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- Feb 6, 2026That’s the quiet breakthrough here—the work, as Steiner writes it, isn’t about floating above anger or grief but learning how to live inside it. You can hear that tension in the way her voice stays measured even when the guitars go scorched‑earth, or in how a lyric often holds two contradictory truths at once.
- Feb 4, 2026At a time when country-tinged indie rock is by no means in short supply in America - Wednesday, Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman all spring to mind - Ratboys have earned their seat at the top table.
- Feb 5, 2026Ratboys bring their best, most compositionally advanced songs, moving from tightly wound indie pop to the serene hammock sway of country rock to territories far dreamier and uncertain. Their performances are varied and versatile without feeling like a different band has taken over each song.
- Mar 10, 2026Between the sweet-as-honey melodies, classic-indie spirit, and heartfelt lyricism, Singin’ to an Empty Chair is one of those albums that's hard not to fall head-over-heels in love with.
- MojoFeb 19, 2026As candid as Steiner can be, this doesn't play like a primal scream: her naked vulnerability makes it a remarkably moving experience. [Apr 2026, p.91]
- Feb 6, 2026Wrapped up in vulnerable, confessional lyrics are the rolling melodies of “The World, So Madly” and the twinkling pucks of “Just Want You to Know the Truth.” In these moments, never has the band sounded so serene and at ease with their strengths.
- Feb 5, 2026The result is a wonderful album that shows the band revving their engine once again, ready to take another long, curious lap around the block.
- Feb 4, 2026Despite its multi-purpose recording approach, widely varying tempos, and ever-changing moods, it's Ratboys' most cohesive album yet and one that will likely connect with those fruitlessly seeking closure.
- Record CollectorFeb 2, 2026Ratboys have definitively made one of 2026's first brilliant albums. [Feb 2026, p.103]
- Feb 2, 2026Singin' is comfortably the most accomplished and self-assured Ratboys album to date.
- Feb 2, 2026Ratboys have been a perennially underrated indie act for the best part of a decade, a steadily excellent band on the verge of proverbial explosion. With the hooks, heart, and heaviness packed into Singin’ To An Empty Chair’s 50 mins, their time could well be now.
- Feb 2, 2026A longing for connection can be felt throughout the album, with unguarded language that moves between tenderness and frustration, framing intimacy as a risk worth taking regardless of the outcome.
- Feb 9, 2026Ratboys have always sounded like an indie rock band comfortably integrating country elements alongside their core sound. On Singin’ To An Empty Chair they sound a little too comfortable at times.
