American Football remains one of the most influential Midwest emo bands of all time, with their distinguished debut album continuing to resonate with a new generation of listeners more than two decades after its release. 

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of “American Football,” the band announced in July that there would be two special renditions of the album — one being an anniversary edition and the other being a cover album.

“American Football (Covers),” features a homage of artists like Manchester Orchestra, Blondshell, Ethel Cain and Iron & Wine, as they pay tribute to the defining 1999 record and reimagine the original charm into something fresh and expansive.

The simplicity and cohesiveness of the band’s work are replaced by an array of diverse sounds that convert the album into a complex montage of energy while still retaining the allure of the initial release.

Blondshell’s “The Summer Ends” is one of the standout songs on the album, a commanding reinterpretation of the poignant classic track. 

The song is both delicate and powerful, the gauzy melody fueled by Blondshell’s vocals that tremble with honed intensity. The track captures a striking emotional essence, with the impassioned guitar riff seeping into a low register as her vocals breathe new life into the song. 

Manchester Orchestra’s rendition of “Stay Home” captures feelings of intimacy and vulnerability throughout the six-minute-long song.

The introduction sprawls out, with slow-burning, hazy instrumentation that creates a longing atmosphere. The broad vocality nurtures feelings of nostalgia and yearning, as the rhythm remains steady in the background. 

“But the Regrets Are Killing Me” also wallows in atmospheric instrumentation, with shimmering synths and reverb-soaked guitar riffs as Girl Ultra’s vocals add a psychedelic pop aspect. 

The song is drastically different from American Football’s more shoe-gazy version, introducing a cross-genre exploration of dream-pop and Midwest emo that feels both refreshing and innovative. 

The complexity of the song is highlighted by the diversity of sonic textures, as intricate layers of sound enhance its dreamlike quality.

Ethel Cain’s version of “For Sure” is haunting in its simplicity. It holds an orchestral beauty as it sprawls out into an eight-minute-long composition that gradually unfolds with shimmering grace.

The rhythmic pattern of the guitar anchors the song as Cain’s dreamy vocality flourishes in the background, creating a bittersweet feeling that is reminiscent of American Football’s reverberant ballads.

Cain’s ability to transform “For Sure” into something her own while still maintaining the distinctly American Football feel, is both striking and seamless.

Iron & Wines’ cover of “Never Meant” hangs onto the comfort that made one of American Football’s most popular songs. The track is sincere, nurturing an intimate warmth that seeps with nostalgia.

As the majority of tracks expand on the original album, Iron & Wine takes a step back to truly recreate something that stays faithful to the original sound. It’s delicate and preserves the essence that made the track unforgettable. 

“You Know I Should Be Leaving Soon,” covered by Yvette Young, nurtures folky warmth with intricate guitar melodies and a balmy violin. The sweetness of the violin stretches throughout the song, creating a lighthearted ambiance while prolonging its emotional resonance. 

Every track adds on to the original album’s charm, feeling authentically American Football while building upon the band’s seminal 1999 record. The rich array of influences adds depth and appeal to the cover album, as each artist takes the tracks and remasters them into something that uniquely captures their own sound. 

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