Generally speaking, I can determine whether or not I like the sound of a song after the intro. I determined that I enjoyed The Rat long before the vocals even began. Why? To be honest, aside from the drums, I can’t fully put my finger on it. However, once Leithauser chimed in with the vocals, I became a legitimate fan of the song.

These five gents hail from New York and Phildelphia and come together to form The Walkmen, a group that entered the indie world in 2000. On a typical Monday, I try to listen to music that basically lulls me to accept that another work week has begun. The Rat doesn’t exactly take on that same vibe. The full sound from vocals, guitar, organ and drums are not something I would classify as easy listening but it strangely fits this gloomy Monday and rainy weather.

Truthfully, I don’t have a novel to write about The Rat.  In fact, the name of it even makes me slightly uncomfortable.  But I like the song, and am thrilled that I found it. It’s as simple as that.