American Football (1999 album)

File:Owen(band).jpg

Before playing for American Football, frontman Mike Kinsella previously played in Chicago-based bands Cap'n Jazz and Joan of Arc alongside his brother Tim, playing drums for both bands.{{sfn|Jacks|1999|p=24}} In 1997, Kinsella started The One Up Downstairs,{{cite web |last=Gormely, Ian |url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/tim_mike_kinsella-you_cant_miss_what_you_forget |title=Tim & Mike Kinsella |website=Exclaim! |date=May 6, 2014 |access-date=June 15, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615170725/http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/tim_mike_kinsella-you_cant_miss_what_you_forget |archive-date=June 15, 2015 }} whose line-up consisted of Allen Johnson on bass, Steve Lamos on drums, David Johnson on guitar, and Kinsella himself on vocals.{{cite AV media notes|title=The One Up Downstairs |others=The One Up Downstairs |year=2009 |orig-year=first released in 2006 |type=Sleeve |publisher=Polyvinyl |id=PRC-112-7}} The One Up Downstairs recorded three songs planned for a 7-inch vinyl release by Polyvinyl. However, the band broke up before it was pressed, causing the record to be shelved.{{#tag:ref|The vinyl was eventually released in 2006.|group="nb"}} Shortly afterward, Lamos was jamming with Kinsella's college roommate Steve Holmes.{{sfn|Magnuson|2000|p=15}} Kinsella thought he "could add something", resulting in the trio forming American Football.{{cite web|last=Montesinos-Donaghy, Daniel|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/spotlight-american-football-s-t/|title=Spotlight: American Football - S/T|website=Clash Magazine|date=May 29, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615170551/http://www.clashmusic.com/features/spotlight-american-football-american-football|archive-date=June 15, 2015}} The band's name comes from a poster that Lamos' girlfriend had spotted, stating "Come see American [f]ootball, the most overpaid athletes in the world."{{sfn|Magnuson|2000|p=15}}

The first time the group met it was considered to be casual, and the band's "[musical] ideas were noodly and meandering", according to Kinsella. The trio was based in Champaign, Illinois, while Kinsella was attending the University of Illinois.{{cite web|last=Martell|first=Nevin|url=http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/exclusives/entry/you_should_already_know_american_football/|title=You Should Already Know: American Football|website=Filter |date=June 11, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615222908/http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/exclusives/entry/you_should_already_know_american_football/|archive-date=June 15, 2015}} American Football was initially a side project,{{sfn|Magnuson|2000|p=15}}{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Matt |title=American Football's Silver Jubilee |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/american-football/american-footballs-silver-jubilee |access-date=2 February 2025 |work=Paste |date=16 September 2024}} not intending to become a full-time commitment, as Holmes comments, due to the band "always half-assing things".{{sfn|Magnuson|2000|p=15}} The first song the group wrote together was the instrumental "Five Silent Miles". At the time they were listening to Steve Reich, attempting to work out the interplay between two guitars. The band released a 3-track self-titled EP in October 1998,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-football-mw0000256655|title=American Football - American Football - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic|last=Butler, Blake|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=June 14, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610000510/http://www.allmusic.com/album/american-football-mw0000256655|archive-date=June 10, 2015}} which included "Five Silent Miles".

LP1 was made "literally in the last four days" before two out of the three members of the band had to move back home from college, according to Kinsella. The album was recorded in May 1999 at Private Studios in Urbana, Illinois on a TASCAM analog tape recorder, and was produced by Brendan Gamble; he previously produced the band's self-titled EP.{{cite AV media notes |title=American Football (EP) |others=American Football |year=2008 |orig-year=first released in 1998 |publisher=Polyvinyl |id=PRC-9145}} According to Lamos, the song titles were made up a couple of hours "before we finished the artwork."{{sfn|Magnuson|2000|p=15}} Prior to creating the song titles, songs were referred vaguely as "the B song or the C-sharp song."{{sfn|Magnuson|2000|p=15}} Kinsella had a journal that he used lyrics from, though they were written "from years before that, so it was just like, 'Yeah, that'll work.'"{{cite web |last=Caffrey, Dan |date=September 25, 2014 |title=American Football's Mike Kinsella: Not So Emotional |url=https://consequence.net/2014/09/american-footballs-mike-kinsella-not-so-emotional/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627012836/https://consequence.net/2014/09/american-footballs-mike-kinsella-not-so-emotional/ |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |access-date=June 14, 2015 |website=Consequence of Sound}} After writing the lyrics and melodies, Kinsella would "just screech...them out." While practicing the material, they didn't have a PA system and thus Holmes and Lamos did not know the lyrics until the group did live performances. According to Kinsella, the songs' melancholy lyrics were due to influences from outside of emo and post-hardcore, which included such bands as the Cure, Red House Painters, and The Sundays.{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=The making of American Football (S/T) - featuring Mike Kinsella, Steve Holmes and Steve Lamos |url=https://lifeoftherecord.com/american-football-notes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228004432/https://lifeoftherecord.com/american-football-notes |archive-date=December 28, 2024 |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=Life of the Record}}

