Modern English have formally announced their new comeback album, 1 2 3 4, out February 23rd. As a preview, the British rockers have shared the latest single, “Not My Leader.”
1 2 3 4 marks the band’s first album of new material in eight years and was produced by Mario J. McNulty (David Bowie, Lou Reed, Nine Inch Nails). Mixed and mastered at Abbey Road by Cenzo Townsend, the 10-track effort revisits themes from their ’80s LPs After the Snow and Ricochet Days, like the environment, aging, failed relationships, and love.
Meanwhile, songs like “Not My Leader” are a scorching indictment of modern politics in the US and UK. “It’s like you’ve never tried,” vocalist Robbie Grey sings. “Just to stop the lies/ You’re just wasting all our time.” Stream the single below.
In a statement, Grey explained the inspiration for the track. “I remember first coming to America in the early ’80s,” he said. “We had Margaret Thatcher and you had Ronald Reagan. And then fast forward to today to Donald Trump and all the politicians and corporate organizations that have followed — along with their corruption and greed. It’s the same thing 40 years later, really. It’s the same old shit that makes the ordinary person feel sick. ‘Not My Leader’ is a song against those people.”
“Not My Leader” arrives after the previous singles “Long in the Tooth” and “Crazy Lovers.” 1 2 3 4 is the follow-up to 2016’s Take Me to the Trees.
Modern English have mapped out an international tour in support of 1 2 3 4, including supporting dates for The Buzzcocks and headlining appearances on the traveling ’80s nostalgia Totally Tubular Festival. See the schedule below, and get tickets for the North American dates here and overseas shows here.
Get Modern English Tickets Here
1 2 3 4 Artwork:
1 2 3 4 Tracklist:
01. Long in the Tooth
02. Not My Leader
03. Not Fake
04. Exploding
05. Plastic
06. Crazy Lovers
07. I Know Your Soul
08. Genius
09. Out to Lunch
10. Voices
Modern English 2024 Tour Dates:
03/09 — Mexico City, MX @ Foro Puebla *
03/12 — Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre *
03/13 — Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom *
04/11 — Dortmund, DE @ Musiktheater Piano *
04/12 — Frankfurt, DE @ Batschkapp *
04/13 — Berlin, DE @ Huxleys *
04/14 — Hamburg, DE @ Knust *
04/22 — Copenhagen, DK @ Little Vega
04/24 — Oberhausen, DE @ Kulttemple
04/25 — Hague, NL @ Paard
04/26 — Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
04/27 — London UK @ Dingwalls
05/02 — Paris, FR @ Le Petit Bain
06/28 — Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
06/29 — Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theatre
06/30 — Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre
07/03 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre ^
07/06 — Englewood, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre ^
07/09 — Irving, TX @ Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory ^
07/10 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall ^
07/13 — Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheatre ^
07/16 — Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford Healthcare Amphitheatre ^
07/17 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway ^
07/18 — New York, NY @ Pier 17 ^
07/19 — Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena ^
07/20 — Bushkill, PA @ Poconos Park Amphitheatre ^
07/23 — Laval, QC @ Place Bell ^
07/24 — Mississauga, ON @ The Theater at Great Canadian Casino Resort ^
07/26 — Detroit, MI @ Meadowbrook Amphitheatre ^
07/27 — Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center Amphitheatre ^
07/28 — Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Amphitheatre ^
* = w/ The Buzzcocks
^ = Totally Tubular Festival
