Underscores - U LP record (clear vinyl)

U is the third studio album by the American musician Underscores. It was released by Mom + Pop Music on March 20, 2026. Marked as a departure from the rural-inspired rock concept album Wallsocket (2023), U establishes a more pop-based direction in genres ranging from dubstep to future bass. Underscores describes the album as being suited for malls, airports, hotels, and supermarkets, based on her experiences as a touring musician in constant transit. Following Underscores' Wallsocket tour, she took a break from her main music by writing accessible pop songs for other artists, inspiring her third studio album. Unlike her previous studio albums, U was written and recorded in multiple cities around the world while touring with Porter Robinson in the spring and Danny Brown in the winter, using a portable recording setup. Underscores noted that she made the album as an attempt to connect to what inspired her in her childhood, drawing inspiration from "consumerist architecture" like hotels and malls. Sonically, U is a pop, hyperpop, and dance-pop album using autotuned vocals and dubstep production, with influences from musicians including Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Grimes, Cascada, and Beck. Thematically, it fixates on themes of love, sex, and fame. The album also contains a more minimalistic approach compared to Underscores' usual maximalist production, taking inspiration from musicians Oklou and Mk.gee. The album artwork was drawn by Japanese illustrator Ochiai Shohei, which resembles the San Francisco shopping mall Stonestown Galleria. U received critical acclaim from music critics, praising the album's production, writing, and experimental approach to pop music. To promote the album, Underscores released three singles: "Music", "Do It", and "Tell Me (U Want It)", and embarked on a headlining North American tour in support of the album from May to June 2026. Commercially, it charted on the UK Album Downloads and North American College and Community Radio (NACC) charts.