American Football

Sometimes, the best bands are those that spring up momentarily between more permanent outfits. Urbana, IL three-piece American Football rose from the ashes of Midwestern emo legends, Cap'n Jazz, among a series of side projects involving Mike Kinsella. Kinsella primarily played the drums in Cap'n Jazz, while his brother Tim screamed and hollered in his oft-out of key screech. After the demise of his brother's band, Kinsella decided to gather some of his fellow Chicago scenesters to form his own band, The One Up Downstairs, where he would play guitar and sing. They recorded 3 songs in 1997. However, the band broke up shortly thereafter, and the EP did not see the light of day until its digital release in 2006.

Mike Kinsella retained drummer Steve Lamos (formerly of the Firebird Band, a Braid side project) from the One Up Downstairs for a fuller version of the band, which they called American Football. Although they only existed for 2 years, yielding a self titled EP and full-length, American Football managed to single-handedly put Polyvinyl Records on the map, now home to such indie wonders as Architecture in Helsinki and Of Montreal. The EP was certainly a departure from the chaotic sound of Cap'n Jazz, focusing on chiming guitars, dynamic time signatures, and Mike's plaintive vocals, which stood in stark contrast to Tim's caustic melodies.

Although the EP introduced their fresh sound to the Chicago scene, it is the full-length that is their true masterpiece. The opening track, "Never Meant," is as close to perfect as a song can get. The first few seconds catch the band tuning up and calling out directions to each other, but right after the 4-count, it takes off running. Both guitars intertwine beautifully as Kinsella reasons with himself over a breakup in an obvious state of denial: "I just think it's best/ cause you can't miss what you forget." The rest of the album plays with this same formula, occasionally employing strings, trumpet, and even a wurlitzer, to illustrate the end of a relationship in symphonic fashion.

Despite the buzz that American Football had created for themselves, they were decidedly a studio band, and parted ways shortly after the release of the full-length. Since then, Kinsella has had a number of side projects. He has filled in on drums for his brother's band, Joan of Arc, on a number of their albums. Cap'n Jazz even reunited for one album under the name Owls. For the past 6 years, he has been playing under the moniker Owen, in which he plays all of the instruments and records the songs himself. Though these songs are good and often emotionally devastating, Kinsella has still yet to reach the classic heights of American Football. However, I suppose you can't miss what you forget.

Check out "Never Meant" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdfhJXV5kgU