Album Reviews

The Linda Lindas are back with Gotta Get Out, their third album, which comes with a major first: rather than showing up to practice with fully formed songs, this time around every single track was written together in the same room. While you might expect that way of working to result in a more cohesive album, the opposite is actually true. And, to be perfectly honest, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it.

Opener “Gotta Get Out” finds The Linda Lindas introducing synths into their sound, alongside a danceable bassline. The result is a cross between an ’80s new-wave pop song and something that would feel more at home in a car or perfume commercial. It’s the first, but definitely not the last, time The Linda Lindas attempt to expand on the sound they established on their previous albums.

“Helado de Limón” would have slipped by almost entirely unnoticed if it weren’t for the Raveonettes-like guitar that kicks in towards the end, while “Blood on Your Hands” sees The Linda Lindas trying their hand at hardcore. Unfortunately, it ends up sounding more like Green Jelly’s “Three Little Pigs” than anything else.

So while there are some misses here, luckily there are hits, too. “Nothing Left” has them sounding like Blondie, while “High Horse” is an upbeat tune that hits all the right notes and proves that the synths can be a solid addition to their sound. “Break” is a much more fruitful attempt at writing a hardcore song, and “Everybody Told Me” finds The Linda Lindas channeling their inner Cure, with a little help from Hayley Williams.

Kudos to The Linda Lindas, who found success right off the bat, for refusing to settle into a familiar groove and instead trying something new. But honestly, I wouldn’t have minded a more predictable sequel to No Obligations.

Gotta Get Out track listing:

1. Gotta Get Out
2. Burning Out
3. Helado de Limón
4. Blood On Our Hands
5. Closer
6. Nothing Left
7. High Horse
8. Break
9. I Could Be Wrong
10. Everybody Told Me
11. Okay
12. See You Next Time