Musically, LP1 is described as an emo, indie rock, math rock, and post-rock{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22526-american-football/|title=American Football - American Football|website=Pitchfork|last=Cohen|first=Ian|date=October 26, 2016|access-date=December 18, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129152438/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22526-american-football/|archive-date=November 29, 2016}} album with elements of jazz. Kinsella used American Football in an attempt to revive the more rock-oriented sound of Joan of Arc's earlier material.{{sfn|Jacks|1999}} Holmes and Kinsella were into punk and hardcore music, while Lamos was into jazz. The band concentrated on interaction between the two guitars, basing their timing on musical cues. Ian Cohen of Pitchfork expressed his interpretation of the album as a "rebuke of the Midwestern scene that had been shaped by the incalculable long-tail influence of Mike Kinsella’s previous one-album supernova Cap’n Jazz, rerouting emo’s bloodline from hardcore toward minimalist jazz and meditative math-rock."{{Cite web |last=Pitchfork |date=2022-09-28 |title=The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-albums-of-the-1990s/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

Each song is in a different tuning. Not all of the material was in a finished state by the time the band went to record; they agreed to simply "finish [writing] these songs in the studio and put out the record." The group decided to thicken the sound by doubling and tripling{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Ellie |title='We played a bunch of really awkward shows with both of us staring at our tuners the whole time and then we broke up for 15 years': Math-rock pioneer Mike Kinsella on his unlikely journey to cult guitar hero status with American Football |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/mike-kinsella-american-football-owen |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Guitar World |publisher=Future plc |date=23 April 2024 |language=en |archive-date=1 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001141926/https://www.guitarworld.com/features/mike-kinsella-american-football-owen |url-status=live }} the guitar tracks. Kinsella commented on what became American Football's signature guitar tone: "Now you can buy a shimmer pedal to recreate what we did, but we did it manually and I think it was just dumb luck. By doing it the stupid way, it became our own thing." In addition to their usual instruments, each member provided further instrumentation: Holmes played the Wurlitzer while Lamos played trumpet, and Kinsella played bass. The album was mastered by Jonathan Pines at Private Studios in July 1999.

File:American Football House.jpg pictured in 2023: contrary to the name, none of the band members lived in it, according to an interview with the Line of Best Fit.]]

LP1 was released on September 14, 1999, through Polyvinyl Record Co.{{cite web|url=http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/acatalog/Catalog_PRC_025_23.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010119123400/http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/acatalog/Catalog_PRC_025_23.html|title=American Football CD|publisher=Polyvinyl Recording Co.|archive-date=January 19, 2001|access-date=December 8, 2021}} The band broke up due to the members no longer living in the same city and their college courses coming to an end.{{cite web|url=http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/not-so-emotional-american-football-mike-kinsella-interview-2014|title=Not So Emotional?: American Football's Mike Kinsella on reflection, reminiscence and resurrection - The Line Of Best Fit|last=Goggins, Joe|date=June 5, 2014|website=The Line of Best Fit|access-date=June 17, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617162641/http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/not-so-emotional-american-football-mike-kinsella-interview-2014|archive-date=June 17, 2015}} Kinsella has since stated the band knew when they were recording the album that they were going to break up. Kinsella also said that they "never had any ambitious goals. [W]e weren't kids who wanted to...tour all summer." Ian Cohen of Pitchfork assessed, "the album turned out to be a farewell from a band that had scarcely introduced itself."

