Single Review: Lucy And The Rats – Stick To You / True Romance

Lucy And The Rats were formed after Lucy Ellis left Australia, and by default also left her former outfit The Spazzys, she wasted no time in settling into her new home of London, UK and swiftly recruited the three rats that round out the line up. In the space of three years Lucy And The Rats have released a couple of singles and their 2018 self titled debut album, today they have released their third two track, Stick To You / True Romance, that is now available via Stardumb Records and Surfin’ Ki Records.

There is one significant difference on their latest single when compared to their previous releases, one of the rats, Joe Tolosa who is also in Johnny Throttle, has taken over vocal duties from Lucy Ellis, something which gives this single a completely different feel. The a-side contains Stick To You, a track that leaps out at you from the moment you drop the needle, hit play or whatever you’re preferred method of getting music to your speakers is, a stunning piece of urgent punk pop, the flip side is every bit the equal as True Romance is another blast of classic punk rock that hits the spot nicely.

The switch in vocalists signifies a change in style for Lucy And The Rats, this moves away the power pop of their debut album and moves into a punkier and more energised direction than their previous recordings. Both sides of this single sit somewhere between the classic punk of Buzzcocks and The Boys and their later counterparts such as The Queers and Teenage Bottlerocket, whether this is a one off or it indicates the direction Lucy And The Rats are heading in remains to be seen, but for now they have released a classic two track punk single which is no bad thing in my book.

Stick To You / True Romance is now available via Stardumb Records and Surfin’ Ki Records

Lucy And The Rats can be found be found on Bandcamp, Facebook and Spotify,