Underscores - “Wallsocket: Director’s Cut” analysis. Or is it DLC... or a Crass Cash Grab?

[@nifty4742]

AVAA!! glad you listened to this - i agree with you that in this case, more is definitely more. i think these characters are fascinating, and i’ll never turn down learning more about them, not to mention some fantastic music to go along with it. A few things that might interest you - firstly, that this ‘director’s cut’ almost certainly falls into the former category of directors cuts that you mentioned. ‘northwest zombie girl’ has been played at shows for a long time now, so much so that a lot of people knew the lyrics when i saw her in australia a few months ago, and in contrast there was a tiktok underscores posted earlier this year that teased ‘stupid’, but the song was still incomplete at that point. these two points are kinda tangential, tho; what most directly indicates her desire to release this is her Backlight Podcast episode (which i highly suggest you watch if you haven’t). the vibe i get throughout is definitely a sense of frustration that April feels in being signed to a big label (for the usual reasons). in this interview, she mentions wanting to release more as a part of the world of wallsocket that she’s built, but mentions difficulties with getting the label to back it (i don’t have the direct quote, and sorry if i’m misremembering here). anyways, what i’m getting at is that this certainly isn’t your run-of-the-mill ‘deluxe’ album cash grab that has become pretty commonplace in recent years. secondly, on your mention of the horseshoe theory, i do think its important that underscores’ approach to the idea is an apolitical one - i believe she’s said as much in interviews. as a leftist, i think the idea is reductive and reactionary, and avoids notions of ideology, which largely transcend these surface level similarities between left and right thought. underscores uses the idea in a really interesting way that i think gets past the political usage of the term, and instead explores her identity, environment, and the ways in which we change as people, often without even recognising it. anyway, i’ve just realised that i’ve written an essay in your youtube comments - sorry!! i really do love the work that you do, it’s unlike just about anything else on youtube, at least when it comes to music. thanks Skye

[@itsjvck1]

Professor Skye is My guy (Corporate Shuffle)

[@beestings22]

(I mean it!)

[@blysghost6973]

gogogogogogogogogood luck!

[@g6rf]

@@beestings22my guy! :3

[@darksentinel082]

avaa! i really really adore the total absolute WHIPLASH between the ridiculously moody ending of CCTV, with the start of Stupid. it's just. it's so crazy. I actually discovered the album by stumbling across CCTV on youtube, showing my friend who i didnt know was a big fan, and them sending me Stupid and telling me that it comes directly after in the album. i did not believe them! and then i listened to the whole directors cut in one sitting and sat on the floor staring at the wall for about 45 minutes afterwards

[@alesirer]

i think it was also referred to as "deleted scenes"

[@spencerlybbert]

Yessss! I was just thinking about leaving a comment asking if you were going to cover it and then I saw this in my subscription feed. I love the new songs.

[@razyboi]

AVAA i dont have much to add to the actual context of the video but i wanted to share with you that after enjoying countless videos of yours i've realized critical analysis is something im really interested in and its given me a new hobby, passion, and interest to pursue in life and that means a lot to me so thank you for doing what you do

[@professorskye]

Glad to heae

[@carlo_m]

So exciting to see you talk about the album I’ve been thinking about for the last two weeks AVAA

[@stereobub]

AVAA stupid is maybe my song of the year

[@carlo_m]

Might be mine too it gets better every time I listen

[@Ambynt]

Goodluck!!

[@qtpaulie]

AAVA!!!!! there are a lot of ARG things i could say about your interpretations because personally i love the arg aspect, but everyone is different! stupid (can't run from the urge) is definitely my favorite song so far of the year, and your analysis was super thought-provoking and emotional, even if it doesn't entirely line up with the "canon" plot. i think the way you have so many experiences and perspectives compared to me and the general "audience" of underscores allows you to introduce different profound ideas in their own right. directors cut and wallsocket are truly some of the most amazing albums of the year!!

