If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Z  Marciniak We've been watching Ratboys grow as artists for a number of years now, and we're thrilled to say that their latest single showcases how great they've gotten. "Penny in the Lake" might be the epitome of modern day alt-country. It mixes plenty of twang with a rock edge to it. It's laid back while still being intense, and it's as catchy as it could possibly be. The song is a perfect balance of killer guitars and Julia Steiner's engaging vocals and lyrics. Ratboys aren't breaking new ground with "Penny in the Lake." This is the kind of song they've been doing for years, they've just perfected it this time around. If you haven't discovered Ratboys yet, but love artists like Drive-By Truckers, Wilco, and Lucinda Williams, "Penny in the Lake" could become your favorite song of 2026. Julia Steiner says of her band's latest single: “I wrote this song on a sunny summer day while sitting outside in my ...

Photo by Miles Kalchik If you've been worried that Ratboys have been eschewing their country side in favor of their indie rock side, their latest single will put you at ease. "The World, So Madly" isn't exactly a country song, but it sees the Chicago band lean more heavily into their singer-songwriter side than we've seen in quite a while. The song has an optimistic and even a sunny feel, which is what we all need in New England as we're all firmly in winter's grasp. The song has a light feel, and even if it's more than a little folky there's still plenty of indie rock going on in "The World, So Madly." We've been huge fans of Ratboys since the early days of If It's Too Loud..., and this latest single could very well propel them to the stardom they deserve. Vocalist Julia Steiner says of her band's latest single: “Looking back at my voice memos, I recorded the original idea for this song on January 1st, 2023, and it feels like...

Photo by Miles Kalchik We've been fans of Ratboys since their 2017 album GN , so we're thrilled the Chicago band have finally been getting the attention they deserve. They're back with a new single, "What's Right?," that truly nails their indie rock with a little country thrown in sound. This new song has just enough twang to keep their country side going strong, but it might be their most rockin' song to date. This one is making me wish I didn't live in New England during the winter, since it's just begging to be played loud while driving a little too fast with your windows open. "What's Right?" is a driving alt-rock song with the slightest twang to it. It's reminding me a little of The Lemonheads' Atlantic Records heyday.  Julia Steiner says of her band's latest single: “We approached this song like an experiment in the studio, stitching together three different drum performances, in three different-sounding environments...

Photo by Miles Kalchik Ratboys' 2021 album The Window was an excellent step forward for the band, and if their latest single is any indication, their upcoming album is going to be even more amazing. "Anywhere" shows off how Ratboys are masters of mixing indie rock and alt-country. The song is a fast paced and upbeat track that mostly lives in the world of indie rock with buzzy and swirling guitars. It's even a little punk rock, but a happier, positive version of the genre. But they sneak in just enough of a twang into the song to keep it at least partially alt-country. This is a truly fun song, and it's a perfect re-introduction for long term fans, and a great way for new ones to discover the band. Julia Steiner (vocals/guitar) says of her band's upcoming album: "A big, overarching theme of this record is my attempt to document my experience being estranged from a close loved one. The goal is to update this person on what's been going on in my life an...