Ratboys – Singin’ to an Empty Chair [(brown/green marble vinyl)

Despite its title, Ratboys new album Singin to an Empty Chair is not defined by whats missing. Rather, its the beginning of an important dialogue with a close loved one, vocalist Julia Steiner finds herself estranged from. The music on the bands sixth studio album its first for New West Records fills the space that person left behind with 11 songs showcasing Ratboys at the peak of their powers twangy, effervescent, as confident as theyve ever been, and perhaps more emotionally interrogative than ever before. The four-piece Chicago band followed up 2023s highly acclaimed The Window by reconvening with co-producer Chris Walla to begin tracking at a rural Wisconsin cabin before taking the songs to Steve Albinis famed Electrical Audio studios in Chicago and later to Rosebud Studio in Evanston, Illinois. The results veer from bubbly power-pop on Anywhere to irresistible post-country on Penny in the Lake, along with heart-piercing ballads like Just Want