Kinsella and Holmes both moved to Chicago and remained in contact at first. Meanwhile, Lamos moved to Colorado, later becoming a professor. Kinsella wanted to form a new group where he had full creative control, and formed the Owen project, while Holmes and Lamos later played together with The Geese. In 2004 Kinsella recorded an acoustic version of "Never Meant" for a split release between Owen and Rutabega. Also that year, the LP1 album was pressed on vinyl for the first time and released on Polyvinyl.{{cite web|last=Adams, Gregory|url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/american_footballs_debut_album_gets_expanded_vinyl_reissue|title=American Football's Debut Album Gets Expanded Vinyl Reissue|website=Exclaim!|date=March 20, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615170657/http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/american_footballs_debut_album_gets_expanded_vinyl_reissue|archive-date=June 15, 2015}}

The album's cover features a top of a house, with the upstairs light lit. The house, located on 704 W. High St in Urbana, Illinois, is within walking distance of the University of Illinois.{{cite news|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/jm5837/emo-tourism-how-the-american-football-house-became-the-one-of-musics-biggest-landmarks|title=Emo Tourism: How the American Football House Became One of Music's Biggest Landmarks|date=September 20, 2016|website=Noisey|access-date=March 4, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305103138/https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/jm5837/emo-tourism-how-the-american-football-house-became-the-one-of-musics-biggest-landmarks|archive-date=March 5, 2018}}{{cite web |last=Rettig, James |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1728758/the-american-football-house-in-champaign-urbana-is-available-for-rent-this-summer/news/ |title=The American Football House In Champaign-Urbana Is Available For Rent This Summer |website=Stereogum |date=January 12, 2015 |access-date=June 15, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615201828/http://www.stereogum.com/1728758/the-american-football-house-in-champaign-urbana-is-available-for-rent-this-summer/news/ |archive-date=June 15, 2015 }} Photography was done by Chris Strong and was designed by Strong and Suraiya Nathani.{{cite AV media notes|title=American Football |others=American Football |year=1999 |type=Booklet |publisher=Polyvinyl |id=prc 025}} None of the band members lived in the house; according to Kinsella, "it was friends of friends" who lived in the house when they went to college. Joe Goggins, writing for the Line of Best Fit, wrote that "Like all the best cover shots," the photo symbolizes "the music it prefaces in such an intangible, elusive way," also noting the album "sounds like it could only have been made in small-town America," and that the cover art "looks as if it could only really have been taken in similar surroundings."

{{Music ratings

|subtitle = Pre-reissue and initial reviews

| rev1 = LAS Magazine

| rev1Score = 9/10{{cite web |url=http://lostatsea.net/review.phtml?id=613575144176521188b97 |title=American Football: American Football |website=LAS Magazine |date=October 1, 2004 |access-date=February 12, 2017 |last=Herboth |first=Eric J. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213001510/http://lostatsea.net/review.phtml?id=613575144176521188b97 |archive-date=February 13, 2017 }}

| rev2 = Pitchfork

| rev2Score = 7.5/10 {{small|(1999)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/a/american-football/american-football.shtml |title=American Football: American Football |website=Pitchfork |date=October 1999 |access-date=June 14, 2015 |last=Clark |first=Taylor M. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041009224737/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/a/american-football/american-football.shtml |archive-date=October 9, 2004}}

| rev3 = Punknews.org

| rev3Score = {{rating|4.5|5}} {{small|(2004)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/review/3568/american-football-american-football |title=American Football – American Football |publisher=Punknews.org |date=December 21, 2004 |access-date=December 24, 2015 |last=Rogowski |first=Jordan |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008224704/https://www.punknews.org/review/3568/american-football-american-football |url-status=live }}

| rev4 = Spin

| rev4Score = 7/10{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HJbW_6l-uRUC&pg=PT7 |title=American Football: American Football / The Get Up Kids: Something to Write Home About |magazine=Spin |volume=15 |issue=12 |date=December 1999 |access-date=April 5, 2016 |last=Beaujon |first=Andrew |page=220 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217034145/https://books.google.com/books?id=HJbW_6l-uRUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PT7 |archive-date=February 17, 2017 }}

}}

Initial reviews for LP1 were positive, but the album was considered only a minor success. According to a contemporary in the CMJ New Music Report, the album performed well at college radio stations, which was attributed to Kinsella's musical past.{{sfn|Jacks|1999}} Despite the critical praise from college radio, the album's promotion was hindered due to the band's breakup. In a review for Spin, Andrew Beaujon gave the album a 7 out of 10, likening its composition to the output of jangle pop band Felt and contrasting it against the work of other bands in the emo genre, like Jets to Brazil. However, he unfavorably described Kinsella as a "torpid vocalist" whose voice he believed made him sound like an older person.

