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Jul 19, 2017 Web Exclusive By Will Butler

The ironic universality of American teenage fiction is admirable. Characters cry “nobody gets me,” as we sit at home, headphones on, nodding in agreement; blind to the irony. However, on their second outing, Chicago’s Ratboys buck this trend with an angsty slice of indie-rock that nods knowingly to the levity of misadventure.

Each song lilts with a country twang as Julia Steiner’s achey vocals weave sunburst and vivid stories of dead pets and heartbreaks on ice-rinks. “Westside” packs guitar riffs that reverberate with the cosmic flair of The War on Drugs and less like the current cultural touchstone for post-country, Pinegrove. Another signee to Topshelf that makes good on the label’s namesake. (www.ratboys.bandcamp.com)

Author rating: 7/10