REISSUE: American Football – “American Football”

The current “emo” (or whatever you want to call it) revival is in full swing, and it also comes at the perfect time as many of the seminal releases of the day are celebrating their 15-year anniversaries.  One of them is the eponymous debut by American Football.  The band comprised of guitarist Steve Holmes and drummer Steve Lamos was led by Mike Kinsella - of Chicago art-rock favorites Cap'n Jazz, Owen, and Owls - who combined his trademark off-kilter sense of rhythm and knotty guitar style with emotionally-charged lyrical sentiments for one of the most influential albums to come from that era.  It’s a testament to the timeless songwriting that the album sounds just as modern and forward-thinking today as the day it was released.    

Originally released in 1999 by Polyvinyl Records, it has been reissued by the label as a deluxe edition two-disc set that includes a disc of live cuts, practice sessions and demos.  It also features new packaging with new photographs from Chris Strong, lyrics, and comprehensive liner notes written by the band that give insight into the writing and recording process for each song as well as the tuning for each song.  
  

Stream the previously unreleased “The 7's (Live at the Blind Pig, Champaign, IL, 1997)” here: https://soundcloud.com/polyvinyl-records/american-football-the-7s-live

 

Additionally, a new video has been made for the standout track, “Never Meant” that was shot in the house that graces the album cover and can be seen here:

To purchase the American Football Reissue on 2xLP (Red Vinyl), 2xCD, cassette tape, and digital formats visit: https://www.polyvinylrecords.com