Pitchfork{{'s}} Taylor M. Clark gave the album a 7.5 out of 10; he praised the drumming and vocals, but criticized the frequent use of the trumpet and the album's lyricism. A contemporary review by Kent McClard of heartattaCk said that the album was "polished and gentle" and that the album was not for everyone, but the band "[does] it very well".{{cite magazine

| last = McClard

| first = Kent

| title = American Football - CD

| magazine = heartattaCk

| issue = 24

| page = 54

| date = Nov 1999

}} In the 2004 digital edition, Jordan Rogowski of Punknews.org gave the album four and a half stars out of five; he praised its lyricism, describing it as "thoughtfully and intelligently constructed." He believed the lack of Kinsella's vocals "works in its favor", allowing the listener to experience the full instrumentation.

{{Music ratings

| title =

| subtitle = Reissue reviews

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-football-lp1-mw0000810077 |title=American Football [LP1] – American Football |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=March 8, 2020 |last=Thomas |first=Fred |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530212403/http://www.allmusic.com/album/american-football-mw0000810077 |archive-date=May 30, 2015 }}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2Score = A−{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/15-years-american-footballs-lone-lp-gets-face-lift-204543 |title=Review: 15 years on, American Football's lone LP gets a face-lift |website=The A.V. Club |date=May 20, 2014 |access-date=May 17, 2015 |last=Anthony |first=David |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202094643/http://www.avclub.com/review/15-years-american-footballs-lone-lp-gets-face-lift-204543 |archive-date=February 2, 2015 }}

| rev3 = Consequence of Sound

| rev3Score = A{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2014/05/album-review-american-football-american-football-deluxe-reissue/ |title=American Football – American Football [Deluxe Reissue] |website=Consequence of Sound |date=May 26, 2014 |access-date=June 14, 2015 |last=Willett |first=Sam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627010959/https://consequence.net/2014/05/album-review-american-football-american-football-deluxe-reissue/ |archive-date=June 27, 2015 }}

| rev4 = Filter

| rev4Score = 83%{{cite web |url=http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/reviews/entry/american_football/ |title=American Football |website=Filter |date=June 16, 2014 |access-date=June 15, 2015 |last=Pearlman |first=Mischa |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615222912/http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/reviews/entry/american_football/ |archive-date=June 15, 2015 }}

| rev5 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev5Score = 9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/american-football-american-football-reissue |title=American Football – American Football [Reissue] |website=The Line of Best Fit |date=May 12, 2014 |access-date=June 16, 2015 |last=Goggins |first=Joe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616011616/http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/american-football-american-football-reissue |archive-date=June 16, 2015 }}

| rev6 = Paste

| rev6Score = 9.0/10{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/05/american-football-american-football-reissue-review.html |title=American Football: American Football Reissue Review |website=Paste |date=May 27, 2014 |access-date=May 17, 2015 |last=Cosores |first=Philip |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142046/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/05/american-football-american-football-reissue-review.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 }}| noprose =

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 8.6/10 {{small|(2014)}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19352-american-football-american-football/ |title=American Football: American Football |website=Pitchfork |date=May 21, 2014 |access-date=June 14, 2015 |last=Cohen |first=Ian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619073508/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19352-american-football-american-football/ |archive-date=June 19, 2015 }}

| rev8 = Punknews.org

| rev8score = {{rating|5|5}} {{small|(2014)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/review/12641/american-football-american-football-reissue |title=American Football – American Football [Reissue] |publisher=Punknews.org |date=May 22, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2015 |last=Simpson |first=Greg |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201212213/https://www.punknews.org/review/12641/american-football-american-football-reissue |url-status=live }}

