SHARE THE NEW SINGLE ‘TAYLOR SWIFT = US SOFT PROPAGANDA’
LISTEN HERE
FROM THE NEW ALBUM ‘PLANET NOWHERE‘, OUT OCTOBER 25TH – PRE-ORDER HERE
Ever since Razorlight announced details of ‘Planet Nowhere’ – their first album from their classic line-up since 2008 – there has been speculation about the song ‘Taylor Swift = US Soft Propaganda’. Now the band today unveil the song ahead of the October 25th of the ‘Planet Nowhere’ album.
In contrast to its title, ‘Taylor Swift = US Soft Propaganda’ plays to Razorlight’s simplest strengths: a two-minute groove in which Johnny Borrell’s charismatic vocals weave naturally around an appealingly instant guitar riff and biting rhythms. And while the song’s lyrics don’t mention Taylor Swift (therefore avoiding being cursed with what Johnny has called “The Taylor Swift fatwa”), they’re quirky in an an entirely different way, with sardonic, stream of consciousness lyrics as he sings: “This sounds like a filler on a Jonathan Richman album… which means this is probably the best song we’re gonna put on this one.”
Johnny explained the story behind the song: “We were in the studio and Björn went in to record a guitar overdub on ‘Zombie Love’. He started playing this riff, I said ‘What’s that?’. He said ‘I dunno”. I said ‘Keep playing it’. So Björn kept on playing and I pushed record and sang it in one take while he played it. When you’re recording an album there’s always a song that pops up out of nothing. Regarding the title, there hasn’t been an empire in history that hasn’t required propaganda, why should America be any different?”
‘Taylor Swift = US Soft Propaganda’ joins ‘Scared of Nothing’, ‘Empire Service’ and ‘Zombie Love’ in previewing the album, which was recorded during sessions in Spain with the Grammy-winning producer Youth. Airplay for the singles so far has included a premiere from Jo Whiley at Radio 2, Radio X support has featured a Record of the Week for ‘Zombie Love’ and an interview from Chris Moyles, plus spins at Amazing Radio.
‘Planet Nowhere’ is available to pre-order HERE. The band’s official store offers a variety of physical formats and bundles, while Assai are offered a signed limited edition exclusive which features pink vinyl packaged with a signed, Japanese-inspired obi strip.
Razorlight will celebrate the release of ‘Planet Nowhere’ with a sold-out underplay tour before embarking upon a record store tour on the day the album is out. Most record store events are also sold-out, but limited tickets for select stores are available HERE. In November they commemorate the 20th anniversary of their debut album ‘Up All Night’ with a sold-out show at the O2 Academy Brixton. Razorlight have also just confirmed a special guest show next summer in Leeds with Kaiser Chiefs, who are marking the 20th anniversary of their ‘Employment’ album.
Their upcoming dates are:
OCTOBER – RECORD STORE TOUR
25th – London, Rough Trade East (7pm – SOLD OUT)
26th – Leamington Spa, Head Records (1pm – SOLD OUT)
26th – Birmingham, hmv Vault (5pm)
27th – Bristol, Rough Trade (7pm – SOLD OUT)
29th – Bury, Wax and Beans (1pm – SOLD OUT)
29th – Manchester, hmv (5pm)
30th – Liverpool, Jacaranda (7pm – SOLD OUT)
31st – Newcastle, Beyond Vinyl (7pm)
OCTOBER – UNDERPLAY TOUR
18th – Birmingham, Castle & Falcon (SOLD OUT)
19th – Edinburgh, Mash House (SOLD OUT)
20th – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club (SOLD OUT)
21st – Manchester, Band on the Wall (SOLD OUT)
22nd – Brighton, Komedia (SOLD OUT)
24th – Bristol, Strange Brew (SOLD OUT)
NOVEMBER
21st – London, O2 Academy Brixton (SOLD OUT – with special guests Mystery Jets)
MAY 2025
31st – Leeds, Temple Newsam Park (JUST ADDED with Kaiser Chiefs)
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