Reviews

American Football
American Football

(Wichita)

7/10

17 years after they left one defining album, and a pining cult following, American Football’s second self-titled album strikes a familiarly contemplative chord. This time they’ve had years (not months) to reflect – and it seeps. Drawing on the emo and post-rock that made their debut, ‘American Football’ slowly and imperceptibly draws you in.

‘Born to Lose’ ebbs and drifts as Mike Kinsella’s vocals float into the distance; ‘Give Me the Gun’ softly shifts through playful time signatures; and the triumphant ‘Desire Gets in the Way’ acts as the album’s mini-anthem with Kinsella’s voice adding power and volume to rousing key changes.

For most bands reconvening after a seemingly definitive end, time passed usually brings unwanted baggage, but American Football’s short history is pretty straightforward: they came, they played, they sort of conquered.

Almost two decades and a generation on, the teen immediacy that sparked their slow-burn success has been replaced by something older, wiser and world-weary, but on this evidence, it’s gratifying to see American Football catch up with their own history.

Please support Loud And Quiet if you can

If you’re a fan of what we do, please consider subscribing to L&Q to help fund our support of new musicians and independent labels

You can make a big difference for a few pounds per month, and in return we’ll send you our magazines, exclusive flexi discs, and other subscriber bonus bits and pieces

Try for a month and cancel anytime