American Football - ‘American Football (Covers)’ review
American Football by Ross Peacey
In celebrating the 25th anniversary of their iconic self-titled debut, American Football brings us American Football (Covers), a tribute to the album that quietly defined a generation of indie and emo rock. The collection features an impressive lineup of artists—from Iron & Wine to Manchester Orchestra—each breathing new life into tracks that have become synonymous with vulnerability and raw emotional resonance. This album isn't just about nostalgia; it’s a meditation on the enduring power of music to cross boundaries of time and genre, while still capturing the core of human feeling.
From the moment Iron & Wine's Sam Beam opens the album with “Never Meant,” it’s clear that these covers are more than mere reinterpretations—they’re personal reflections on how these songs have shaped both the artists performing them and the listeners who continue to revisit them. Beam's rendition of the original track slows it down, stretching out each note as if he’s reliving every ounce of heartache the song embodies. His warm, hushed vocals transform the youthful desperation of the line, “Let’s just forget everything said,” into something softer, almost resigned—an intimate plea from someone who’s long since made peace with their past mistakes. The phantasmal video accompanying the cover, showing Beam’s silhouette haunting the iconic American Football house, only amplifies this sense of lingering memory, of emotions that never fully fade.
M.A.G.S.' version of “I’ll See You When We’re Both Not So Emotional” takes a completely different route, injecting the track with an electrifying intensity. While the original track teetered on the edge of restrained pain, M.A.G.S. embraces the underlying frustration with fuzzed-out guitars and vocals that feel like a release. There’s an urgency here that mirrors the confusion and desperation of trying to navigate complex emotions—a theme that resonates universally, no matter when or where you first heard the song. As the chorus swells, the cathartic energy feels palpable, offering the listener a visceral connection to the underlying emotional storm.
The beauty of American Football (Covers) lies in how each artist approaches these well-worn tracks with their own emotional lens, while still preserving the core themes that made the originals so enduring. Blondshell’s cover of “The Summer Ends” is an atmospheric reimagining, taking the introspective sadness of the original and giving it a dreamlike, shoegaze-inflected texture. The subtle build of reverb-drenched guitars captures the fleeting nature of summer, of time slipping away—a sentiment that feels just as poignant now as it did 25 years ago.
Meanwhile, Ethel Cain’s rendition of “For Sure” feels expansive and haunting, her ethereal voice floating above sparse instrumentation. It’s a masterful contrast to the intricate, mathy guitar work of Yvette Young’s take on “You Know I Should Be Leaving Soon,” which stays closer to the original’s delicate precision while layering in Young’s distinct style. Known for her virtuosic finger-tapping technique, Young brings a level of precision and emotional expression that complements the song’s original mood. While the original version of the track is already meticulous in its guitar work, Young takes it a step further by accentuating its melodic complexity. The fluidity and dexterity she brings to the piece create a heightened sense of vulnerability, as if each note she plays is carefully chosen to evoke a particular emotional response.
This is an album that plays on contrasts—both in the way it compares to the original and in the way each cover offers a new emotional interpretation. Novo Amor & Lowswimmer’s delicate “Honestly?” brings a sense of minimalist introspection, while Girl Ultra’s sultry, idiosyncratic version of “But the Regrets Are Killing Me” adds a pop-laced melancholy that feels surprisingly fitting.
Perhaps the most striking thing about American Football (Covers) is how it manages to make these songs feel fresh while still honoring the nostalgia attached to them. For those who grew up listening to the original album, there’s a deep sense of reflection here—each artist takes us back to that house, to those nights spent with the windows open, wondering how to make sense of love and loss. But even for new listeners, the universal themes of heartbreak, confusion, and self-discovery remain as potent as ever.
Ultimately, American Football (Covers) is more than a celebration of an album that quietly influenced a generation—it’s a reminder of how deeply music can resonate, how it grows and shifts with us, and how it connects us across time. It’s a tribute to the kind of emotional honesty that never goes out of style, and a perfect companion to the newly remastered American Football debut, which continues to twinkle with the same gentle brilliance it did in 1999.
American Football (Covers) from American Football is out 18 October via Polyvinyl Records and available on all good streaming platforms.
