AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Year One Demos POLYVINYL

7/10

Previously unreleased demos for diehards American Football’s 1999 full-length debut is a pinnacle of second-wave emo, a fusion of math rock, jazz and tender lyrics. Known for soft guitar textures and Mike Kinsella’s earnest singing, these Illinois college students have become an unlikely point of interest for younger generations: before a 2014 deluxe reissue, copies of original CD and vinyl pressings would fetch more than $100 on Discogs. The four demos that comprise this limited-edition 12in were recorded to two-track in May 1997, and reveal the earliest creative ambition of a group who claim they had no career plans. The signature trumpet line on “The Summer Ends” is missing here, while “For Sure” hums alongside a drum machine as drummer Steve Lamos plays trumpet. “Five Silent Miles” here became the last track on the band’s 1998 EP, twinkling guitars woven with rolling snare hits, this demo version fuzzier and slightly longer than on the record. “Song #1_Song#2”, meanwhile, is a loose jam that portends elements of songs to come, with loud-soft dynamics and slack trumpet. All are too inside baseball for casual fans, but a delight for diehards. Extras: None.