Hitching their wagon to both Ska influences and Pop-Punk/Alt Rock proclivities, Rat Boy opts for colorful and lively compositions all across new full-length Suburbia Calling (Epitaph Records).

The first two tracks – “Mob” and “Rudy’s World” seem to also take a page out of The Interrupters’ book while also squeezing in a nice “Oi! Oi! Oi!” line for good measure. From there, it’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

And hat-tip to Rat Boy for doing everything in such a catchy way without being too boisterous or try-hard. “One In A Million” inexplicably manages to feature a Nightmare Before Christmas-worthy melody and riff coupled with a cheeky Rap verse that somehow still fits right in.

Additionally, Suburbia Calling toys with happy Rock vibes with a fun, poppy chorus (“Best Is Yet To Come”) and bouncy Alternative Rock vibes (“Essex Land.”). 

Rat Boy’s repertoire doesn’t end there. “Every Little Helps” presents the listener with melty saxophone tones and dreamy vocals envelops brass arrangements on “She’s The One,” proving the outfit can dabble with Jazz but also Post- elements. 

The vocal performance equally instills a brash, motivated and determined demeanor. The title track uses an electro-power/Pop aura which nestles fantastic vocal lines and the ear-worm “Su-bub-bub-burbia.”

In essence, for a short while, Suburbia Calling felt and sounded like it would be a Ska/Reggae-adjacent effort. Later on, though, Rat Boy utilized a seemingly endless well of influences and techniques spanning a wide variety of genres. 

All of this is still accomplished while keeping true to a certain “feel” and frankly it fits right in to what Epitaph offers.

Buy the album here:
https://ratboy.ffm.to/suburbiacalling

7 / 10
MATT COOK
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