}}

Despite its initial minor success, LP1, with the help of word of mouth, gained cult status since its release; as a result, it was frequently bootlegged, and became a major topic of discussion on Internet forums.{{cite news |last1=Corcoran |first1=Nina |title='American Football' Turns 20 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2058678/american-football-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/ |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=Stereogum |date=18 September 2019 |language=en}} The album is considered an important work of the emo genre that set up the foundations for later bands in the 2000s; following the decline of the genre, a new wave of artists aimed to reproduce its early sound, with American Football being an influence.{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Mia |title=American Football: "We fell into this thing totally backwards 25 years ago" |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/american-football-lp1-covers-mike-kinsella-interview-3792498 |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=NME |date=11 September 2024}}{{cite news |last1=De Freitas |first1=Ryan |title=The 20 best pre-2000s emo albums |url=https://www.kerrang.com/early-emo-albums-best-american-football-saves-the-day |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Kerrang! |date=12 May 2020 |language=en}} Polyvinyl co-founder Matt Lundford described the album's subsequent sales figures and influence in the years following its release in a 2019 interview with Noisey as "a constant climb upwards."{{cite web |last=Ozzi |first=Dan |title=Polyvinyl Records Co-Founder Picks 10 Important Albums from Their Catalog |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bjwg33/polyvinyl-records-10-best-albums |website=Vice |date=8 August 2019 |access-date=12 June 2021 |language=en |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411184705/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bjwg33/polyvinyl-records-10-best-albums |url-status=live }} Lunford recalled LP1 "just kept organically being discovered by people, and then inspiring people and inspiring bands, and then being rediscovered."

AllMusic reviewer Fred Thomas gave the album four and a half stars and described it as "an anomalistic emo-jazz hybrid"; he noted the record's laid-back production compared to emo's more aggressive tone and hardcore origins. Joe Goggins of The Line of Best Fit gave the album a 9 out of 10, labeling the record as a "perfectly-pitched, emo mood piece"; he noted the typical themes of emo, citing anger, regret, disappointment and frustration. Goggins interprets the calm yet sad tone of LP1 as Kinsella experiencing these emotions but having to move on as a significant amount of time has passed since then. Philip Cosores of Paste gave the record a 9.0 out of 10, describing it as an "album that ultimately defies genre classification"; he states it "serves as what indie rock should be about, synthesizing the musical world around us, not dividing and separating."

The American Football House became a landmark for emo music fans, who often visit the house to take photos. Music journalist Sean Neumann, who documented the history of the house for Vice, noted that fans have carved markings into the sidewalk in front of the home where Strong took the original photograph. The house would later take a leading position in the band's reunion, and the interior of the house later used for the cover of their eponymous second album. Kinsella revealed that the repeated references to the house was due to the fact it was one of the few images related to the band.{{#tag:ref|Other images include three promotional pictures of the band, all dating from 1999.|group="nb"}} American Football revealed they, Polyvinyl, Chris Strong, Atiba Jefferson and Open House Contemporary had collectively purchased the house on May 5, 2023, "in an effort to preserve its place and legacy within the community that built it."{{cite news|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2222775/american-football-bought-the-iconic-american-football-house/news/|title=American Football Bought The Iconic American Football House|date=May 5, 2023|website=Stereogum|archive-date=June 6, 2023|access-date=May 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606053042/https://www.stereogum.com/2222775/american-football-bought-the-iconic-american-football-house/news/|url-status=live}}

Stereogum listed "Never Meant" as one of "30 Essential Songs from the Golden Era of Emo"{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1685920/30-essential-songs-from-the-golden-era-of-emo/franchises/ultimate-playlist/|title=30 Essential Songs From The Golden Era Of Emo|last=Fallon, Patric|website=Stereogum|date=July 22, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515001504/http://www.stereogum.com/1685920/30-essential-songs-from-the-golden-era-of-emo/franchises/ultimate-playlist/|archive-date=May 15, 2015}} and "The Summer Ends" as one of "30 Essential Post-Rock Songs".{{cite web|last=Kamps, Garrett|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1711293/30-essential-post-rock-songs/franchises/ultimate-playlist/|title=30 Essential Post-Rock Songs|website=Stereogum|date=January 7, 2015|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702152213/http://www.stereogum.com/1711293/30-essential-post-rock-songs/franchises/ultimate-playlist/|archive-date=July 2, 2015}} NME listed the album as one of "20 Emo Albums That Have Resolutely Stood the Test of Time".{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/20-emo-albums-that-have-resolutely-stood-the-test-of-time/367692#/photo/6|title=20 Emo Albums That Have Resolutely Stood The Test Of Time|date=January 14, 2015|website=NME|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816064805/http://www.nme.com/photos/20-emo-albums-that-have-resolutely-stood-the-test-of-time/367692#/photo/6|archive-date=August 16, 2015}} Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 6 on their list of the "40 Greatest Emo Albums of All Time";{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/40-greatest-emo-albums-of-all-time-20160301/american-football-american-football-1999-20160224|title=40 Greatest Emo Albums of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=March 4, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831190536/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/40-greatest-emo-albums-of-all-time-20160301/american-football-american-football-1999-20160224|archive-date=August 31, 2017}} it was ranked number 5 in a similar list by Kerrang!.{{cite news |last1=Pearlman |first1=Mischa |last2=Richardson |first2=Jake |last3=McLaughlin |first3=David |title=The 25 greatest emo albums ever |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-25-greatest-emo-albums-ever |access-date=4 January 2025 |work=Kerrang! |date=18 March 2021 |language=en}} "Never Meant" was named the greatest emo song of all time by Vulture.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-emo-songs.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213181251/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-emo-songs.html|title=The 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time|website=Vulture|last=Cohen, Ian|date=February 13, 2020|archive-date=February 13, 2020|access-date=August 14, 2020}}

