Chicago’s Ratboys will release their new album, The Window, on August 25th via Topshelf Records. Today, they share “Morning Zoo,” which opens with a quick cascade of drums and swelling violin by Abby Gundersen. It’s the twangiest track on the album, and leans into the sound that made MTV deem the band “Chicago’s post-country troubadours.” As Julia Steiner sings about battling anxiety, her vocals have never sounded so weighty and strong, reminding us the never-ending fight is worth it: “Talk to myself all the time // Waiting on the long train // The Devil’s right behind // Stuck in the passing lane // How long does it take // To find the peace that I want?”

“The lyrics are meant to express the frustration and confusion that comes along with hanging out at a personal crossroads, where every day feels the same and the same big questions keep nagging at you from the back of your head,” says Steiner. “It’s that small, lingering feeling of numb indecision, of pesky anxiety- like disassociating at a stop sign or weighing all your biggest hopes and fears while stuck behind the longest freight train you’ve ever seen.

Julia Steiner (vocals, guitar), Sean Neumann (bass), Marcus Nuccio (drums), and Dave Sagan (guitars) have an electric connection amongst each other. As championed throughout The Window’s singles, “Black Earth, WI,” “It’s Alive!,” “The Window,” and “Crossed That Line,” the album captures that kinetic energy. The Window is Ratboys as they were always meant to be heard – expansive while still intimate, audacious while still tender – the sound of four friends operating as a single, cohesive unit.

Ratboys Tour Dates

Wed. Aug. 23 – Chicago, IL @ Big Kids – Listening Party
Fri. Aug. 25 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern – SOLD OUT
Thu. Sep. 21 – Champaign-Urbana, IL @ Pygmalion Festival
Fri. Sep. 22 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe *
Sat. Sep. 23 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd *
Tue. Sep. 26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
Wed. Sep. 27 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
Thu. Sep. 28 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
Fri. Sep. 29 – Montreal, QC @ POP Montreal ^
Sat. Sep. 30 – Toronto, ON @ Monarch Tavern ^
Mon. Oct. 2 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Bottlerocket Social Hall *
Tue. Oct. 3 – Cleveland, OH @ No Class *
Wed. Oct. 4 – Ferndale, MI @ Magic Bag *
Fri. Oct. 6 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club *
Sat. Oct. 7 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Back Room at Colectivo Coffee *
Thu. Oct. 19 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb &
Sat. Oct. 21 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall &
Sun. Oct. 22 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court &
Tue. Oct. 24 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s &
Wed. Oct. 25 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios &
Fri. Oct. 27 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord &
Sat. Oct. 28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room Highland Park &
Sun. Oct. 29 – San Diego, CA @ The Loft at UC San Diego &
Mon. Oct. 30 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room &
Tue. Oct. 31 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar &
Thu. Nov. 2 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger &
Fri. Nov. 3 – Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room & Garage &
Sat. Nov. 4 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada &
Mon. Nov. 13 Brighton, UK @ Zahara
Wed. Nov. 15 Glasgow, UK @ Hug & Pint
Thu. Nov. 16 Manchester, UK @ YES Basement
Fri. Nov. 17. Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade
Sun. Nov. 19 London, UK @ Omeara
Mon. Nov. 20 Paris, FR @ L’International
Tue. Nov. 21 Antwerp, BE @ Bouckenborgh
Wed. Nov. 22 Utrecht, NL @ Ekko
Thu. Nov. 23 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
Fri. Nov. 24 Cologne, DE @ Yard Club
Sat. Nov. 25 Hamburg, DE @ Nochtwache
Sun. Nov. 26 Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
Tue. Nov. 28 Berlin, DE @ Privatclub
Thu. Nov. 30 Darmstadt, DE @ Oetinger Villa
Fri. Dec. 22 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall •

* =w/ Free Range & =w/ Another Michael ^ =w/ Ellis • =w/ Disq

Pre-order The Window HERE.