American Football: "Bad Moons"

"In 'Bad Moons,' the unpredictability lies not in the lyrics like usual, where Mike Kinsella admits he's 'just two little boys in a trench coat' in that languorous voice he can't shed. Instead, the lasting impression comes from his bandmates' graceful turns through delicate post-rock. Aqueous harp and piano eventually give way to a fishing net of guitars, each minimalist line woven tighter than the next."

"As the song escalates, so does their slow-motion rush of shoegaze, claiming space both outwards and upwards, like geometrical synchronized swimming routines through Busby Berkeley's directorial eye. The mesmerizing evolution reaches its peak when a quivering guitar solo jettisons into view."

"it's the totality of American Football's momentum that lends the music its wallop. You could make easy money betting on lines like 'I'm scared and I don't want to grow up' appearing, but even Kalshi odds would come up short on American Football gliding past the dazzling scope of their third album like this."

American Football releases 'Bad Moons' as their first single from an upcoming album, demonstrating the band's characteristic unpredictability through instrumental composition rather than lyrics. Mike Kinsella's vocals convey self-loathing and vulnerability over themes of fear and shame, while his bandmates construct intricate post-rock arrangements. The song begins with aqueous harp and piano, gradually building through minimalist guitar lines that intensify into a shoegaze-influenced crescendo. A quivering guitar solo marks the peak of the composition. The band's ability to create emotional resonance through instrumental momentum and careful arrangement evolution defines their artistic approach, transcending typical emo conventions.

Read at Pitchfork