"The opener "Man Overboard" quickly signals the shift. Its knotty, almost dizzying drum pattern and swelling walls of sound feel alien in this context, culminating in Mike Kinsella's blunt admission, "It's hopeless.""
"If earlier American Football records hinted at adult disillusionment, LP4 plunges cannon ball-style into it. "Patron Saint of Pale" pairs a deceptively buoyant rhythm with the logistical absurdity of divorce."
"Even the wryness cuts deeper now; "Blood on My Blood" turns self-awareness into a kind of defense mechanism, its zig-zagging groove masking the threat embedded in its lyrics."
"The centerpiece, though, is "Bad Moons," an eight-minute slow burn that spirals from surreal humor into far more."
American Football's third album since their 2014 reunion, LP4, delves into the complexities of post-youth experiences rather than simply revisiting nostalgia. The album features intricate guitar work and emotional lyrics that reflect a blend of catharsis and confrontation. Songs like "Man Overboard" and "No Feeling" illustrate a shift in tone, addressing themes of hopelessness and emotional numbness. Tracks such as "Patron Saint of Pale" and "Wake Her Up" juxtapose buoyant melodies with darker themes, while the centerpiece, "Bad Moons," evolves from humor to deeper emotional territory.
Read at SPIN
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]