Wallsocket

In an interview with NME, Underscores stated that she "wanted [Wallsocket] to be super big, wide and ambitious." In discussing the worldbuilding element of the album, she explained that "the whole ambition for the album was to draw people into this world I have in my head." However, Underscores also cited personal inspiration for the album, saying that "All the songs are there because I had something I wanted to figure out about myself, or things that have happened. It's a laundry list of things I wish I'd wrestled with five years earlier when I first left home."[2]

In an interview with Flood Magazine, Underscores cited Sufjan Stevens, The Raconteurs, Beck, Imogen Heap, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Van Morrison, Sky Ferreira, Jason Isbell, Kwon Jin-ah, and Gillian Welch as key influences for the album.[3]

Underscores launched the "Wallsocket era" with a trailer on April 21, 2023.[4][5] Wallsocket was promoted with an ARG; websites centered around the fictional town of Wallsocket, Michigan began appearing online as a Discord community uncovered information about the album's lore.[2]

The album's lead single, "Cops and Robbers", was released on May 3, 2023.[6][7] The second song released from the album was "You Don't Even Know Who I Am", released on June 7, 2023.[8] Wallsocket was officially announced on July 12, 2023 with another single, "Locals (Girls Like Us)" with Gabby Start.[9] On August 16, 2023, Underscores shared the fourth and final promotional single for the album, "Old Money Bitch".[10]

Wallsocket was released on September 22, 2023 via Mom + Pop Music.[11]

Wallsocket has been described as containing influences of hyperpop,[12] garage rock,[2] funk, dubstep, trap, punk,[12] electronica, metal, hardcore,[13] bedroom pop, roots, and industrial rock.[1]

In describing the album, Underscores stated that she "emerged from an obsessive episode adopting this mentality that everything is beautiful. Wallsocket is about realizing that most things are, but not everything is. Wallsocket is about navigating adulthood as an American and reckoning with one's circumstance."[11]

The album cover references an apolitical interpretation of horseshoe theory, which is a theme of the album. Underscores explained, "Where in our lives are we so one thing that we wrap back around and become its opposite? That theory is riddled throughout the album."[14]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
DIY	[15]
Dork	[16]
The Line of Best Fit	9/10[1]
Slant Magazine	[12]

Wallsocket received critical acclaim. Steve Erickson of Slant Magazine rated the album 3.5 stars, and called it "electrifyingly unpredictable."[12] In a four-and-a-half star review, Lisa Wright of DIY described the album as "the sound of an artist operating entirely, brilliantly on their own terms."[15] Ali Shutler of Dork gave the album four stars, calling it "an attention-grabbing album that'll keep you coming back as the intricate world reveals itself."[16] In a 9/10 review, Matthew Kim of The Line of Best Fit named Wallsocket as Underscores' "masterpiece", saying that "if it doesn't propel her into indie stardom, we've all done something wrong."[1]