The Linda Lindas No Obligation

Critic's Take

The Linda Lindas sound more galvanizing than ever on No Obligation, and the best songs - like “No Obligation” and “Excuse Me” - are instant punk anthems that refuse to soften their edges. The record balances bratty, Runaways-style mission statements with quieter bedroom-rock moments, letting tracks such as “All In My Head” and “Once Upon A Time” breathe without losing bite. Producer Carlos de la Garza helps the band keep their rowdiness while the inclusion of Latin-tinged “Yo Me Estreso” and the Judas Priest-tinged “Resolution / Revolution” show the group stretching in ways that still feel true to their core. Their anthemic choruses and confrontational lyrics make clear which are the best tracks on No Obligation, songs primed for kids yelling back in mosh pits and car stereos alike.

Key Points

• The best song is high-energy punk anthemry like "Excuse Me" because of its furious, pit-ready delivery and confrontational lyrics.
• The album's core strengths are its anthemic choruses, youthful anger, and successful blending of softer bedroom-rock moments with punk immediacy.

Themes

Critic's Take

The Linda Lindas fling themselves into No Obligation with an earnest, punk-tipped energy that makes the best tracks impossible to ignore. The reviewer's eye keeps returning to standout cuts like “Yo Me Estreso” and “No Obligation” for their distinctiveness and gravelly riot grrrl shouts respectively, and to “Once Upon a Time” for its beachy, melancholic hook. The writing stresses that the best songs on No Obligation feel lived-in and sincere, not nostalgic pastiches. Overall the record’s best tracks prove the band have ideas and conviction to spare, and they make that case with verve and heart.

Key Points

• “Yo Me Estreso” is best for its distinct, spiky corrido influence and notable guest contributions.
• The album’s core strengths are raw youthful conviction, punk-pop energy, and sincere, outspoken lyrics.

Themes

Critic's Take

The Observer's Ammar Kalia hears growth on No Obligation, where The Linda Lindas trade viral sparks for a sturdier songwriting core. He singles out the opening title track and the slow-burn of “All in My Head” as proof the band can channel rage and melody in equal measure. The review also praises frenetic cuts like “Resolution/Revolution” and “Excuse Me” for Mila de la Garza’s punishing grooves, while noting pop-punk moments such as “Don’t Think” broaden their palette. Overall, Kalia frames the album as a convincing step from virality toward a long-lasting career.

Key Points

• The opening title track is the best because it channels cathartic rage with blistering energy and a defiantly vocal lead.
• The album’s core strengths are its balance of punk ferocity and newfound melodic, singalong songwriting that points to maturation.

Themes

Critic's Take

The Linda Lindas ride a bracing mix of sincerity and urgency on No Obligation, and the best songs here - “No Obligation”, “All In My Head” and “Lose Yourself” - show why. The title track hits from the first crashing chords, declaring independence, while “All In My Head” and “Lose Yourself” linger with irresistible hooks. Anxiety-tinged “Too Many Things” and the searing “Resolution/Revolution” expand the album’s emotional range, proving the band’s songwriting growth. The result is an exuberant, fiercely authentic record that stakes their claim in pop-punk and beyond.

Key Points

• The title track is best for its immediate, declarative energy and lyrical independence.
• The album’s core strengths are youthful urgency, sincere songwriting, and genre-blending hooks.

Themes

Critic's Take

The Linda Lindas sound like kids who grew up on the Gilman Street scene, and on No Obligation their best songs crystallize that tension between fuzzed-up punk and sugary pop. The review lifts out “Excuse Me” as a return to heavy, aggressive punk and names “All In My Head” as a sweeter pop-punk highlight, which makes them the obvious best tracks on No Obligation. There is also praise for the bilingual reach of “Yo Me Estreso”, which broadens their scope and stakes a claim on the album's ambition. The tone is admiring and confident, presenting these tracks as the clearest statements of the band's identity.

Key Points

• The best song is “Excuse Me” because it revives the heavy, aggressive punk of their viral debut.
• The album's core strengths are its confident 90s punk revivalism and its mix of sugary pop-punk with tougher punk energy, plus a bilingual reach.

Themes

Critic's Take

The Linda Lindas sound bigger and brasher on No Obligation, with standouts like “Lose Yourself” and “Resolution/Revolution” delivering bratty, tuneful anthems. Dolan’s voice finds them mixing emo, pop-punk and riot-grrrl into songs that sting and stick, whether it’s the Blondie-tinged bounce of “Lose Yourself” or the defiant stomp of “No Obligation”. He praises the band’s knack for emotional language and growth, noting personal stories in “Once Upon A Time” and “Nothing Would Change” that deepen the record. The result is an album that keeps the band’s viral spark but shows real maturation in songwriting and attitude.

