The Linda Lindas – No Obligation

Since their viral performance of Racist, Sexist, Boy at the LA Public Library, this all-girl punk-rock group from the City of Angels have had the world in the palm of their hand. The Linda Lindas comprises Bela Salazar, Eloise Wong and sisters Lucia and Mila de la Garza. Forming back in 2018, their debut album Growing Up, released in 2022, was met with great critical praise. They’ve since performed on the likes of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Tiny Desk. Their latest album, No Obligation, is an amalgamation of post-punk, garage rock, power pop and new wave, and is set to blow listeners away by showcasing how the girls’ songwriting has matured as they’ve progressed on their musical journey. This record is a proud defiance of society’s expectations of them.

The group opens with the album namesake, No Obligation. This is a passionate rock track that makes a strong statement about their displeasure with norms and assumptions for women to appear and behave in a particular manner, such as wearing dresses, growing out long hair and not questioning the status quo. Wong takes the lead, passionately screaming the lyricsm “I don’t got no obligation.” This open and fiercely honest track makes for an enduring introduction.

The Linda Lindas are known for their rebellious and energised songs about their experiences growing up, as well their opinions on different political and societal subjects, which resonates well with their fan base. Some of the numbers are interspersed with Spanish, whilst Yo Me Estreso is sung entirely in Spanish. This track has an unsettling yet captivating feel – featuring “Weird Al” Yankovic, it was released last month ahead of the album.

The Linda Lindas’s sound is refreshingly harsh, reminiscent of punk and garage rock bands like The Runaways or The Ramones. This influence can be heard especially in All in My Head: filled with a rich electric guitar backing with the gain turned right up, it rips deliciously into the vocal melody and is a fantastic pairing to give that heavily layered punk rock sound. All in My Head is an iconic belter that encourages fans to scream along at the top of their lungs with its head-banging melody.

The album remains loyal to The Linda Lindas’s signature sound, with numbers that induce people to rise to their feet and jump along – you simply cannot stay sitting for these. A standout track comes from Nothing Would Change, with a fantastic intro of heavy layered electric guitar that’s evocative of early noughties garage rock. The fast, consistent rhythm will have fans punching the air and belting “Hey, Hey!” along with the band.

The penultimate track, Excuse Me, is another that takes on the issue of societal norms. The powerful lyrics, “They don’t like what they see / Why do they care what I choose to be?” allows listeners in on an intimate moment of vulnerability from the girls, a transparent portrayal of discontent. Featuring an all-consuming guitar riff, this adds nicely to the frustrated tone evident in their writing here.

The album comes full circle with the last tune, Stop, which has a similar feel to the opener. With lyrics that are mocking and intimidating towards the subject of the song – “You’re all out of changes, boohoo” – it alludes to getting tired of people who are unhappy with the way you behave while choosing to be indifferent to them. Beginning with intense guitar riffs that cut straight through your core, the band gradually builds the track until they reach the climatic bridge, in which they scream “STOP” repeatedly at the top of their lungs. The recording finishes abruptly yet tastefully with a final “STOP” yelled at the end. An expertly constructed song that sends shivers through your spine, particularly with the fantastically sudden finish to the track, this is sure to be a fan favourite.

The Los Angeles-based group is undoubtedly on a continuous upward trajectory, and this album is a wonderful tribute to their core values and principles. They have remained faithful to this, infusing their message into nearly every song and offering a comforting voice of rebellion and understanding in their music. The girls have something to say, and they know how to say it well.

Emily Downie
Image: Jessie Cowan

No Obligation is released on 11^th October 2024. For further information or to order the album visit The Linda Lindas’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Yo Me Estreso here: