Is my biggest red flag that I love American Football?
by Izzi Bavis
Throughout the past few years I have found myself again and again falling back in love with American Football’s 1999 self-titled album. The band met in Urbana, Illinois and released the album on Polyvinyl. Each time I listen, a different song is my song of the month. Most recently, “But The Regrets Are Killing Me” takes the cake. I feel so bad for my friends, my boyfriend, my two younger brothers, my parents — pretty much anyone who drove in my dad’s car with me over winter break. That song was on repeat for a month straight. So why is it that a melancholy album could have such a hold on me? Why do I find myself coming back to the same nine tracks? It’s simple, really, the album is just that fucking good.
“Never Meant” is the opening track to the record and arguably the most popular. Whining into the microphone, Mike Kinsella complains about a relationship that is over and wishes he could pretend as if it was never meant. The song is perfect for anyone who has felt the anguish of an unrequited love or the pangs of a broken heart. So often this track is “memed” because of the twinkling guitar in the beginning but I wholeheartedly listen to this song and dance in my room. Sure, it’s sort of stupid and corny, but if you’ve never driven around in your parents car to the western suburbs of Chicago blasting this while the sun sets I’d refrain from commenting.
I think most people just listen to “Never Meant” and not the rest of the album. Not because they don’t want to engage with the rest of the album but solely because it’s one of the best tracks on the record. If you dared to continue you’d find other hidden gems about pain, love and loss. “The Summer Ends” is next and is this slow downed ballad about how life changes as the seasons turn. Reflecting back on how I felt when the summer ended, this song is the perfect fit.
Other stand out tracks are “But The Regrets Are Killing Me” and “I’ll See You When We’re Both Not So Emotional.” Back to back, they yearn for a different outcome and accept their mistakes. Maybe I don’t listen to enough angsty music or maybe the music I consume is more often than not Sufjan Stevens wailing with a banjo, but the record serves as this escape and reassurance that it’s okay to feel bad about relationships or situations. It’s a reminder that sometimes you miss someone or something that you shouldn’t, and that that feeling can be all consuming. I think that is another reason why this album has always been so prominent in my life — it allows me to be toxic.
That being said, I must mention the title of this album review. In 2022 is it a red flag to love American Football? In the way that I love American Football? I’m not sure, but I am sure that a lot of people in EMMIE/WSUM/WUD Music have a lot of opinions about it.
For my next album review I will unpack why Car Seat Headrest is actually a totally normal and good band to listen to. Till then :)