Ratboys - The Window

 

Sometimes you miss some. An occupational hazard of writing a blog like this. You don't get round to listening to and writing about evrything you'd like to. For example the latest record by a band who you've written and raved about before. There are only so many hours in a day and I don't spend every hour of every one of them  glued to ,a chair in front of my laptop writing on here, much as though it must seem like I might sometimes.

So, belatedly here I am listening to The Window by Chicago's Ratboys. They're a fine band who've been making records for over a decade now. This is the first time they've recorded away from their home town. The Window was recorded in the Hall of Justice Recording Studio in Seattle, with producer Chris Walla, who's also wrked with Death Cab For Cutie.

It's a pity I missed out on this when it came out because it's a tight, urgent and varied record which knows when to take its foot off the accelerator pedal and take a look around it.  Ratboys are well-versed and know their game by now. Vocalist Julia Steiner has a wistful, keening voice which will go down well with anybody who's ever enjtoyed a Breeders, Belly, Betty Serveert or Madder Rose record.

If The Window belongs anywhere it probably is the Mid Nineties as spiritually this is where its signature sound hails from. This is another fine record and I hope and trust it keeps pushing them onwards, because the thing Ratboys do is neat indeed.