“Let’s be real: so often our favorite bands from the new wave/post-punk eras release new albums that feel watered down, phoned in, and straight up uninspired. That’s not the case with Modern English. On their first studio album in eight years, the band sounds as vital, smart, and compelling as ever. On 1 2 3 4, the lyrics are wry, urgent, and outraged, whether they’re singing about getting older (“Long in the Tooth”) or seeing the same repetitive cycles of politics-over-people (“Not My Leader”). The melodies are tightly-crafted and addictive. These tracks could’ve come from 1984 or 2024; they’re in line with Modern English’s beloved earlier work while building on their legacy to create something fresh as hell. The songs of 1 2 3 4 all feel like classics already.”
