Louder: Punk Rock’s New Hope, the Linda Lindas

March 11, 2022

By Caryn Ganz

Pop Music Editor

I was talking with Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast for a story in December 2019 when she mentioned something intriguing: She was mentoring a band of teens and tweens called the Linda Lindas. “I wish I had had that when I was young,” she said.

I wish I could tell you how many people said that to me this week after we published Melena Ryzik’s wonderful profile of the band, who three years and one viral moment later are preparing to release its debut album on the stalwart punk label Epitaph. (You may recognize them from “Racist, Sexist Boy,” an original song they performed at a Los Angeles public library last year.)

With members ranging in age from 11 to 17, the Linda Lindas channel the bravado of ’70s punk on songs about “identity, friendship, power and cats,” Melena writes. “The rarefied combination of their youth, their gender, their heritage — they are Los Angeles natives of Chinese, Mexican and Salvadoran descent — and the ferocity and empathy of their music has made them a beacon, not just for young fans but for established artists.” In short: If you want to feel hopeful, at least briefly, read this story.

This week also brought a new album from Jenny Hval that Jon Pareles named a Critic’s Pick, 11 new songs on the Playlist, a Popcast about the future of reggaeton and the magazine’s annual Music Issue.

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Punk Rock’s New Hope: The Ferocious, Joyful Linda Lindas

Fueled by punk conviction (and snacks), this all-girl, school-age band is ready to release its debut album, “Growing Up,” nearly a year after its song “Racist, Sexist Boy” went viral.

By Melena Ryzik

THE CRITICS & POPCAST

YouTube

The Playlist

Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa’s Sultry Team-Up, and 10 More New Songs

Hear tracks by Floating Points, Miranda Lambert, Tinashe and others.

By Jon Pareles, Caryn Ganz, Giovanni Russonello and Lindsay Zoladz

Jenny Berger Mhyre

Critic’s Pick

Jenny Hval Makes Ideas Sing

On “Classic Objects,” the Norwegian songwriter and novelist shows where simple stories can lead.

By Jon Pareles

Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images

Reggaeton’s Global Expansion and Wide-Open Future

As the genre grows in worldwide popularity, it is engaging with the pop music mainstream and stratifying into subsets, introducing new opportunities and dilemmas.

FROM STOCKHOLM

Remembering Avicii by Stepping Into His Bewildering World

The Avicii Experience offers a taste of the pressures that led up to the D.J.’s death. It’s the latest immersive exhibition trying to find the line between emotional engagement and entertainment.

By Imogen West-Knights

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How the ‘Encanto’ Soundtrack Became a Smash

With its eighth week at No. 1 on Billboard’s album chart, the LP featuring songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda is a lesson in how fans drive hits from social media to streaming services.

By Ben Sisario

Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times

Cities and States Are Easing Covid Rules. Should the Arts Follow?

Cultural institutions face tough decisions: Is it safe to drop mask and vaccine requirements, and would doing so be more likely to lure audiences back or keep them away?

By Matt Stevens

Amir Hamja for The New York Times

Radio Drama for a Podcast Age: How Amazon’s Audible Moved Into Theater

A company known for audiobooks is mounting starry live productions — and recording them, too.

By Michael Paulson

Major Music Companies Pause Business in Russia

The three major record conglomerates and the touring giant Live Nation are suspending operations over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while individual artists have canceled tour dates.

By Ben Sisario

BTS performs live in Seoul for the first time in over two years.

The K-pop group returned to the stage in South Korea on Thursday, although fans were not allowed to cheer, scream or sing along because of Covid restrictions.

By John Yoon

OBITUARIES

Conrad Janis, Father on ‘Mork & Mindy’ and Much More, Dies at 94

His role on the hit sitcom was just one of more than 100 film and television credits; he was also a fine jazz trombonist and co-owner of an art gallery.

By Neil Genzlinger