Based on the circumstances after American Football’s last record, LP3, it would easy to understand why the band would need a solid seven years to reset before today’s release of LP4. The previous album came out in March of 2019, and when American Football were gearing up for a break after touring in support of the record, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drummer Steve Lamos quit the band in July of 2021 due to personal reasons, while the rest of the band tried to get writing done via Zoom sessions, bearing little fruit. Around that same time, Mike and Nate Kinsella were focusing on their side project, Lies, where they met up with producer Sonny DiPerri. Encouraged by that partnership, American Football would regroup, Lamos rejoined in 2023, and the band would work with DiPerri on LP4. It’s a record that grapples with demons like loss, shame, divorce, and self-loathing in a lyrically heavy package. American Football once again prove why they’re one of the best artists to make music that is simultaneously moody, lyrically deep, and filled with solid musicianship.