Album review: The Linda Lindas – Growing Up

Growing Up, the first full-length from hotly-tipped punks The Linda Lindas, is a good record by anyone’s standards. Were an established band of 30-somethings to release this LP several albums deep into their career, they’d surely be satisfied with the fruits of their labour. But The Linda Lindas are the exact opposite of musical veterans: they’re teenagers. Guitarist Bela Salazar is the oldest at 17, while fellow shredder Lucia de la Garza is 14 and bassist Eloise Wong a year younger. Drummer Mila de la Garza is, incredibly, just 11 years old. And yet, despite their youth, this punk four-piece have produced a thoroughly enjoyable debut album that promises much more is yet to come.

Oh!, a spiky dose of riot grrrl ferocity, kicks things off, with more sprightly punk ditties offered up by the way of Talking To Myself and the title-track, both of which are well put together and oozing fun. The Linda Lindas also showcase a more aggressive sound, like on heavy punk number Fine and the attitude-fuelled Why. Those consistent mood-shifts come to a head on pissed-off, dissonant closing track Racist, Sexist Boy, a furious anti-hate anthem which demonstrates The Linda Lindas at their most affecting.

There’s nothing new on offer here by way of sonic innovation, but that matters little. The Linda Lindas know what they are – energetic, enthusiastic and effortlessly cool – and the confidence with which these 10 tracks are delivered is proof this is just the beginning. There’s some growing up to be done, but right now, The Linda Lindas are revelling in the joys of youth, and it sounds great.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Bikini Kill, Dream Nails, The Tuts

Growing Up is released April 8 via Epitaph

Read this: The Linda Lindas: “Whatever you have to say, you should say and be proud of it”