| Happy Birthday, Ratboy | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Ratboys |
| Cover: | Ratboys - Happy Birthday, Ratboy.jpg |
| Alt: | A birthday cake with a beach scene on it |
| Studio: | Type One Studios and band members' homes |
| Genre: | Indie rock |
| Language: | English |
| Label: | Topshelf |
| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | Printer's Devil |
| Prev Year: | 2020 |
| Next Title: | The Window |
| Next Year: | 2023 |
Happy Birthday, Ratboy is a 2021 studio album by American indie rock band Ratboys. The surprise album is a re-recording of the band's earliest material and has received positive reviews from critics.
Editors at Pitchfork Media scored this release 7.2 out of 10 and critic Pete Tosiello stated that this album contrasts "cozy nostalgia with hard-rocking instincts", with a more "somber and reflective" tone than 2020's Printer's Devil. Mark Moody of Under the Radar scored this album a 7 out of 10, stating that "the addition of a permanent rhythm section in Marcus Nuccio (drums) and Sean Neumann (bass), the decade old songs are brought to fuller frame" and praised several tracks, noting album closer "Go Outside" as a highlight. "Go Outside" was also recognized as one of the best songs of the week at Paste, where Carli Scolforo considered the title good advice to listeners during the COVID-19 pandemic which also marked a change in the band's sound to a country music influence and the album release was included on a short list of best albums of the week as well.
Ratboys
Additional personnel