I don’t have any answers
To all of the questions
It’s taken a lifetime
I’m long in the tooth
Capturing the melancholic rhythm of time’s relentless march, British post-punk stalwarts Modern English journey into the mysteries of existence and the weariness of long-lived wisdom with the delightfully catchy – if existential – “Long In The Tooth,” the inaugural track from their forthcoming album, 1 2 3 4.
Their repeated refrain of “taken a lifetime” becomes a sombre incantation, acknowledging the weighty toll of getting on in years. Yet, even amidst the litany of aging’s lamentations, a glint of secrecy remains— a hint of knowledge retained, perhaps a nod to wisdom’s exclusive club. Though the windows to the world may cloud with the passage of years, there remains a certain sagacious gleam in frontman Robbie Grey’s eye. Age might cost clarity, but the currency of insight remains rich. This, in fact, is life’s bittersweet serenade.
The raucous “Long In The Tooth” channels the raw energy and edge of Modern English’s early Mesh & Lace period, with a dash of the spirit of the Buzzcocks and the Damned sneaking into the infectious chorus. Indeed, this latest track is a welcome return, reminding fans of the rampant creativity that brewed within the band during their previous 2016 release.
“Modern English and its journey, both musical and personal, has spread over 40+ years, and ‘Long in the Tooth‘ is a song about this part of that journey,” says Robbie Grey. “As we have reached out into the world and all its changes over all those years, it’s a meditation of getting older in a world that still spins in a chaotic and always interesting way.”
Listen to “Long In The Tooth” below:
Amidst the autumnal upstate NY embrace of Rhinebeck’s Clubhouse in 2022, Modern English, invigorated from a bustling tour season, set forth on the creation of “1 2 3 4“. This impending release comes as a significant echo to their 2016 piece, Take Me To The Trees. With Mario J. McNulty at the helm — a producer celebrated for his work with David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Nine Inch Nails — the tracks were birthed in the warmth of live sessions.
With “1 2 3 4“, Modern English captures a vibrancy akin to their electric live performances, channelling a post-punk enthusiasm redolent of their “Mesh & Lace” era. Gentle allusions to their seminal works, “After the Snow” (1982) and “Ricochet Days” (1984), are artfully intertwined, touching upon themes ranging from nature’s fragility to love’s myriad intricacies. Yet, while there’s a fond gaze back, the iconic band is also stepping confidently into fresh creative vistas.
Stream “Long in the Tooth” on all platforms HERE.
The song was also recently featured on KEXP:
Modern English are also currently making headline appearances across the U.S., hitting the east coast and parts of the south through September 30 when the band will perform at Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach, VA.
Tickets for all shows are on sale now via the band’s website HERE, and a full listing of dates can be found below.
SEPTEMBER
- 15 — Hamden, CT — Space Ballroom
- 16 — Greenfield, MA — Hawks & Reed
- 17 — Boston, MA — Sonia
- 20 — Richmond, VA — Canal Room
- 22 — Greenville, SC — The Radio Room
- 23 — Atlanta, GA — The Earl
- 24 — Nashville, TN — 3rd and Lindsley
- 27 — Athens, GA — 40 Watt
- 29 — Smithfield, NC — Paul A Johnson
- 30 — Virginia Beach, VA — Neptune Festival
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