Album Review: The Linda Lindas All Grown Up and Ready to Rock

The Linda Lindas have released a new album, ‘Growing Up’ out via Epitaph. The group became famous overnight when a video of them performing ‘Racist, Sexist Boy’ went viral. Soon artists such as Thurston Moore, Kathleen Hanna and others were falling over themselves to praise the four young Los Angeles girls.

The band had originally formed as a punk covers band assembled by Kristen Kontrol of the Dum Dum Girls, for Girlschool in 2018. But the video of them performing in the Los Angeles Public Library in May 2021 captured the cultural zeitgeist and their lives were changed forever as their music and attitude were brought to a much larger audience. Before the library video incident, the Linda Lindas had earned their chops by opening for riot grrrl legends Bikini Kill and Alice Bag as well as DIY heavyweights Best Coast and Bleached; and even featured in Amy Poehler’s movie Moxie.

“With a fiery cocktail of tenacity and teen spirit, these ferocious young women are ready to take on the world…”

Kerrang

The band is made up of sisters Mila de la Garza (drummer, 11) and Lucia de la Garza (guitar, 14), cousin Eloise Wong (bass, 13), and family friend Bela Salazar (guitar, 17.) The album was produced by Carlos de la Garza who has worked with Paramore, Bad Religion, Best Coast, Bleached and also happens to be Mila and Lucia’s father.

In the best tradition of punk Rock, the ten songs on ‘Growing Up’ clock in at just over 25 minutes. The album opener ‘Oh!’ is just perfect, it has a driving beat and irresistible hook and has the band members doing a great shout out that is sure to be popular at live performances. The accompanying video is a glorious technicolor funfest, it’s like the Brady Bunch meets the Ramones.

‘Growing up’ is the Linda Linda’s tribute to friendship “We’ll dance without any cares/We’ll talk bout problems we share” the band have the unique gift of voicing everyday teenage concerns in an upbeat, punky fashion.

‘Talking to Myself’ is a reflection on the insecurities of growing up, it’s a buoyant track that is reminiscent of the Go Gos at their compelling best. ‘Why’ has a snarling riff reminiscent of Joan Jett’s ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll’ but the chorus morphs into a glorious sing-along. The girls’ inherent youthful optimism is irrepressible.

Iggy and the Stooges wanted to be your dog, but the Linda Lindas want to warn you about their cat ‘Nino’ “He’s a savage cat/Killer of mice and rats.”

The album culminates in “Racist, Sexist Boy” with the girls growling the lyrics, the preceding upbeat and positive vibes are forgotten as the band draws on its punk roots, promising to “rebuild what you destroy”, again referencing the Stooges except without the nihilism.

The Linda Lindas, despite their youth have demonstrated that they are ready to join the pantheon of other female-fronted punk bands such as the Slits, the Go Gos and X Ray Spex, who like them, addressed social and feminist issues in an uncompromising fashion.

The Linda Lindas will be heading out on tour in support of the album. They will play headline shows in Los Angeles at The Troubadour on April 10th and New York City at the Mercury Lounge on May 1st. The band also have some upcoming U.S. dates opening for Jawbreaker in the spring, and festivals in Oakland, Las Vegas, and Japan.

Photo Credit: Zac Farro

Get ‘Growing Up’ HERE.

Growing Up Tracklisting
Oh!
Growing Up
Talking To Myself
Fine
Nino
Why
Cuantas Veces
Remember
Magic
Racist, Sexist Boy