Customer Reviews

AMERICAN FOOTBALL [Vinyl]

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This record was given to me by a friend who is a fan of the band. I'd never heard of them myself (I listen mostly to older music... Beatles, Can, Brian Eno, etc), but from the first listen I could tell I would like it. The musicianship is spectacular (how often do you hear songs in 7/4 on a pop record nevertheless two of them!). The cyclical patterns and intricate guitar picking make the album stand out from most pop bands, while the drumming (and ocasional trumpet solo)add to the overall ambiance. The vocals are also quite distinct and quite touching on the better tracks (especially "stay home" and "for sure" but "never meant" is also great). I'd recommend this record to anyone looking for a glimmer of hope that pop music today still has something to offer. A wonderful record...! (which leaves this listener eager for more).

...so, so short." This is a beautiful cd. Coming from someone whose cd collection consists of mostly loud, abrasive, and technical music (oh, how I love you DEP), I believe it speaks for itself that this 9-song cd has managed to stay in my music rotation since I discovered this "emo" band about a year ago. That label, which I noticed has been used to describe this band in a few other reviews, does kind of a disservice to AF. I mean, it's soft, completely melodic and such...but the music is so superior to what "emo" bands today are churning out en masse. There are even trumpet parts in a couple tracks. Can you imagine anyone trying to play brass in [insert generic present-day emo band]? Heads would explode. Put it on when the lady-friend is over. She'll dig it too.

I had to come on here and write a review after looking over some of the other reviews that said that this music was "boring"...and especially the people who said it wasn't "brilliant" or "unique." Granted, this is just my opinion, but...
I think that American Football is quite possibly one of the most unique and brilliant bands I've ever heard. I don't see how people can lump them in with "emo," because they are focusing on playing all sorts of weird time signatures and weird tunings, instead of just crying and whining about their last girlfriend. The "boring" part I could understand because their music is very soft and very slow. But show them some respect, the music is complex and creative, and really in a world all its own.
Personally, I think this CD is beautiful and extremely well put together. I recommend everyone (who can tolerate music that is pretty soft) to pick up this CD, the American Football EP, and anything from Owen as well.

As I was going through my CD collection about a month ago, I came across American Footbal. I hadn't listened to it in probably two years but as soon as I heard that opening guitar line, I felt chills. This is an amazing album, truly emotional without being "emo." Highly reccomended as well as anything by the band Compound Red.

The guitarist in my old band once shared the best suggestion with me. To listen to American Fooball. I am forever in his debt- for this alone. This album by American Football is one of the most remarkable things that I have ever heard. These songs are completely emotional, and stunningly heartbreaking. When I first heard it, I instantly grew to love it. I wanted to hear it constantly. I began playing it over and over and it never left my CD player for months on end. The beautiful guitar work, the extremely talented drumming, the soft spoken lyrics, and the pure comfort of this recording made me an instant fan. I was horrified to hear that they had dismembered, even before the record was put out. But I strongly urge everyone to listen and purchase this album. Unfortunately, this music is too impresive for words. You seriously must experience it first hand- and you won't be disappointed.

I was sorry when Mike Kinsella moved on to other projects. American Football was surely his best. These songs are soft spoken, but speak volumes, and are highly original. Everything here is soothing and nostalgic, "Never Meant," "For Sure," "The Summer Ends," are especially good and the music, if not the lyrics, have always reminded me oddly of childhood; old friends; little league nights; kicking a tin can down an alley when you were ten. The fade out for "Honestly?" is the longest part of the song, and reminds one of a boat floating out to sea; you wait for it to drop out of view; it's beautiful while it lasts, and you're sorry when it does. The cd is wholly thoughtful and poignant without being melancholy or maudlin, unlike my review. Soft melodies, soft harmonies, Simon & Garfunkel's "So Long Frank Lloyd Wright" is the most mainstream thing I can think of to compare American Football to. This may take a while to grab hold of you, but for your sake I hope that it will. My only regret is that I gave this four stars when I should have given it five.

I dislike emo. I love this album. This, to me, is just very technical indie pop/rock. The guitar work is magnificent, the drumming is perfect, and the lyrics are simple but beautiful. A very good "end of the night" album. No distortion, no screaming, no over-bearing angst, just good music.

A slow paced album with beautiful guitar riffs, numbing lyrics, and intricate drumming. Add in time signatures most bands won't even dream of touching and you have a masterpiece that makes you want to grab a cup of coffee and stare out the window on cold winter days.

This album amazes me both because it's so good and because I think it's so good. The entire album is very slow-paced. I admit at times I listen to it and wish they'd rock it out, something like Mock Orange style, but if they did that, they wouldn't be who they are. The guitar work is the stand-out trait. The starting riff on the opening track demonstrates that immediately. It comes close to knocking me down every time, and then the guitar solo comes half way through the song, and I get knocked down again. The fun twist of these nine songs is that some of them have the inclusion of a slow, jazzy trumpet (played by the drummer). That brass first shows up in the second track, like you're being told that you don't have these three amazing musicians figured out after only one song. I love the vocals, too. They add a mystic epic feel that allows you to choose to sing along, or simply relax to their soothing sounds.
This is an album that people who need to identify every band with an exact style will love to debate over. Is it indie or is it emo? I personally say this is emo in its purest of forms, and that true emo and indie are more one and the same. If you disagree, that's fine. It doesn't take away from how good this album is.

Obviously everything Mike Kinsella touches turns to gold. American Football is great guitars..jazzy drums..and the occasional trumpet, topped with short lyrics about leaving high school or a relationship. Now don't be fooled by thinking they're the "typical emo band". They're far from it. Everyone in the band is a great musician, therefore the music is very complex. This is deffinetly for fans of Unwed Sailor, Aloha, or any of Mike's other bands.