Em Casalena of American Songwriter wrote, "American Football is one of the most heartwrenching breakup albums ever written and produced… and not only in the Midwest emo genre."{{Cite web |last=Casalena |first=Em |date=2024-12-06 |title=4 Albums That Defined the Emo Scene of the 2000s |url=https://americansongwriter.com/4-albums-that-defined-the-emo-scene-of-the-2000s/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}

Ellise Shafer of Variety conferred the title of the "ultimate Midwest emo anthem" on the album's opening track, "Never Meant".{{Cite web |last=Shafer |first=William Earl, Angelique Jackson, Emily Longeretta, Pat Saperstein, Ethan Shanfeld, Katie Reul, EJ Panaligan, Maane Khatchatourian, Thania Garcia, Katcy Stephan, Ellise |date=2022-10-18 |title=The 25 Best Emo Songs of All Time |url=https://variety.com/lists/best-emo-songs-my-chemical-romance-paramore/american-football-never-meant/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} In congruence, Kerrang! called the track "one of the defining songs of the genre," and stated that the album as a whole is the one that "everyone seems to have agreed is the pinnacle of emo, despite the fact that you’d probably have to be in the band to name more than four songs from it."{{Cite web |date=2020-05-12 |title=The 20 best pre-2000s emo albums |url=https://www.kerrang.com/early-emo-albums-best-american-football-saves-the-day |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}

In April 2014, American Football announced they were reuniting for live performances. Holmes said the group realised that "the time was ripe for three middle aged dudes to play some old songs about teenage feelings, and stand around tuning guitars for a long time."{{cite web|last=Minsker, Evan|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/54851-american-football-reunite-for-first-shows-in-15-years/|title=American Football Reunite for First Shows in 15 Years|website=Pitchfork|date=April 21, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531054323/http://pitchfork.com/news/54851-american-football-reunite-for-first-shows-in-15-years/|archive-date=May 31, 2015}} Polyvinyl released a deluxe edition of two discs containing various demos and live tracks with expanded packaging on May 20.{{cite web|last=Roffman, Michael|url=https://consequence.net/2014/03/american-football-announce-deluxe-reissue-of-1999-self-titled-album/|title=American Football announce deluxe reissue of 1999 self-titled album|website=Consequence of Sound|date=March 21, 2014|access-date=June 14, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614210437/https://consequence.net/2014/03/american-football-announce-deluxe-reissue-of-1999-self-titled-album/|archive-date=June 14, 2015}}{{#tag:ref|U.S. Polyvinyl PRC 276CD{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/american-football-deluxe-edition-mr0004115690|title=American Football [Deluxe Edition] - American Football - Release Information, Reviews and Credits|last=Thomas, Fred|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=June 14, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729021112/http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/american-football-deluxe-edition-mr0004115690|archive-date=July 29, 2015}}|group="nb"}} Demand for the re-release had crashed Polyvinyl's website. The reissue came about when Holmes found cassette tapes of demos and showed them to Polyvinyl.{{cite web|last=Richards, Will|url=https://diymag.com/2015/01/06/american-football-reclaim-their-throne-reunion-we-never-did-this-first-time-around|title=American Football reclaim their throne: "Reunion? We never did this first time around!"|website=DIY|date=January 6, 2015|access-date=June 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615235644/http://diymag.com/2015/01/06/american-football-reclaim-their-throne-reunion-we-never-did-this-first-time-around|archive-date=June 15, 2015}} Polyvinyl, who first teased a possible release back in 2012, asked if the band wanted to do anything with the tapes. The group were initially unaware of the album's anniversary. One of the live recordings was "The 7's"; it was one of the first songs the band ever wrote and was used to close their live performances.{{cite web|last=DeVille, Chris|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1674168/american-football-the-7s-live-at-the-blind-pig-97-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/|title=American Football – "The 7's" (Live At The Blind Pig '97) (Stereogum Premiere)|website=Stereogum|date=April 8, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617224357/http://www.stereogum.com/1674168/american-football-the-7s-live-at-the-blind-pig-97-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/|archive-date=June 17, 2015}} The song was "one of the more interesting things" the band ever wrote, according to Holmes and showcases the band's interest in different time signatures.

