Underscores' 'U' Shifts to R&B‑Inflected Pop
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- Underscores released the album “U,” a follow‑up to her hyperpop‑emo works “Fishmonger” (2021) and the concept album “Wallsocket,” and the new record pivots toward late‑90s/early‑00s R&B influences.
- Underscores pares back the maximalist emo‑punk elements that defined “Wallsocket,” leaving only faint hints in tracks like “Bodyfeeling” and “The Peace.”
- Underscores draws on the production styles of Timbaland, The Neptunes, and Rodney Jerkins, incorporating bright acoustic guitar samples, staccato vocals, and synth blares reminiscent of late‑90s R&B hits.
- Underscores writes, performs, and produces every song on “U,” showcasing pop songwriting that the reviewer says could attract major‑label teams, as heard on “Bodyfeeling” and “Do It.”
- Underscores shifts lyrical focus to love and dating, using witty conceits such as “Am I in your playlist?” and “Do you have Spotify?” while abandoning the complex narrative of “Wallsocket.”
- Underscores is praised as delivering a more interesting, accomplished, and better‑written pop album than most major pop artists have dished up of late, despite retaining some maximalist production flourishes.
Why it matters: By delivering a pop album that the reviewer deems more interesting and better written than most major‑label releases, Underscores demonstrates that a self‑produced bedroom artist can achieve a level of songwriting and production quality traditionally associated with big‑budget pop teams.
