No Obligation is the second studio album by American rock band the Linda Lindas. Epitaph Records released the album on October 11, 2024. It was produced again by Carlos de la Garza, the father of band members Lucia and Mila de la Garza. Recording sessions for No Obligation took place at Henson Recording, Sunset Sound, and Music Friends Studios in Los Angeles in 2024. Six singles were released from the album: "Too Many Things", "Resolution/Revolution", "All in My Head", "Yo Me Estreso", and the title track "No Obligation", and "Nothing Would Change".
Background
Following the release of their debut studio album, Growing Up (2022),[1][2] "Too Many Things" was the Linda Lindas' first release of 2023.[3][4] The band subsequently opened for Paramore on the North American leg of the This Is Why Tour.[5][6]
Writing and recording
No Obligation was written between 2022 and 2024, whenever the Linda Lindas had time outside of school or touring.[7] Writing sessions occurred on holiday breaks and long weekends.[8]
The track "All in My Head" was written from the perspective of a character from the 2018 novel My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. Guitarist Lucia de la Garza called it a "break from reality".[11]
Music
In a press release, the band said they would be experimenting with post-punk, garage rock, power pop, new wave, and rock en español on the album.[12] At the time of its announcement, the band members ranged from 13 to 19 years old, with Bela Salazar having finished high school, Mila de la Garza having finished middle school, and Lucia de la Garza and Eloise Wong in high school.[13] "All in My Head" has been described by Lucia as more indie song, due to its use of an acoustic guitar.[14] "Too Many Things" is a pop-punk song.[15][16][17] Staff at Paste call the song "an anthemic slice of rock 'n' roll".[5] "Resolution/Revolution" is classified as a punk rock[18][19] and power pop[20] song, with influences from riot grrrl style.[21] In a review at Far Out, editor Aimee Ferrier says the song "[blends] the accessibility of pop with the raw energy and power of punk."[22] "Resolution/Revolution" was influenced by Pantera and Judas Priest, as Bela Salazar had been listening to them.[23]
Release and promotion
Singles and music videos
No Obligation was released on October 11, 2024, by Epitaph Records.[11] The album spawned four singles: "Too Many Things", "Resolution/Revolution", "All in My Head", "Yo Me Estreso", and "No Obligation". "Too Many Things" was released as a single preceding the album on April 10, 2023.[24] Its music video for was directed by Ryan Baxley,[25] and featured the band in a diner, acting as both waiters and customers.[26][27] The second single, "Resolution/Revolution", was released on July 31, 2023.[28] The music video for "Resolution/Revolution" was animated by Bela Salazar and edited by Eloise Wong.[29] It was shot by the band members on their phones.[30] "Yo Me Estreso" was released on August 13, 2024, and features "Weird Al" Yankovic playing the accordion.[31] "No Obligation" was released as the fifth single on September 10,[32] followed by "Nothing Would Change" on October 7.[33]
Touring
The Linda Lindas embarked on a tour from July to September 2024, both on their own and opening for the Saviors Tour by Green Day, along with the Smashing Pumpkins, and Rancid.[7][8] In October 2024, the band announced their 2025 North American Tour, with concerts during March and April.[34]
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, No Obligation received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 83 out of 100 from 10 critic scores.[35]
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung called it, "a breath of fresh air," and "a reminder that punk can be fun and pure without losing its impact or message. The Linda Lindas give us all hope that the kids will be alright."[36]
Track listing
All tracks are written by the Linda Lindas, unless otherwise noted.
