The Rat (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Rat" is a song by The Walkmen
, released as the first single from their second album, Bows + Arrows
in 2004. It has received high acclaim from critics, featuring in many publications' best-of-the-decade lists.
when the band were "just screwin' around." The band's drummer Matt Barrick instigated the track by playing a fast drum pattern. The band then quickly built this foundation into the full track, Leithauser said "we threw some chords
on it, I wrote the words
in five minutes." The song had been included in the band's live sets as early as February 2002, with slightly different lyrics than the recorded version.
The band's usual method was to self-produce their material. However, after unsuccessful attempts to record the layered electric organ
and guitar
, they decided to record the track with a professional record producer
at the advice of their label
. This was later viewed as an unsatisfactory move by bassist Walter Martin who said "It doesn't sound right at all. I think the production for the rest of the album makes the music sound big and live. But it just sounds dense and solid."
Ezra Koenig
, who worked as an intern
for the band, says the song was originally titled "Girls At Night" and was recorded a year after it was first played to him.
.
and 20th best track of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media
who named it "a St. Valentine's Day Massacre
of relentless drums, bass, and guitar." Rolling Stone
called it "one of the greatest songs of the century". Modern Drummer
magazine praised Barrick's performance as "a jaw-dropping exercise in precision and velocity".
In October 2011, NME
placed it at number 31 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
Stylus Magazine
took a different slant saying that the song's 'one-hit wonder
' success "was the worst thing to ever happen to The Walkmen. It brought the iPod
-lazy—singles, MP3s, mix and matchers—to their shows and records."
covered the track as part of a series on Myspace Music
.
The Walkmen
The Walkmen are an American indie rock band, with members based in New York City and Philadelphia. The band formed in 2000 with three members from Jonathan Fire*Eater—Paul Maroon , Walter Martin , and Matt Barrick —and two from The Recoys, Peter Bauer and Hamilton Leithauser . All but Bauer...
, released as the first single from their second album, Bows + Arrows
Bows + Arrows
Bows + Arrows is the second album by The Walkmen, released in 2004 . The album received a great deal of critical acclaim, appearing on several critics' year-end lists....
in 2004. It has received high acclaim from critics, featuring in many publications' best-of-the-decade lists.
Composition and recording
Singer Hamilton Leithauser said the song originated in a jam sessionJam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
when the band were "just screwin' around." The band's drummer Matt Barrick instigated the track by playing a fast drum pattern. The band then quickly built this foundation into the full track, Leithauser said "we threw some chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
on it, I wrote the words
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
in five minutes." The song had been included in the band's live sets as early as February 2002, with slightly different lyrics than the recorded version.
The band's usual method was to self-produce their material. However, after unsuccessful attempts to record the layered electric organ
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
and guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, they decided to record the track with a professional record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
at the advice of their label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. This was later viewed as an unsatisfactory move by bassist Walter Martin who said "It doesn't sound right at all. I think the production for the rest of the album makes the music sound big and live. But it just sounds dense and solid."
Ezra Koenig
Ezra Koenig
Ezra Koenig is the lead singer and one of the guitarists of New York-based indie rock band Vampire Weekend.-Background:...
, who worked as an intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
for the band, says the song was originally titled "Girls At Night" and was recorded a year after it was first played to him.
Music video
The video features a live performance shot in black and white making use of chiaroscuroChiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro in art is "an Italian term which literally means 'light-dark'. In paintings the description refers to clear tonal contrasts which are often used to suggest the volume and modelling of the subjects depicted"....
.
Critical reception
The track has received highly positive critical acclaim, featuring in many end-of-decade lists. It was named thirteenth best track of the decade by NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and 20th best track of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
who named it "a St. Valentine's Day Massacre
St. Valentine's Day massacre
The Saint Valentine's Day massacre is the name given to the 1929 murder of 7 mob associates as part of a prohibition era conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago: the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone and the North Side Irish gang led by Bugs Moran. Former members of the...
of relentless drums, bass, and guitar." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
called it "one of the greatest songs of the century". Modern Drummer
Modern Drummer
Modern Drummer is a monthly publication targeting the interests of on drummers and percussionists. The magazine features interviews, equipment reviews, and columns offering advice on technique, as well as information for the general public...
magazine praised Barrick's performance as "a jaw-dropping exercise in precision and velocity".
In October 2011, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
placed it at number 31 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
took a different slant saying that the song's 'one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
' success "was the worst thing to ever happen to The Walkmen. It brought the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
-lazy—singles, MP3s, mix and matchers—to their shows and records."
Cover versions
Florence and The MachineFlorence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine is the recording name of English musician Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide music for her voice. Florence and the Machine's sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul...
covered the track as part of a series on Myspace Music
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.