Photo by Alexa Viscius

It’s 2023, and we are still thanking “the Ratboys” for their music. The warm, rumbling craft of the Chicago post-country rockers has become a reliable friend, albeit in a most metaphysical sense on “It’s Alive!”, the proper lead single from their forthcoming fourth full-length album, The Window. This time around, they’ve brought former Death Cab for Cutie bassist and producer Chris Walla into the studio fold, and with his presence, it would seem any imperfections – not that they ever inhibited anything, although they certainly endeared the wistfulness in their sound – have been accounted for and positively accentuated over the rustic crunch of Julia Steiner and Dave Sagan’s tandem riffs as bassist Sean Neumann and drummer Marcus Nuccio help the listen go airborne in the wind. “All around, it’s in the stars / It’s speeding toward the sign,” Steiner exclaims after taking in some natural medicine in the form of birdwatching and skygazing. It’s the simple pleasures that do the most good for us…

Directed by: John TerEick

Ratboys’ The Window will be released August 25th on Topshelf Records.