On June 5, 2014, a music video was released for "Never Meant".{{cite web|last=Gordon, Jeremy|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/55457-american-footballs-never-meant-video-released-15-years-late/|title=American Football's "Never Meant" Video Released 15 Years Late|website=Pitchfork|date=June 5, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619071233/http://pitchfork.com/news/55457-american-footballs-never-meant-video-released-15-years-late/|archive-date=June 19, 2015}} Directed by Chris Strong, the video was filmed inside and around the house that features on the album cover artwork.{{cite web|last=Gotrich, Lars|url=https://www.npr.org/event/music/317432831/american-football-never-meant|title=American Football, 'Never Meant'|website=NPR|date=June 5, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714155935/http://www.npr.org/event/music/317432831/american-football-never-meant|archive-date=July 14, 2015}} The video was set in Urbana, Illinois, around 1999. Strong revealed that the storyline was "about a brief relationship occurring between two characters at the end of their college experience". Strong had other people portray the band.{{cite interview |subject=American Football |website=Consequence of Sound |title=Exclusive Interview: American Football discuss their reunion and the possibility for new music |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhj5sLGsDqY |date=January 19, 2015 |access-date=2015-06-14 |at=3:55 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729021115/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhj5sLGsDqY |archive-date=July 29, 2015 }} American Football, with the addition of Kinsella's cousin Nate playing bass, played a surprise show in August in Chicago. They then followed this up with playing a festival in September and three nights at New York's Webster Hall. Further dates running into December were also played.{{cite web|last=Kivel, Adam|url=https://consequence.net/2014/09/the-25-most-anticipated-tours-of-fall-2014/22/|title=The 25 Most Anticipated Tours of Fall 2014|website=Consequence of Sound|page=22|date=September 11, 2014|access-date=June 14, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619045830/https://consequence.net/2014/09/the-25-most-anticipated-tours-of-fall-2014/22/|archive-date=June 19, 2015}} In December, a live video was released for "Never Meant", filmed in October at New York's Webster Hall.{{cite web|last=Adams, Gregory|url=http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/american_football-never_meant_live_video|title=American Football "Never Meant" (live video)|website=Exclaim!|date=December 24, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615174443/http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/american_football-never_meant_live_video|archive-date=June 15, 2015}} The band played their first ever UK shows in May 2015.{{cite web|last=Murray, Robin|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/news/american-football-announce-first-ever-uk-shows|title=American Football Announce First Ever UK Shows|website=Clash Magazine|date=November 20, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615170600/http://www.clashmusic.com/news/american-football-announce-first-ever-uk-shows|archive-date=June 15, 2015}} The reissue charted at number 68 on the Billboard 200 chart, number 5 on the Catalog Albums chart and number 22 on the Tastemaker Albums chart; it was ranked at number 1 on Paste{{'}}s "Five Recent Reissues Worth Owning" list in 2014.{{cite web|last=Cook, Julia|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/05/five-recent-reissues-worth-owning.html|title=Five Recent Reissues Worth Owning|website=Paste|date=May 31, 2014|access-date=June 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619052640/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/05/five-recent-reissues-worth-owning.html|archive-date=June 19, 2015}}

