The Linda Lindas – No Obligation

After an explosive performance of their single Racist, Sexist Boy at the LA Public Library went viral in 2021, teen post-punk sensations The Linda Lindas have continued to put out music made in-between school terms and over weekends. With their youngest member just out of middle school, the group already has an impressive oeuvre. No Obligation is their second full-length release, and it's a certified banger – exactly the kind of music I needed as a teenager (and still do).

Compositionally, the album is full of passion, rage and energy. It's a dazzling window into growing up right now, borrowing from and building on previous generations of feminist punk. Reminiscent of riot grrrl classics like Sleater-Kinney and Bikini Kill (with less of the white-centric bent for which the initial movement is often criticised), it's full of lyrics about being misunderstood, simultaneously grieving lost promise and celebrating difference.

The Linda Lindas (rightly) love a half-time breakdown, which infuses the album with a weighty feeling of self-narration. Carlos de la Garza's production complements the album beautifully, creating clean sounds without compromising the group's DIY vibe. It's the kind of music best suited to riding in the back of a pick-up truck, hanging out in a petrol station parking lot, and sharing your first cigarette with your three best friends. With a clearly defined sound and unapologetic enthusiasm, The Linda Lindas are absolutely a group to watch.

Listen to: Lose Yourself, Too Many Things, Yo Me Estreso