Influential Midwest emo band American Football have revealed new details about their upcoming album LP4, including a lineup of notable guest collaborators. The record arrives May 1 via Polyvinyl Records and will feature appearances from Turnstile vocalist Brendan Yates, Rainer Maria singer Caithlin De Marrais, and Wisp’s Natalie R. Lu.
The album is currently available for pre-order in multiple physical formats, including vinyl, CD, and cassette, and follows the release of the project’s first preview single, “Bad Moons.”
The guest lineup reflects American Football’s connections across generations of alternative music.
Turnstile’s Brendan Yates appears on the track “No Feeling.” According to bassist Nate Kinsella, the collaboration happened quickly after the band invited Yates to stop by producer Sonny DiPerri’s Los Angeles studio.
“There’s a shimmery, sort of silver quality to his voice when he sings high and nails those long pitches,” Kinsella said in the band’s official album bio. “It’s so beyond what I expected on that song.”
Longtime friends Caithlin De Marrais of Rainer Maria contribute vocals to “Blood on My Blood.” The connection goes back decades, with vocalist Mike Kinsella having worked as Rainer Maria’s merch seller during early tours.
Elsewhere on the album, Wisp’s Natalie R. Lu adds what the band describes as an “ethereal contrast” to the track “Wake Her Up.”
For guitarist Steve Holmes, the band’s fourth album reflects a different stage of life than the group’s beloved 1999 self-titled debut.
“The charm of the first record is that it could have only been made by kids,” Holmes said. “This record could only have been made by adults. There’s a swagger that comes with the confidence of having done this for a long time, and there’s gravitas to Mike’s lyrics.”
He added that themes of heartbreak remain present but are now grounded in more lived experience.
Mike Kinsella also highlighted the band’s evolving songwriting approach.
“From the instrumentation to the arrangements to Nate running into a microphone and apologizing and us leaving it on the album, I’m really proud of the decisions we made,” he said. “We’ve gotten nothing but better at writing songs.”
First Taste: “Bad Moons”
The first preview of LP4 arrived in late February with “Bad Moons,” an expansive track running over eight minutes that signals the band’s continued willingness to stretch their signature sound.
American Football will support the album with a 2026 world tour, beginning May 15 in Denver and wrapping August 16 in Minneapolis, with stops across North America, Europe, and festival appearances including Fuji Rock.