A 25th anniversary edition reissue and covers album was released on October 18, 2024, including a separate music cover album. The cover album included bands and solo artists with singles covered by Iron & Wine, Manchester Orchestra, Blondshell, Novo Amor, Lowswimmer, Girl Ultra, John McEntire, M.A.G.S, Yvette Young and Ethel Cain.{{cite web |title=American Football (Covers) |url=https://www.polyvinylrecords.com/product/american_football_covers |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=www.polyvinylrecords.com |publisher=Polyvinyl Record Co.}}{{cite web |title=American Football (25th Anniversary Edition) |url=https://www.polyvinylrecords.com/product/american_football_25th_anniversary_edition |access-date=12 January 2025 |website=www.polyvinylrecords.com |publisher=Polyvinyl Record Co.}}{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Daisy |date=31 July 2024 |title=American Football to celebrate 25th anniversary of self-titled debut with remastered edition and covers album |url=https://diymag.com/news/american-football-25th-anniversary-covers-album |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=DIY |language=en}}

All songs written and composed by American Football.

{{Track listing

| headline = LP1 track listing

| title1 = Never Meant

| length1 = 4:28

| title2 = The Summer Ends

| length2 = 4:46

| title3 = Honestly?

| length3 = 6:10

| title4 = For Sure.

| length4 = 3:16

| title5 = You Know I Should Be Leaving Soon

| length5 = 3:43

| title6 = But the Regrets Are Killing Me

| length6 = 3:54

| title7 = I'll See You When We're Both Not So Emotional

| length7 = 3:42

| title8 = Stay Home

| length8 = 8:10

| title9 = The One with the Wurlitzer

| length9 = 2:43

| total_length = 40:52

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks

| title1 = Intro

| note1 = live at the Blind Pig, Champaign, IL, 1997

| length1 = 0:28

| title2 = Five Silent Miles

| note2 = live at the Blind Pig, Champaign, IL, 1997

| length2 = 3:39

| title3 = Untitled #1 (The One with the Trumpet)

| note3 = boombox practice session, 1998

| length3 = 3:43

| title4 = Untitled #2

| note4 = boombox practice session, 1998

| length4 = 2:13

| title5 = Stay Home

| note5 = boombox practice session, 1998

| length5 = 5:58

| title6 = Untitled #3

| note6 = boombox practice session, 1999

| length6 = 7:09

| title7 = Never Meant

| note7 = 4-track album prep, 1999

| length7 = 3:38

| title8 = But the Regrets Are Killing Me

| note8 = 4-track album prep, 1999

| length8 = 3:46

| title9 = I'll See You When We're Both Not So Emotional

| note9 = 4-track album prep, 1999

| length9 = 3:52

| title10 = The 7's

| note10 = live at the Blind Pig, Champaign, IL, 1997

| length10 = 7:26

| total_length = 41:52

}}

Adapted from the liner notes.{{citation|last=Holmes, Steve|title=American Football (Deluxe Edition CD Booklet)|year=2014|publisher=Polyvinyl Records}}

American Football

• Steve Holmes – guitars, keyboards (3), Wurlitzer (9)
• Steve Lamos – drums, tambourine (1, 6), shaker (2), trumpet (2, 4, 9)
• Mike Kinsella – vocals (1–4, 6–8), guitars (1–6, 8, 9), acoustic guitar (6), bass guitar (4, 7)

Technical personnel

• Brendan Gamble – recording and production
• Chris Strong – photography
• Chris Strong, Suraiya Nathani – design

{{Notelist}}

; Footnotes

{{reflist|group="nb"}}

; Citations

{{Reflist|30em}}

;Sources

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite journal|title=Chart Activity|journal=CMJ New Music Report|date=18 Oct 1999|volume=60|issue=639|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|issn=0890-0795}}
• {{cite journal|last=Jacks|first=Kelso|title=Reviews|journal=CMJ New Music Report|date=October 25, 1999|volume=60|issue=640|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|issn=0890-0795|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1KobfSOSjvgC&pg=PA24}}
• {{cite journal|last=Magnuson|first=Mike|title=Pickup Game: It Takes a Four-Track, a Moody Trumpet, and a Lot of Jokes to Play American Football|journal=CMJ New Music Monthly|date=February 2000|issue=78|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|issn=1074-6978}}

{{refend}}

• [https://myspace.com/amfootball/music/album/american-football-19576034 American Football] at MySpace (streamed copy where licensed)

{{American Football (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1999 debut albums

Category:American Football (band) albums

Category:Polyvinyl Record Co. albums