American Football [DLCD] [Deluxe] [Colored Vinyl]

About American Football [DLCD] [Deluxe] [Colored Vinyl]

American Football is the eponymous debut studio album by American rock band American Football, released on September 14, 1999 by Polyvinyl Record Co. After the break-up of The One Up Downstairs, drummer Steve Lamos started jamming with guitarist Steve Holmes. With the addition of vocalist/guitarist Mike Kinsella, the band released a self-titled EP in October 1998 through Polyvinyl. With Brendan Gamble taking producer duties, the group recorded their debut album at Private Studios in Urbana, Illinois. The album's sound is a throwback to early Joan of Arc, a band in which Kinsella previously played drums; the band focused on the interaction between two guitars after listening to Steve Reich. A few of the songs were unfinished by the time the band got to the studio, and they decided to finish them there. The artwork, photographed by Chris Strong, was of a house located within walking distance of the University of Illinois. The album received minor success at college radio stations. However, the band broke up soon after due to the members no longer living in the same city: Kinsella started Owen after he wanted complete creative control, and Holmes & Lamos played in The Geese. Since its release, the album has acquired cult status. A deluxe edition was released by Polyvinyl in May 2014, the demand for which crashed the label's website, and peaked at number 68 on the US Billboard 200. A month later, a music video was released for the song "Never Meant", directed by Strong. The band has since played shows across the United States and the United Kingdom more »