Overview
- The album arrived Feb. 6, 2026 and marks Ratboys’ first release on New West Records.
- Its title comes from Julia Steiner’s use of the Empty Chair Technique in therapy to address family estrangement.
- Songs move from intimate narratives to political resolve, with “Burn It Down” begun in 2020 and set to be performed live nightly.
- Recording combined sessions with producer Chris Walla in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region and finishing work at Chicago’s Electrical Audio, with Jenny Conlee contributing organ to the closer.
- Early reviews from SPIN and the Chicago Sun-Times praise the cohesive mix of twang, pop-rock and distortion, highlighting longform tracks like the 8.5-minute “Just Want You to Know the Truth” and opener “Open Up.”