Recommended Tracks: “Man Overboard,” “The One with the Piano,” “No Soul to Save”
Artists You May Like: Hail the Sun, Modern Baseball, Pinegrove
Known as one of the most prominent Midwest emo bands in the industry, American Football has officially released their new album American Football (LP4).
Having formed in the late ’90s in Urbana, IL, the band — composed of Mike Kinsella (lead singer, guitarist, and bassist), Steve Lamos (trumpet player and drummer), Steve Holmes (guitarist), and Nate Kinsella (producer, composer, and cousin of Mike Kinsella) — released their self-titled album debut American Football (LP1) in 1999.
After a 14-year hiatus, they stepped back into the limelight in 2014 with LP2 and LP3. The quartet has since created demos alongside celebratory limited-edition albums to commemorate anniversaries of remastered works.
Having built the hype for LP4 utilizing a waterfall release strategy, their accomplished style of syncopative rhythms and minimalist slowcore with atmospheric textures of jazz is gradually coming to its end. Although it’s unconfirmed if American Football will release LP5 in the near future, these Midwest icons never disappoint in constructing memorable instrumentals for fans to remember for a lifetime.
Starting strong with a cappella hums and moderate drums, “Man Overboard” introduces listeners to a brewing tragedy, a story about what it means to battle mental hurdles in the name of self-sabotage. Almost like encountering a tidal wave in the midst of an unexpected storm surge, “Man Overboard” encompasses the unfortunate feeling of wanting to let someone you love go because of these feelings: “If I ever set sail / Promise you won’t wait for me / I was born castaway / Lost at sea / My anchors, cut loose / Lifelines eschewed.”
The first and second verses, along with the choruses, showcase the final stage of grief when losing someone, accepting in the narrator’s own mind that he won’t recover. “Man Overboard” ends in American Football’s signature soft-rock fashion. The tidal waves consume the narrator slowly, convincing us there’s no way out.
Reaching the halfway mark on LP4, “The One with the Piano” is a one-minute instrumental with Nate Kinsella on keys and Steve Lamos on the trumpet.
As listeners hear their dialogue confirming when to start playing both instruments, “The One with the Piano” mirrors an “intermission” — allowing listeners to take a short, reflective break and process what they’ve have heard on the record thus far. It radiates a tranquil and serene composition.
American Football’s record concludes with “No Soul to Save.”
One of the longest songs on the album at just over minutes, “No Soul to Save” picks up in tempo, with lyricism displaying confessionals in the name of pseudo-apologies. Emphasizing “Ladies and only the gentlest of men, please, fuck you / I already said I’m sorry for everything and I won’t say it again (My love) / Well, I wasn’t made to live on a stage (My love) / I’ve made too many mistakes / I’ve no hope for redemption and no soul to save.”
The narrator coming off as irritated comes at the beginning verse: “Ladies and gentlemen / You’ve watched me walk through fire / Swallow swords and ugly desires / I’ve nothing left to fear / Now, for my next trick, you can watch me disappear.” The refrain wraps up “No Soul to Save” with the repetitive lyrics “Save, save / Inevitable,” ending on a hypnotic note enveloped in acoustic guitar strings.
No matter how long we had to wait, these Midwest emo icons have done it yet again. They’ve proven that regardless of the time that passes in between their albums, they can always craft music that will resonate deeply with listeners, and they’re certainly here to stay.
American Football LP4 is now available on all digital platforms.
Keep up with American Football: Instagram // X // Facebook // Youtube // Discord // Spotify // Apple Music // Website