[@prodboosh]

LETS GOOOOOOOO!!!!!! AAVA BEFORE WATCHING CUZ IMA REAL ONE . MUCH LOVE GOAT 💙

[@thoonder3034]

AVAA! I found the way you interpreted Northwest Zombie Girl very interesting, as to me there's no way it's anything other than a song about a trans girl. I don't have a favourite directors cut because I don't know if I've ever even seen one.

[@night_owlll]

I've always read it to be about OMB's depression and desire to distance herself from her family's wealth

[@ts4858]

@@night_owlll its not about omb it says on soundcloud

[@domisnicked]

AVAA! These songs were really much a vibe

[@AntediluvianGirl]

9:22 Hyperpop w/ bedroom elements or bedroom w/ hyperpop elements? Edit 1. Also call it bias from being a trans girl myself and from April(Underscores' first name) also being a trans girl and from Duhhh, Geez Louise and Uncanny Long Arms having huge themes of dysphoria that I relate to a lot but I definitely feel the intended reading(not the only, just the intended, and yours is very interesting as well) that puts the pills under her tongue is meant to refer to HRT

[@qtpaulie]

yeah, i definitely read it as a trans theme, probably (in ARG canon) coming from s*nny (the trans character's) perspective. sublingual estrogen really spoke to me in that initial verse of nwzg. the soundcloud description obviously suggests something different, but i think even though geez louise was the only song intended to be a direct connection to transness, a lot of the other songs have some very obvious connections that may be unintentional

[@jordis4463]

it's HRT FOR SURE

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

The world building on this album sounds very intriguing, I will check it out, thanks for spotlighting interesting artists, Prof Skye! AVAA

[@nullnetizen]

Your shirt... is inside out. 🖤

[@pita9054]

absolutely love this album and the extra tracks in the directors cut. im glad you enjoyed it too! this album has done a lot for me and feels really unique even within its own genere i feel. Something I cant recommend enough is "I've seen better days" by amaii as this album kinda reminded me of it though very different from each other brought me back to when I was obsessed with this album upon its release in 2022. idek how to describe it i think its hyperpop? dnb? idk

[@anthonymcgill4462]

This video and your initial review validated my experience with Wallsocket entirely. I felt something lacking from the comments by a lot of Underscores fans. This album is deeper and more self-aware than it seems at first. Avaa

[@jajararakoi8000]

Reminds me of brat but three more songs so it's the same but it's not Satirical poke at the industry standard to re release the album to bump the numbers. I feel underscores would do something like this, but on its face it feels more like a straight cash grab. All this being said, I still enjoyed the new songs, I wish she would have extended and edited some of the other songs to make it feel like more of its own project. A remix album would have been great!

[@gothicwvlff]

im pretty sure its only called directors cut bc wallsocket was heavily influenced by horror movies (one of the songs is literally named horror movie soundtrack), if you go to youtube or soumdcloud the new songs are referred to as "deleted scenes". my guy & northwest zombie girl were part of the wallsocket arg but not on the album until this release, the other two seem brand new

[@tylerhackner9731]

Love the new songs

[@PabloHernandez-rr1or]

AVAA, i'll make sure to listen to this whole album 😤

[@gr6dy]

AVAA I am also an avid fan of the bertucci's bread

[@markstuartwakeley]

AVAA my fav Directors cut Amadeus, stay safe Mr P.

[@professorskye]

My friend actually worked on that restoration

[@cynkcaj]

the pose and angle you adopt towards the end of this video sort of makes it feel as if you have kidnapped and restrained me to analyze my favorite artist. AAVA nonetheless

[@henrymccarthy3885]

Hey prof… your shirt is inside out

[@rafinator55]

Professor Skye, not sure if you take suggestions for new music but you should give the new Hyukoh EP a try :)

[@BelzertheRippler]

AVAA!

[@ExocoGD]

AVAA

[@JohnemonSilver]

AAVA