X/Z Song Trader: "Oh!"
A Gen X Rocker Discusses Music With His Gen Z Daughter
About X/Z Song Trader: Steve is a music journalist, author and musician. Lucy is a diehard music fan and college student. They have always enjoyed a father/daughter bond over music. Each week one of them picks a song and they both share their perspectives. These are casual conversations based on musical connections. Opinions are their own. Keeping it positive.
Check out the whole X/Z Song Trader series.
Steve’s Perspective
Young bands like The Linda Lindas present a conundrum for me.
On the one hand, their music seems to be at least partially inspired by artists I’ve been listening to for decades like The Muffs, Redd Kross, Green Day and Jawbreaker. But this is first and foremost music made by modern teens for teens, so I’ve been reluctant to be the old guy constantly making the kinds of comparisons listed above.
I realize these are self-imposed rules (music is for everybody, man), but I don’t want to “How do you do, fellow kids?” my way into conversations about the band. Which is fine because I can listen to The Linda Lindas music on my own, but I did miss out on seeing them live over the last few years while everybody was raving about their shows.
That all changed when I took your sister and her friend to see them in downtown LA last month—they pushed closer to the front while I hung back by the bar near the other assembled parents and a few older fans. The high-energy set was fantastic, really showcasing the varied musical styles of the four talented band members.
I really believe that guitar pop is a multi-generational relay race, so I’m always curious to see who’s currently holding the baton.
People started declaring rock music dead long before any of The Linda Lindas were even born, and that has been something of a self-fulfilling prophecy in the 2000s—especially when it comes to mainstream tastes. But I’ve also noticed a young grassroots indie rock movement lately and this is one of the bands setting the pace.
The Linda Lindas knock it out of the park with “Oh!”. The lead track from their 2022 debut Growing Up, it combines the poppy ‘70s punk energy of Ramones and The Go-Go’s with a guitar riff and backing vocals worthy of Dirty Deeds-era AC/DC. (There I go again with the ancient comparisons!)
I also think the self-doubting lyrics are universally relatable to angsty teens as well as insecure people of any age:
Oh, when I say something
I wish I had shut up (Oh!)
And when I try to help
I always screw things up (Oh!)
I know your musical tastes run more in a folk/country direction these days—and that punk was never really a go-to genre for you—but I wonder if The Linda Lindas are on your radar at all? I’d love to know a few of your favorite tracks.
Lucy’s Perspective
Honestly, I have heard a few songs from The Linda Lindas here and there, but can’t say that I’ve given them an entirely fair shot.
I do, however, love how invested you are in discovering new bands. I think there are a lot of musicians who grew up around the same time as you that have adopted the idea that music is on a downfall and nothing new is good enough to compare to what you all grew up loving.
That mindset has always really bugged me since I’m sure that is how your own parents felt about the music coming out when you were younger, and I have always appreciated how open you are to song recommendations. Even with the songs on this newsletter, you always keep an open mind when it isn’t really your jam.
I really liked this song!
Although you are correct that my music taste has strayed a bit from what it used to be, I still appreciate and listen to more upbeat rock, pop, and indie rock music. I love the way the beat interacts with the rest of this song, as if the lyrics came first and the beat was made to follow along.
I also love the vibe of this band so much. They feel very youthful and fun…basically everything that a pop/rock group should be! I can’t say I am a frequent listener of theirs, though I do hear a couple of tracks pop up in my Spotify from time-to-time. The songs that I know the best are probably “All In My Head” and “Growing Up,” which I think are two of their most popular tracks.
Lately I’ve really been loving listening to music like this while driving up the coast when it's sunny out. I’ve been listening to a lot of different things that fall under this category, but I definitely think that The Linda Lindas will start to make their way into that rotation soon!
Another old guy but big fan of "Oh!" and "All in My Head" and much other new stuff!
The Linda Lindas are the bomb! I agree with Lucy that older music fans lean on the narrative that new music just isn’t that good. Hogwash! And I think female acts are leading the way but don’t get the same press or bookings or radio play that male acts do. Which is why Herizon Music started in the first place. 🙂