What is not to love about Linnea’s Garden?!?! Like a phoenix, Linnea’s Garden was borne out of the pandemic with a lust for life, a love of all the musics, and the generosity to share that gift with all of us. From their Bandcamp page for debut full-length Fashion Show they’re described as “post punk to indie rock to disco to grunge” which is pretty gotDamn accurate but what it doesn’t state is just how good they are at tackling and combining all those genres as seemingly effortlessly as they do!
From the very first pangs of sustained chaos that ekes out from “I Wanna Try on Yr Clothes”, listeners get a sense of the down ‘n dirty Rawk origins that revel in its’ Grunginess with Linnea Herzog’s voice acting as a beacon in the musical fuzz. Follow-up “Like The Patriarchy” doubles down on the fuzzed out fury but already keen listeners can hear the sound of a newer artist that’s ever evolving already as well as pinpoint Herzog’s penchant for masterful storytelling through lyrics (“Who says I don’t think with my clit/I’ve got the whole world in my grip”) which were in its’ early stages then but still far beyond comprehension for us mere mortals.
More pandemic-era pandemonium that pounces and bounces, “Superspreader” showed more growth and the collaboration with Crow Follow was just the first of more to come down the road with other artists (Lookin’ at you, “In The City”). The Red On Red Records release Nowhere Friday Nights was a refreshing throwback to ’80’s Grrrl Rawk infused with a ’50’s Pop aesthetic and was a nifty prelude to even more craft honing when “Looking” and “Cut & Paste” dropped as the first taste of debut full-length Fashion Show.
And what about said debut LP? Well, it rightly deserves all the accolades heaped upon it since its’ release in April of 2022. Like the missing link between The Bravery and Le Tigre, Fashion Show plays much the way a “Best Of” album does with the strength of the songs here. There’s your new favorite anthem in “No Bra” featuring Hands’ steady, ahem, hands on the sticks beating that beat oh so fine with Herzog’s unmistakable croon hurling sweet somethings into your ears, “School” is a gnarly OG punky product in the vein of L7 and The Hives with better harmonies, and “Daydream” careens down that same path with a rollickin’ Rawk number that’s irresistibly infectious. Elsewhere, “Feedback” is feisty and fiery, “Business” gets to the business at hand with some introspection and glowing harmonies while “Rat Ppl” is just phenomenal with Amy Galaviz’s bass pulsating out a steady pace in this hypnotic Rawk monster.
Latest release, “In The City” (Which we reviewed here), features Carissa Johnson and is even more of a step up for the burgeoning band as they take another turn and venture into the ’70’s for a Disco Rawk renaissance with this one.
You can get on board the Linnea’s Garden train by checking out all of what they have to offer on Bandcamp now as well as by getting clued into the rest of their happening happenings which are all conveniently located in one place right here along with all the socials and listings for upcoming shows.