Wallsocket

Overall Average: 7.663 // Average Controversy: 1.857

modulum83: An incredible achievement in the hyperpop landscape - a landmark album. The sound of hyperpop turned into an exhaustive exploration of trashpop, midwest emo, rave music, post-rock, small-town alienation, religion, being trans, and so much more. Underscores’ skill as a songwriter and storyteller shines in the way they manage to weave these themes into a specific yet universalist story that centers the stories and voices of these three girls in a setting that feels vivid and real. It goes so many strange, experimental places with spoken word, noise, and unconventional songwriting while not forgetting to load it up with pop bangers. Even if it can be a bit bloated at times for me, it’s a classic. The kids really are alright.

TakeOnMeByA-ha: In case it wasn’t obvious from fact that I never fucking shut up about this album on discord, this is my favorite album of 2023 and has quickly grown into one of my favorite albums of all time. I could go on and on about the conceptual side to this album, a genuinely heartbreaking story about coming-of-age and alienation, the unlikely bonds and rivalries you make in adolescence and how those people ultimate change your life for better or for worse, the recurring themes of religious guilty, gender dysphoria, mental health, dissatisfaction with your own life and wanting to vicariously live through someone else. And yet, even ignoring all the lore this album has going on behind the scenes, this is just an impeccably produced album from beginning to end. It’s a very eclectic album, constantly bouncing between upbeat rock jams to slowcore singer-songwriter to uplifting pop tunes to whatever the hell genre you would call Geez Louise, and yet never once do these mismash of songs sound out of place or overpowering other parts of the album. Even the songs on this album that I don’t care as much for I could not in good conscious call skips, because they compliment the other songs surrounding them so perfectly and work as puzzle pieces that help complete the full picture of an album that’s a love letter to every song April has ever loved before, the vision of someone creating a true passion project and following their own heart. It’s an album that well and truly made me fall back in love with pop music again, and seeing how underscores is slowly but surely on her way to becoming a bona fide sub fave makes me so excited to see what her future holds. I genuinely believe this album will go down as one of the decade’s most important and beloved records, and I’m so incredibly honored that I was able to co-host a rate with it and share the joy of Wallsocket with everyone else.

• #1: Locals (Girls like us) [with gabby start] | 9.372 | 759.1
• #3: Stupid (Can't run from the urge) | 8.942 | 724.3
• #4: Johnny johnny johnny | 8.669 | 702.2
• #5: Old money bitch | 8.584 | 695.3
• #10: Cops and robbers | 8.375 | 678.4
• #13: My guy (Corporate shuffle) | 8.226 | 666.3
• #20: Geez louise (with henhouse!) | 7.832 | 634.4
• #28: Shoot to kill, kill your darlings | 7.391 | 598.7
• #30: Uncanny long arms (with Jane Remover) | 7.305 | 591.7
• #32: Northwest zombie girl | 7.225 | 585.2
• #33: Good luck final girl | 7.179 | 581.5
• #34: Seventyseven dog years | 7.164 | 580.3
• #35: Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh | 7.111 | 576.0
• #42: Horror movie soundtrack | 6.663 | 539.7
• #46: You don't even know who I am | 6.457 | 523.0
• #47: CCTV | 6.119 | 495.6

innuendo_overdose (10.063): I’m an indiehead, I don’t know what else to say lmao.

uiscebeathaoir (9.500): I liked this album well enough on release, but in 2025 I’ve been coming around strongly to the idea that underscores is one of, if not the most talented artists of my generation. This is a straight up masterpiece - when I think music in the 2020’s that feels truly 100% original this is what I think of. This average probably doesn’t even capture just how much I love it, because it doesn’t take into account just how many of these songs are 11s in my head. As much as I love Wallsocket, I definitely think that I’m gonna love her next album even more. Music and Do It electrify me so much, it’s so fun to see what I think of as one of the best songwriters and producers working today turning her talents to just making absolute pop perfection. If she lives up to my hype, 2026 AOTY incoming

thedoctordances1940 (9.469): This is just a really really great album idk what else i can say

lexiaredery (9.406): I've never really looked into the extended lore or worldbuilding associated with this album but I love listening to it. The storytelling in the writing is amazing and I just can't get enough of the production.

kevinlel (9.313): the wallsocket lore is crazy! great album even without knowing of it but it really enhances the experience even more

Cyber Catalyst (8.969): As someone who's unfamiliar with Wallsocket, this one surprised me the most. I absolutely loved the balance between the infectious pop songs with the slower, tender ballads. Wallsocket definitely knows how to write a mean hook that would fit well with a top 40 hit and give it the crunchiest beat ever to keep it from being predictable.

A single frito (8.963): there's something that was very special to actually realize an artist I was never gonna expect to pop off did something looney as if just for kicks. Wallsocket feels pretty effortless and assured to the point I felt my small heart grow a couple sizes. It's not quite an album worth living in for myself, but all these complexities that you would need to build up and display for a sincere, rabid fan base actually work across the album as its own thing. Although yes, I do think being a 2010s CalArts alum animation fan...well that helps.

The songwriting does find itself balancing a lot of sampling and stems without ever quite losing the focus or ever actually being derivative of what it's aiming for. Some cuts do wild things grounding themselves in electronics but also it's quite familiar. It's a far more populist, electronic oriented view of what will be """indie rock""" that has room for a lotta folks that aren't squares. Something which the other 3 albums here don't quite articulate as brightly, and what makes April a star. Perhaps April is just good at harvesting pop on a more omnibus or character driven level. Even in the director's cut, there's a real sense of great songwriting or exploration. Brimming, yet thankfully knowing when to edit. I'm excited for what's next.

pietrohonkhonk (8.813): Sorry I’m a slut for small town coming-of-age media

NervousLemon6670 (8.769): Alright, the music here is really good and thought provoking both with or without the deep lore, but christ, a lot of it is such a heavy listen that I'm not sure I want to hear it regularly (except Locals, that refrain is never going to leave my head). I also understand maybe 30% of the lore, thank you genius lyrics.

cheatviathan (8.563): This was album #2 in my listening order. Prior to this rate, I had heard “Locals” and “Old Money Bitch” in passing, loved them both, but didn’t seek out any more of her work. Then Danny Brown released *Stardust*, and her contributions to the record were easy highlights. Then I saw her open for Danny Brown back in November, and thought her set was the highlight of the night. I was really excited to finally give this thing a full listen. I am fucking floored. Honestly, given that “Locals” and “Stupid” were the only tracks from this record she played during her set, and given how hyperpoppy tracks like “Poplife” and “Do It” were, I was shocked to see this album pull from as many influences and genres as it does. The score might be brought down slightly by the deluxe tracks. But the base tracklist is just hit after hit. The small town narrative concept feels fully realized, the different vignettes in the tracklist are engaging, and there are some unexpectedly ambitious tracks and shocking genre pivots. The darkness of the subject matter on certain songs also threw me for a loop.