Ethel Cain, Manchester Orchestra and Blondshell feature on American Football anniversary covers album

31 July 2024, 15:00 | Written by Tyler Damara Kelly

(News)

(American Football) (Ethel Cain) (Manchester Orchestra) (Blondshell)

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of their seminal debut album, American Football have announced a completely remastered version of the 1999 album, as well as a covers edition.

The band have shared "Never Meant (Remastered)" along with Iron & Wine’s opening rendition of "Never Meant", along with official music video, with phantasmal footage of Sam Beam of Iron & Wine transposed across the walls of the iconic American Football House in Urbana, IL.

Steve Holmes expressed the band’s gratitude for Beam’s involvement in the project. “When the first Iron & Wine record came out, it threaded the needle between Townes Van Zandt and Elliott Smith. It felt like if Nick Drake grew up with us listening to Fugazi before pivoting to making bedroom art folk. In other words, it was exactly what we would have been making if our first record came out when we were 28 instead of 22. Sam Beam is an incredible songwriter and interpreter of song, and it is beyond flattering that he would take the time to interpret one of ours.”

"My neighbour Brad Cook and I have been circling each other hoping to work on something for a bit,” shares Beam of his involvement in the album. “When I was asked about this project, it felt like the perfect opportunity. Especially a song that I knew meant a lot to American Football’s fans. Honoured to be part of this and hoping we did it justice.”

American Football LP1 will be reissued with a completely remastered version of the 1999 album, as well as a covers edition of the record featuring contributions from an array of talented artists including Iron & Wine, Ethel Cain, Manchester Orchestra, Blondshell and more. American Football LP1 has been lovingly remastered for the first time by original mastering engineer Jonathan Pines in Urbana’s Private Studios, where it was recorded.

Tracklist:

Iron & Wine - Never Meant
Blondshell - The Summer Ends
Novo Amor & Lowswimmer - Honestly?
Ethel Cain - For Sure
Yvette Young - You Know I Should Be Leaving Soon
Girl Ultra - But the Regrets Are Killing Me
M.A.G.S. - I'll See You When We're Both Not So Emotional
Manchester Orchestra - Stay Home
John McEntire - The One With the Wurlitzer

American Football (25th Anniversary Edition) and the American Football (Covers) LPs will be out via Polyvinyl Record Co. on 18 October. Both albums are available to pre-order now.