Released on February 12, 2007 via independent label TVT Records, the single follows the theme of typical British Saturday night drinking culture. This single is also their first to be released in the United States. It reached number 46 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]
Prior to release, author Stephen King named it as the 7th best song of 2006, "There is something to be said for straight puke-on-your-Dingo-boots rock & roll. Towers of London are mostly a joke, but this track — beginning with the shrieking air-raid siren — is... the real deal".[2]
Music video
The video for I'm a Rat was directed and edited by Living TV's award-winning promo maker Scott Russell, using stop motion photography.
Different versions
The single has been released in various formats such as compact disc, vinyl, picture disc and mp3. Each format has a different track list, with unreleased songs on each one.
For the standard compact disc version, which featured the Tourette brother's faces on the cover, special features include the previously unreleased b-side track "The Women I Love". Along with two promotional videos, one for "I'm a Rat" and the other is "Faster Than The Fastest Car", another previously unreleased track. The vinyl variation (which has the same cover) featured unreleased bonus track "The Popscene - Original Demo".
Special Edition - Picture disc cover
A limited edition picture disc was also released, it featured guitarist The Rev and bassist Tommy Brunette on the cover instead, it also has a previously unreleased bonus; "The Boy Who Found A Girl".
