Intern’s Corner
Underscores may have altered the course of punk music to come with their latest album, Wallsocket. This album merges many genres, but the different directions Underscores shows punk music can go is what makes this album and Underscores so special.
Pop, punk, electronic, and hyperpop genres are all skillfully combined by creative musician Underscores to create a singular soundscape. Their unique sound, which blends appealing tunes and reflective words, has allowed them to swiftly gain a devoted fan base.
Their experimental, lively production and moving vocals captivate listeners and produce a captivating atmosphere. Underscores is a fearless musician that never hesitates to attempt new things, which drives them to keep pushing the limits of modern music and creating waves in the business.
The wave that has been created most recently was what punk music can look like in the future. Wallsocket provides an interesting look into this idea through all of the different sounds Underscores sews together, all while being contained in an album that sounds cohesive and goes into many creative, emotional, and dark concepts.
There are so many songs on this album that could be considered as the best song on the album, and “Locals (Girls like us)” is absolutely one of those. It is one of the most accessible songs on the album as well, all while being experimental, catchy, and abrasive in a way that feels good, like an exfoliator on the bottom of your foot.
This song starts out with vocal repetitions of body parts before the song kicks off with a thudding bass reminiscent of 2000’s pop. While maintaining a surf-punk undertone, this song crescendos into an earworm of a chorus backed by brostep style synths and wubs.
If that song sounded like an insane conglomeration of styles, the rest of the album continues this theme even more.
“Geez louise” is the most traditional punk/ska song on the album, with upbeat drums and guitar that carry the momentum of the song. The chorus on this song can get stuck in your brain so easily, which is one of the impressive consistencies that this album has.
“Johnny johnny johnny” is a great example of post-punk on this album. The grungy electric guitar coupled with the electronic production makes this song even more electric than the aforementioned aspects of it.
This song is one of the most controversial on the album as well, as it could tow the line for some with the push and pull of experiential storytelling and romanticization. The song follows a young girl who is trying to find herself but in an environment where she must deal with groomers
Underscores said in an interview that they do not think that the song’s message was as clear as it could have been, and that they would do the song differently if they had the opportunity to do it again.
It has been criticized by some to romanticize being groomed. This was not the intention of Underscores, as you can see in the lyrics that a lot of it is analogies and experiences that are trying to make the story captivating as well as informative. This song is well worth the listen, but proceed with caution.
I could go on and on about all of the individual songs on this album, as they are all uniquely produced, have descriptive storytelling lyrics, and bring something new to the table. An album like this shows promise in the future of punk music, and shows that it is in good hands.
Although the roots of punk run deep, it is ever evolving. Mixing it with hyperpop and other genres as Underscores does in this album is overall good for the genre. It draws attention to the genre, while evolving it for newer audiences.
Punk is a genre that will never go away, but watching it evolve in a new direction is just as rewarding as listening to the original wave-makers.
Wallsocket by Underscores was just updated with a deluxe version of the album this year, and it absolutely deserves a listen if you are interested in a young, up-and-coming artist who is paving their unique path in the music industry.
The Intern
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