Monday, February 09, 2026
whiskey in the summertime/the bugs are writing books with their еyes
Ratboys - Singin' to an Empty Chair
whiskey in the summertime/the bugs are writing books with their еyes
Album of the week
Every Ratboys album is a good one, but it really felt like they leveled up on "The Window" and this one seems like another massive step forward for a band that was already great.
I have a pretty wide range of genres and styles of music that I like, but this kinda indie, kinda pop, kinda emo, a little bit country stuff is really my wheelhouse and Singin' to an Empty Chair feels like a canonical entry into that loose catalogue of music.
Pitchfork gave it Best New Music. They also assigned Ivy Nelson to do the review and they basically only give her heavy hitters.
Tom Breihan interviewed Julie Steiner to do a track-by-track breakdown over at Stereogum as well.
Song of the week
Chat Pile - Masks
The boys from Oklahoma bringing their absolute best (like, for real, this might be their best song) for this one-off Sub Pop 7" that features a Nirvana cover--of Bleach's closer, "Sifting"--on the b-side.
I didn't get into Cool World nearly as much as God's Country, but this one's an absolute ripper.
More heat
Alexis Taylor - For a Toy
Hot Chip guy, I was unfamiliar with your solo (moving, sad balladry) game.
Weird Nightmare - Might See You There
Alex Edkins (who was one of the dudes in Metz) said he was listening to a lot of Undertones when he wrote this song and that checks the fuck out.
Friko - Seven Degrees
Big Hunky Dory/Ziggy Stardust vibes ("Life On Mars" in particular).
Mandy, Indiana feat. billy woods - Sicko!
Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, and Macie Stewart - dawn | pulse
Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, and Macie Stewart's forthcoming BODY SOUND features the three multidisciplinary artists on viola, cello, and violin, respectively, while they share wordless (very Julianna Barwick-like) vocal duties.
"dawn | pulse" is the official first single (and lead off track on the album) and follows last year's equally gorgeous "stone | piece" (here's a live version of that).
now playing: Blondie - Call Me
