decisions I made this year. I only found this album because I was checking the top albums of 2023 on AOTY (to see if people were giving HELLMODE by Jeff Rosenstock the love it deserved), and I stumbled on this album which was receiving some super high ratings. Intrigued, I went on a walk and put on this album, and while it was a bit of a challenging review at first (I mean it still is if you don't like hyperpop you won't like this album) it grew on me considerably. Then, I bought 20 dollar tickets to see Underscores on a whim, and it was one of the best decisions I could make. I mean I'm genuinely impressed by them as a whole, shades of pop-punk, but absolutely drench it in autotune and vocoders, and add a zoomer touch and what comes out is a surprisingly fantastic artist. And with that introduction out of the way, here is my track-by-track review of Wallsocket by Underscores. 

Wallsocket - Underscores

Cops and Robbers - 85/100 There's a bunch of lore involving this album but I did not know about it until after the album release, and honestly you really don't need to know it all. It's nice to have a piece of music that stands on it's own you know (I'm looking at you Twenty One Pilots). I don't know if I would call this a gripe but I would say for a hyperpop album the songs are surprisingly long relative to the genre and what Underscores released previously. That's not to say it's a bad thing because as seen by songs like this they take advantage of that extra time to release a song that feels more full-fledged than usual.

Locals (Girls like us) [with gabby start] - 85/100 Who knew listing off body parts as a refrain would work, I mean everyone was chanting it at the concert it goes kind of hard. At first I thought this song was weird as hell but honestly it's one of the biggest growers for me. On a side note I have no idea what that gabby start verse is but honestly it's hyperpop if I don't feel the need to take 100 gecs too seriously I can do that for their verse too. Anyways trans rights go hard. At least they redeem it with the outro that is an excellent soundbite.

Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - 45/100 Honestly this is where the album starts to divulge because you'll hear this song that feels super underdeveloped and it's four minutes long and you start to ask yourself if that was really the right choice. I mean I don't hate the song but I'd be lying if I said I really re-visit it often I feel like that's the issue for some of these songs. The buildup in the bridge isn't what you'd want and honestly if you don't like this song because it doesn't do much and it just becomes noisy I don't blame you. 

You don't even know who I am - 75/100 Okay remember what I said about the last song? Well most of it applies to this song but I actually enjoy it. It's slow, pretty bare and also 4 minutes long but I enjoy it

Johnny johnny johnny - 85/100 I mean this was the song that hooked me. Honestly, it's quite catchy for a song about grooming, who knew it could be so catchy? I don't really remember the Johnny Johnny Johnny game but the way it's incorporated into the whole story of the song is quite unique I like it.

Shoot to kill, kill your darlings - 76/100 I quite enjoy the instrumental solo's that they do in between the verses and choruses, but I don't think the choruses hit quite as well as they could have.

Horror movie soundtrack - 40/100 At least Duhhhh is kind of catchy. This song is almost 4 minutes long and I really felt like it could have been a one or two minute interlude to be honest.

Old money bitch - 85/100 This song goes harder than it should but saying old money bitch is so satisfying, not to mention that bridge about the fathers. Once again Underscores shows off their ability to tell a good story while also keeping the song catchy. Also on a side note they've made surprisingly good use of the "Good Luck!" sample turning it into a motif it's kind of fun catching it in any song off of this album.

Geez louise (with henhouse!) - 85/100 The longest song off of the album by a good bit the first part of this song goes so darn hard from the verses to especially the chorus it's an amazing song to sing along to. The later parts with the banjo kind of bang as well I don't know how they made it work to be honest. At first I thought it was a bit too long but re-listening to it and it's now I'm taking back that take. (I find myself saying that a lot with this album to be honest).

Seventyseven dog years - 70/100 Something something I complain too much about these songs being longer than I expected or whatever. I mean part of it is that the catchiest songs off of Underscores older works were like 2-3 minutes long, and I kind of enjoyed that.

Uncanny long arms (with Jane Remover) - 72/100 Look the high's are high but I would not say this album ends particularly well, or that the songs I really dislike are that good. I mean they're fine but they also feel kind of unfinished, especially for the length they are, this album easily could have been 40 minutes longish and my opinion on it would definitely change.

Good luck final girl - 65/100 It's a guitar song. That is all, it's fine I guess.

Final Score: 77/100

    Am I bit harsh on this album and a lot of the songs for being what I perceive as too long? Yeah, but that's just because I really am a big fan of underscores, especially after this project. They've really managed to keep the catchiness from previous songs off this album while having them be more realized in longer formats. Thought my rating would be a bit higher but honestly I didn't like the low points as much as I thought I did and I think that really brought it down. It doesn't really matter though because what I'll be remembering are the catchy ass songs that for some reason just refuse to leave your brain.