Released: 2019

Genres: Midwest Emo, Dream Pop, Post-Rock, Math Rock

The Musiquarium’s American Football (LP3) Review Score: 8 out of 10

After having been dormant for 15 years, American Football made their eventual return with 2016’s American Football (LP2). Although the album was far from a failure, it didn’t do enough to set itself apart from their debut, making the decade and a half wait feel somewhat underwhelming. On the third American Football album, the band has started to experiment more with their sound, drawing from the realm of dream pop and post-rock.

The glockenspiel introduction to the opening track Silhouettes is hypnotic in the way that the opening of King Crimson’s Larks’ Tongues in Aspic Part I was. Every Wave to Ever Rise features Elizabeth Powell, who adds an extra dimension to the melody with her French vocals. There is also an appearance from Paramore’s Hayley Williams on Uncomfortably Numb and Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell sings on the sublime I Can’t Feel You. Heir Apparent has dreamy guitar flourishes that feel like waves crashing upon the shore.

American Football (LP3) is an ethereal delight, being a far more interesting and adventurous album that LP2 ever was. The cult midwest emo band has something new to say two decades later, with this refreshing and revitalized sound.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view American Football on Discogs.

Back to the master 2019 Album Reviews Guide or the American Football Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard