Alright, you have really gone off your rocker this time Jack. Why are you writing about the emo genre in this post?

…Ok, before you click the back button, let me just explain. Right now, go listen to Never Meant by American Football. I’ll give you 5 minutes. I also felt compelled to write about this because I just got denied an important job offer. This review is for you, company. 

Doesn’t sound like the typical emo music you listen to right? No My Chemical Romance resemblance? No screaming? No self-harming and vicious lyrics? That’s what I thought. You see, like people, religions, certain stereotypes, things are often harshly categorized to describe an entire population. This goes for American Football. In the late 1990’s, their self titled EP and LP paved the way for many of the now well-recognized “emo” bands. Many individuals group “emo” music with punk rock, which is undeniably a false stereotype. While some aspects are similar, it is incorrect to automatically group the two. Now, there is one thing that many of these bands do have in common is their dedication towards an emotional lyric story, hence the name “emo.” However, this doesn’t mean that you have to listen to Papa Roach or Taking Back Sunday to identify with the genre. There is a popular song many people may know called “That’s the Impression That I Get” by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Technically, they are classified as emo. Crazy right? This just needed to be addressed before you read this article. Now, let’s face the music.

 

It is unfortunate that this band only made two projects, an EP and their other self-titled LP in 1999. The band was formed by four members:Mike Kinsella (vocals and guitar), Steve Lamos (drummer/trumpet), and Steve Holmes (rhythm guitar). The three colleagues went to the same high school and college, coincidentally. Inspired by the rising angst of groups like Nirvana and Sunny Day Real Estate, AF quickly began channeling their creative minds. The group never performed any shows that were bigger than a college party basement. Hitting a peak capacity at around 40 people. A&Rs from multiple companies heard about American Football, but never gave them the time, except Polyvinyl Records. After some arguments regarding the name of the group, they finally settled on the title, American Football. And it stuck too. However, the band quickly broke up, on mutual terms, because all three of the members were embarking on their own adventures after college graduation. Little did they know, that that 9 track disc would have such a monumental impact on the indie scene. It was groundbreaking. Because of the ever growing popularity of the band, they decided to reunite in 2014 for a handful of music festivals. The band has been together ever since then, but has not released any new music. Still, AF paved the way for many groups that consider themselves as “emo.”

The first time I listened to this album, it was around 6 months ago and I had no idea what I was listening to. I read review after review about this astonishing band, but still had a hard time understanding. Songs like, “Bleed American” by Jimmy Eat World exhibit a certain level of distortion, power chords, screaming, and intense desire to kick your foot through a car window (badass). Instead, the group uses an interesting take on the genre by using exceptional trumpet accompaniment by Steve Lamos on tracks like “When Summer Ends” and “For Sure.” Additionally, this goes well with the complex structure of the guitars, almost sounding like a bugle call waking up troops in a misty field. Meanwhile, Mike Kinsella adds an eerie effect with his distant vocal and gut-wrenching lyricism about his past failed love life. An very early 2002 Death Cab For Cutie with a kick of ska elements (trumpet) can closely resemble some of the points that I am trying to illustrate. Now, bands are unafraid to pour their heart out and wear it on their sleeve at concert events. Except, sometimes it can be a little much.

“Picture this
The long awaited
Sickening kiss
How does it feel (explain)
To know (how)
We’ve re-written history (these things change)
Despite the complicated
Beginning to all of this
Honestly?” -Honestly by American Football

As I reiterated in an earlier paragraph, while the lyrics may seem cold and lonesome, the musical progression is hardly similar. These songs are raw and emotionally empowering. I believe that many of these songs become much more emotional, knowing that the band parted ways 2 days after the first issue of their LP. In fact, some of the songs went unfinished and the band had Polyvinyl work on the finishing product. Give it a listen and see what I am talking about. 

 

 

American Football LP-American Football 1999

 

 

 

 

Avaliable everywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/3wRBlpk5PRoixwOnLujTal

Also thank you to Noisey (music Vice) for great background information and interview notes about the band.

Spotify page: jkiser2016