Ratboys - Singin' to an Empty Chair (February 6, 2026) • Page 5

I discovered them in 2015 too, which was the year they started being a band outside of Notre Dame (well, just Julia and Dave at the time). They played in my college town and I went to the show not knowing who they were (this was just a couple months after they started touring the U.S. for the first time) and was blown away. Been a fan ever since!

 

Never listened to them before. Just started listening to the album. Wasn’t sure about the first song, but this second song is scratching my Cranberries itch a little bit.

 

First saw Julia perform at an open mic night at ND in 2010. I could be making this up but I swear I thought she used the name “Ratboy” maybe even pre college

 

She definitely was, mentioned it in her interview with Jeremy Bolm on his podcast

 

This article explains that and is a really great read:

Ratboys, Plural | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame

 

Wow

 

Don’t know her well but we’re both from Louisville and carpooled to/from ND a couple times freshman year

 

I really love this band and it’s such a cool story to see them grind it out to becoming such a staple indie rock band of the last decade. I really like the early stuff, but what they started with The Window and now the new one is really special, never would have pegged them for excelling at the 7-9 minute epics early on (I think Black Earth, WI completely changed their trajectory).

 

This thing rips. Have seen them/Julia a few times over Chicago, latest she came on stage for gaslight anthem which ruled.
Wish I knew about the release show!

 

Too soon to say what other records will end up coming out this year but it’d have to be a very very strong year for there to be many that I enjoy more than this one

 

The shift (you know the one) halfway through “What’s Right” remains one of the best moments in any song I’ve heard in quite awhile. Some real prime foo fighters shit (complimentary)

 

Yeah, I really like this album and every time I listen I walk away with a new favorite part.

 

love the front half but the back half is it for me

 

I literally thought Foo Fighters when I heardthis also (in a good way) and I agree this is song is an ear worm that won’t let go

 

I feel like I'm very susceptible to public opinion and because everyone thinks this record is awesome I'm telling myself that it's awesome but if everyone was saying that it was just fine I'd probably echo that sentiment. Weird post.

 

I’m contrarian by nature and still think this is awesome

 

I do think there are several songs on here that are firmly “just fine” in my book. But the great ones are so great that it way more than makes up for it.

 

It’s a great album, for sure. I’m not gonna put it at the top of my AOTY list though, just because barely anything has come out yet.

 

Really like light night mountains all that and then the song goes on like two full minutes longer than it should lol

 

Wouldn't it be at the top by default and you can always switch it up when something else dethrones it?

 

Hard disagree there

 

I like them a lot but few bands desperately need an editor like these guys

 

Know You Then, Strange Love, and The World So Madly are the weak spots for me. In particular I have trouble with where Know You Then appears on the record, it feels out of place between Open Up and Light Night. It’s pretty repetitive too

 

Yeah I remember you saying that about The Window too. Agree to disagree I suppose

 

I didn’t mean the song I mentioned is a weak spot - it’s one of the best songs on the album. Just feels like at a certain point I get the idea and it becomes redundant with like a two minute unnecessary outro haha, especially when it is compounded by them doing that like five times over a course of an album