ALBUM REVIEW: U BY UNDERSCORES

Is this the album of the decade?

MUSIC

4/21/2026

It’s hard to think about after everything we’ve been through with Kanye West in the past decade or so, but when I heard 808s and Heartbreak for the first time in 2008, I was absolutely convinced he had changed music forever. Seeing him create a record that was vulnerable and emotional, filled with auto tuned singing and bloghouse inspired beats, felt like he was pulling himself out of the hyper masculine hiphop world and fully differentiating himself from the pack. He would go on talk shows with a literal heart on his chest and croon about love, heartbreak and emotions. Although it probably touched many hands, everything from that era from the visuals to the songs felt like it came from his real feelings. He had created The Album and as the years went by nothing could match the vision and emotional response that Kanye had created for me. However, when U by Underscores dropped last month I finally felt those feelings again.

I was (unfortunately) a bit late to the Underscores party. I had seen the artwork for Wallsocket and Fishmonger floating around and seen mention of her here and there but surprisingly, given I was a fan of other hyperpop artists, I had never taken the leap to check her out. It was only when Mic The Snare posted “Johnny Johnny Johnny” on his Record Pull series that I heard her music for the first time and I was immediately intrigued. It was perfect timing too, her single “Music” had been out for a couple of months and the follow up “Do It” dropped a month later. I was all in - from the incredible production, lyrics and videos to her fashion and persona she became the main pop girl in my house.

So of course with all of that said, I was highly anticipating the release of U and it definitely did not disappoint. One of my favorite touches of the rollout was the live stream that dropped with the album. In it, Underscores lip syncs and dances to the entire album live as she runs through an empty mall (the Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco, her hometown). It created an environment where I felt like I was experiencing the album for the first time with other people, something that is difficult to do in a post-monoculture and increasingly online world. It felt like everyone that took the time and cared enough to tune in live were the people who wanted to support the album the most and we were all pushing and manifesting her success going into the new era. And in return it felt like our pop girl cared about us enough to put in the extra effort to create this experience for us all to share.

The Stonestown Galleria also serves as the inspiration for the cover art, a warped rendering of the mall as depicted by the Japanese artist Ochiai Shohei (whose work I had been seeing online for years and always thought someone should use for album art…glad to see I was proven right). The inclusion of a space from her hometown to me introduces the personal touch that carries throughout the album itself. While Underscores’ previous work felt guided by concepts, story and lore this is an album that feels truly personal to her. Wallsocket in particular feels like an exercise in interpreting her feelings through a fictional story and characters. U, on the other hand, is direct in that her experiences with relationships, fame, emotions and more are delivered directly and without the facade of concept to hide behind. She’s able to be open and vulnerable without it seeming too diaristic and describe a reality, that at least to me, was very emotionally resonant and relatable.

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While a lot of pop music today feels shallow, U has a soul and a perspective that feels human. Its sound feels influenced by music of the past without leaning too heavy on references. For instance, the moments in “Wish U Well” that feel inspired by 90s r&b pop (like TLC or Janet Jackson) don’t feel like a cover or a rip off. It’s referential without being nostalgic and doesn’t require you get the reference to get full enjoyment of its sound. It’s cool and hip and fun on its own and feels like a fresh interpretation of these past trends brought forward with the perspective of a new voice. So many mainstream artists would benefit from this energy being added to their work. If they were smart, Justin Timberlake’s team would be on the phone with Underscores right now to have her produce his attempt at a comeback album.

808s and Heartbreak kicked off a decade of artistic confidence for Kanye where it felt like he could just follow his vision however he wanted and all of his fans would be there with him. U should absolutely be the album that does that Underscores. She should feel confident do whatever she wants with her music, whether it continues in this direction, returns to a more experimental sound or she wants to try something totally brand new. I’d be excited to hear whatever she comes up with. If she wants to direct movies or make music videos, her directing and editing work for the videos from this album are excellent and I’d be stoked to see them. If she wants to work with and produce for other artists, this album feels like it should be a perfect package ready to be delivered to any pop star looking for a fresh sound. If we’re lucky, this album too will change music forever. It’s the new wave of the future of pop.

U BY UNDERSCORES
RELEASED 3/20/26
RATING: 9.3
FAVORITE TRACKS: BODYFEELING, THE PEACE, LOVEFIELD