As I eagerly awaited the debut album from Linnea's Garden, my question was how -- not if -- the band was going to top its brilliant debut EP Nowhere Friday Nights. The answer is that Linnea's Garden (Linnea Herzog on vocals & guitar, Amy Galaviz on bass, and Hands on drums) has made the proverbial giant leap since its live debut last summer. That promising DIY indie/power pop/glam-punk band that dazzled with underground hits like "Non-Dramatic Breakup Song" and "Friday Night" is now a full-fledged rock machine poised to enthrall packed venues.
The story behind the new LP Fashion Show (out today on Red on Red Records) is that Herzog at some point noticed that her "gig closet" contained more clothes than her actual closest. At that moment, the album was born. The concept of loving the person you are onstage and trying to be that same person offstage emerged as the central theme of Fashion Show. Musically, this is the same Linnea's Garden you already know and love -- but with a dramatically evolved sound. The advance singles were a clear sign of what was coming. Nothing on Nowhere Friday Nights would have led us to expect the haunting post-punk and modern rock of "Looking" or the guitar-heavy dance-punk of "Cut & Paste." Latest single "No Bra," another delightful surprise, finds the band (successfully) aiming to bridge the gap between "Rebel Rebel" and "Rebel Girl." The rest of the album unfolds in similarly wonderful ways as Linnea's Garden takes elements of post-punk, pop, new wave, indie rock, disco, glam, punk, and grunge to craft a sound that is definitively its own. And while the singles are wisely placed at the start of the album, the hits keep coming (a lot of bands would kill for one song as good as deep cuts like "Mouth" or "Rat Ppl"!). Herzog's lyrics continue to knock me out. "No Bra" is both a triumphant celebration of self and a wonderfully sweet love letter. As I daydream about a million voices singing along to the lines "No bra is the best bra/It's a shame we have to leave the house/No pants are the best pants/If you wanna dance it out," I can't help but smile. "Normal" is one of the most honest and relatable songs I've heard anyone write about pandemic life. The understatedly heartbreaking "Daydream" opens with a verse worthy of enshrinement in the love song hall of fame. The goosebumps I got from last year's "Friday Night" have returned full force as I listen to "Feedback" -- one of several tracks on the album affirming the idea that our art is who we are -- not just something we make.
Linnea's Garden first caught my attention not just because of its infectious hooks but also because of its joyful songs and spirit. Fashion Show, while a very different record from Nowhere Friday Nights, is born from the very same spirit. It celebrates love, life, art, and self-discovery. Some songs will make you smile. Others will make you cry. A few are sure to inspire. Best of all, these are tunes that you will make you want to dance and rock out like there's no tomorrow. The world is a better place with this album in it. Check out Linnea's Garden's Facebook page page for Fashion Show tour dates!
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