This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply. Based on the circumstances after American Football’s last record, LP3, it would easy to understand why the band would need a solid seven years to reset before today’s release of LP4. The previous album came out in March of 2019, and when American Football were gearing up for a break after touring in support of the record, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drummer Steve Lamos quit the band in July of 2021 due to personal reasons, while the rest of the band tried to get writing done via Zoom sessions, bearing little fruit. Around that same time, Mike and Nate Kinsella were focusing on their side project, Lies, where they met up with producer Sonny DiPerri. Encouraged by that partnership, American Football would regroup, Lamos rejoined in 2023, and the band would work with DiPerri on LP4. It’s a record that grapples with demons like loss, shame, divorce, and self-loathing in a lyrically heavy package. American Football once again prove why they’re one of the best artists to make music that is simultaneously moody, lyrically deep, and filled with solid musicianship. The set leads off with “Man Overboard” that features a messy drumbeat from Steve Lamos that is an utterly unique and captivating way to kick off this latest era of the band. Mike Kinsella croons on the second verse, “My anchors, cut loose / My life’s issue / If I ever set sail / I’ll miss you, you won’t pray for me / God never taught me how to swim / Just how to sink,” to bring some context into his state of mind of dealing with heavy issues. The song sets the stage for one of the key singles of “No Feeling” that features a stunning guest vocal performance from Turnstile’s Brendan Yates who impresses in his cameo with a much different vocal cadence and tone than from his main project. Kinsella grapples with his own mortality as he shares with vulnerability in his voice, “Some bones stand on their own / Some bones are carried / Mine are either, neither, or both / They just ache to be buried / Help me dig a hole / I’m already cold / I honestly never planned on getting old.” The two vocalists weave in and out of harmonies with ease, and showcase their talents equally. ”Blood On My Blood” features a great bass line from Nate Kinsella, while drummer Steve Lamos puts some pretty unique fills over the introductory music section. The track features a guest vocalist in Caithlin De Marrais, and Kinsella tells a story of a painful breakup/divorce as he croons, “Story of my life / Is a murder mystery / Too many bodies to count / And there’s blood on everything / Promise me you’ll be alright tonight / As long as you don’t love me.” As the two voices intermingle, it tells a heartbreaking story of loss and love, and the wanting to be together again. It’s a key part of the album’s storytelling, and it unlocks the anticipation of what is to come in the back half. ”Bad Moons” was the first single to be released from the set, and it’s 100% vintage American Football at its core, sonically. The reflective song takes its time getting to each intricate section over an eight-minute opus. The band mixes in some orchestral sections too to evoke just the right emotions in the music. The second verse is pretty telling as Kinsella admits, “Surprise, I’ve been so many boys in this trench coat / Ask my ex-wife / She met Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide / I know, I know, I know that should be a “Y” / But none of my “why’s” ever get answered.” That’s an incredibly well-written verse, lyrically, and it makes longtime fans of American Football proud to have stuck with the band over the years. LP4 also includes two interludes in “The One with the Piano” and later “Lullabye” to bring some musical context around the material on the back half. On “Wake Her Up” Kinsella deals with the demons of his past as he confesses, “I have a morbid fascination / Of trauma that I can’t mend / Of course I fell in love with the girl of the River Seine / I’m covered in isolation / Was never a “if” but “when” / I’d accidentally fall in love with the girl of the River Seine,” to bring further insight into his complicated search for love. Other songs like “Desdemona” paint with darker, yet vivid colors, as Kinsella shares, “And I wanna see you more than everything, Desdemona / Suffer like I do / ‘Cause we’re in love,” bringing further insight into not only his quest for love but for belonging to something bigger than himself. The album closer of “No Soul To Save” is a stunning listening experience from start to finish as drummer Steve Lamos continues to impress on the kit, while Mike Kinsella’s blend of intricate guitar parts and soaring vocals leaves the audience breathless. Early on Mike Kinsella wonders, “If we’re all born the same, why am I so ashamed?” before later sharing in a self-deprecating manner, “I’ve made too many mistakes / I’ve no hope for redemption and no soul to save.” Mike Kinsella feels that he’s deeply flawed, and he bares his soul for all the world to see and dissect if they choose. LP4 is a great addition to an already stunning career that American Football have made for themselves, and this particular album is arguably the most personal we’ve ever gotten from the band. It’s a record that’s meant to be listened in full, as the singles taken out of context don’t do the album as much justice as what’s woven through the complete story. American Football continue to age gracefully, even if the world around them seems to be tearing through the very fabric of what makes them complete. more Not all embedded content is displayed here. You can view the original to see embedded videos and other embedded content.
which lyrics during this record made people concerned? i skimmed through and i honestly can’t find anything.