Key Points

• The best song, "Lose Yourself", pairs bright, Blondie-tinged hooks with punk energy, making it the album’s most immediate standout.
• The album’s core strength is youthful punk self-discovery rendered with tuneful hooks, emotional language, and stylistic adventurousness.

Themes

Critic's Take

In her punchy, conversational voice Tilly Foulkes celebrates The Linda Lindas on No Obligation as an exhilarating punk record, singling out tracks like “No Obligation” and “Too Many Things” for their blend of rage and self-awareness. She writes with a smart, sarcastic edge, noting how songs such as “All In My Head” and “Don’t Think” channel pissed-off teenage fury into political clarity. The review frames the best tracks as both mobilising anthems and intimate reckonings, praising the band’s ability to pair Riot Grrrl slogans with emo-pop sensibilities. Overall the reviewer positions these songs as the standout moments on No Obligation, tracks that feel immediate, clever and impossible to ignore.

Key Points

• The title track “No Obligation” is best for its two-minute, punchy anthem that asserts the band’s political stance.
• The album’s core strengths are its fusion of Riot Grrrl slogans with emo-pop sensibilities and its honest teenage political urgency.

Themes

Critic's Take

Speaking in a clear, enthusiastic tone, The Linda Lindas deliver on No Obligation with undeniable singalongs and political bite, and the review repeatedly flags songs like “No Obligation” and “Too Many Things” as standouts. The reviewer leans into vivid comparisons and era references, praising the hooks of “Lose Your Self” and the heartfelt dynamics of “Once Upon A Time” while noting the band’s evolution from their debut. The voice is celebratory yet measured, crediting both the youthful urgency and matured production for making these the best tracks on No Obligation.

Key Points

• The best song captures youthful political energy with hooky, hardcore-leaning guitars and ferocious delivery.
• The album's core strengths are its melodic hooks, harmonious vocals, and a blend of punk ferocity with pop-punk accessibility.

Themes

Critic's Take

Watching The Linda Lindas grow from a viral moment into No Obligation feels thrilling - the record tightens their hooky punk rock into punchier, more addictive forms. The opener “No Obligation” kicks things off with screams that announce intent, while “Lose Yourself” brings a Blondie-esque swagger that marks it among the best tracks on No Obligation. The urgent “Resolution / Revolution” also stands out as a highlight, showing a surprising worldliness that belies their years. If this is Album Two, bring on whatever comes next - the best tracks here point to a band getting sharper and more confident.

Key Points

• The best song moments are the opener “No Obligation” and the Blondie-tinged “Lose Yourself” for their immediate hooks and swagger.
• The album’s core strengths are cohesive songwriting, youthful urgency, and refined, hooky punk-rock energy.

Themes

Critic's Take

In a voice that never panders, The Linda Lindas deliver on No Obligation with clear standouts such as “No Obligation” and “All In My Head” that show the band pushing their punk into bolder, more inventive territory. Rachel Roberts notes the album opens with the title-track, where Eloise Wong roars into metal-esque screams as she takes down gender norms, and then cools into the woozy runs of “All In My Head” - both tracks make a persuasive case as the best tracks on No Obligation. The record's confident, colourful sound and expanded instrumentation make these songs the best songs on No Obligation, proof that the quartet simply just are.

Key Points

• The title-track's metal-esque screams and thematic bite make it the album's standout.
• The album's strengths are confident songwriting, expanded instrumentation, and lyrical honesty.

Themes

Critic's Take

The Linda Lindas' No Obligation lands as a certified banger, equal parts passion and rage and very much tuned to growing up now. The reviewer’s voice loves the record’s half-time breakdowns and DIY energy, highlighting “Lose Yourself”, “Too Many Things” and “Yo Me Estreso” as must-hear moments. There is a joyous, furious clarity here — the kind of record you share with friends in the back of a pick-up truck. The album’s lineage to riot grrrl is noted but reframed, and that mix of grievance and celebration is what makes the best tracks stand out.

Key Points

• The best song is best because it channels youthful rage and catchy hooks while exemplifying the album’s DIY, half-time breakdown energy.
• The album’s core strengths are its passionate performance, clear ties to feminist punk lineage, and authentic, youthful perspective.

Themes

Critic's Take

The Linda Lindas lean into a noisier, hardcore-tinged pop-punk on No Obligation, and the best songs - notably “No Obligation” and “All In My Head” - show that grit tempers their melodic gifts. The reviewer delights in the band pulling off metal-tinged hardcore better than many peers, praising the arena-ready sweep of “Lose Yourself” and the lyrical strengths of “All In My Head”. Production clipping mars some pleasures, but the record remains an unapologetically fun, half-hour blast that delivers the best tracks as irresistible, singalong earworms.

Key Points

• The best song is "All In My Head" because the reviewer calls it the lyrical highlight with a banging chorus.
• The album's core strength is catchy, hardcore-influenced pop-punk songwriting and memorable choruses despite some production clipping.

Themes