Sports Team Unveil Wistful Single ‘Medium Machine’ & Deluxe Edition of ‘Boys These Days’

Explore the nostalgic vibes of Sports Team’s ‘Medium Machine’ and get the scoop on the deluxe edition of their album ‘Boys These Days’.

A New Chapter in Sports Team’s Sonic Journey

If you’ve been tracking the indie-rock scene, you know Sports Team don’t just make music—they craft experiences. Their latest single, ‘Medium Machine’, drops a wistful, almost country-tinged melody that feels like a sentimental stroll down memory lane. It’s part of the freshly announced deluxe edition of their third studio album, Boys These Days, slated for release on November 5 via Distiller/Bright Antenna.

“I read somewhere that [Stephen] Malkmus started Pavement trying to sound like The Fall. To me, ‘Medium Machine’ is what it would have sounded like if he’d wanted to be Men At Work,” shared Rob Knaggs, the band’s lyricist and guitarist.

That snippet alone paints a vivid picture of the track’s quirky heritage—a blend of ’90s slacker rock with a playful twist. The lyrics don’t hold back: “But I don’t care if you love me/ I don’t care if you tell me you love me/ I don’t care if you want me to love you.”

The song crescendos with a distorted guitar solo swirling over an inventive instrumental, taking listeners on a dreamlike journey right to the closing notes.

The Music Video: Teenage Dreams and Surreal Scenes

If the song pulls at your heartstrings, the accompanying music video directed by Kris Rimmer will tug even harder. Picture this: the band members as teenagers, jamming away in their bedrooms, mixed with ethereal, almost surreal visuals. It’s nostalgic, intimate, and a little bit whimsical—the perfect visual partner to ‘Medium Machine.’

Watch the video here:

Inside the Deluxe Edition: Seven New Tracks That Bridge Past and Present

What’s more exciting is the deluxe edition of Boys These Days isn’t just a re-release; it’s a sonic expansion. Seven fresh tracks await, including the upcoming single ‘Pet Sounds.’ Rob Knaggs opens up about the creative process:

“These songs were written at the same time as the Boys These Days demos but fell between two piles. We had the electro-clash material piling up in the ‘maybes’ pile, and the Prefab Sprout-influenced tracks.”

He points to tracks like ‘Living In Skin’ and ‘In America’ as nods to electro-clash, with influences from “Youth Speed Trouble Cigarettes”-era Kitsune compilations and The Dare’s hit ‘Girls.’ While the band didn’t feel ready for a full electro-clash album, these tracks are like a vestigial appendix of that phase.

Then there’s ‘Germany’ and ‘Dog Country’, tracks that nearly became the album’s working title. Knaggs describes ‘Dog Country’ as a metaphor for suburbia and how the urgency of the album shifted when recording in Norway, leading to some songs being benched. The bubble of creative exploration is evident:

“‘Shoegazr’ sits somewhere in between. We aimed for a Drop Nineteens vibe but ended up sounding more like Miike Snow.”

Reliving the Original Album & What’s Next for Sports Team

Released back in May, Boys These Days earned critical acclaim for its fresh take on indie rock. It’s a step away from the raucous guitar mayhem of their earlier work, leaning into a wackier, more eccentric sound that embodies the spirit of a lively local gig:

“Sports Team flip the narrative of an increasingly stark, divided world to embrace the childlike side of human nature, staying true to that foundational principle of the band.”

Fans will be thrilled to know that the band is gearing up for a UK headline tour starting November 5. Don’t miss your chance to catch them live:

Sports Team’s 2025 UK Headline Tour Dates:

• Nov 5 – Manchester Academy, Manchester
• Nov 6 – The Art School, Glasgow
• Nov 7 – O2 Institute, Birmingham
• Nov 8 – Leeds University Stylus, Leeds
• Nov 12 – Patterns, Brighton
• Nov 13 – The Waterfront, Norwich
• Nov 14 – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
• Nov 15 – Electric Brixton, London

Heads up: Some European dates were recently cancelled due to financial constraints, a reminder of the challenges bands face touring as a six-piece.

Tracklist for Boys These Days (Deluxe)

Here’s the full lineup of tracks on the deluxe edition, blending the original gems with the new additions:

1. I’m In Love (Subaru)
2. Boys These Days
3. Moving Together
4. Condensation
5. Sensible
6. Planned Obsolescence
7. Bang Bang Bang
8. Head To Space
9. Bonnie
10. Maybe When We’re 30
11. Medium Machine
12. Pet Sounds
13. Living In Skin (demo)
14. Shoegazr (demo)
15. In America (demo)
16. Dog Country (demo)
17. Germany (demo)

Wrapping It Up

With ‘Medium Machine’ and the deluxe edition, Sports Team invite us to wander through their evolving soundscape—part nostalgic, part experimental, all heartfelt. It’s refreshing to see a band so openly blend their influences and leave space for creative detours. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering them, this new phase is worth diving into.

FAQ

• What is the core style of the new single ‘Medium Machine’?
  It’s a wistful, country-tinged track with ’90s slacker rock influences and a playful, distorted guitar solo.
• When is the deluxe edition of Boys These Days releasing?
  The expanded album is set for release on November 5.
• How many new tracks are included in the deluxe edition?
  The deluxe edition features seven new songs alongside the original album tracks.
• Why were some European tour dates cancelled?
  The band cited financial risks of touring as a six-piece band as the reason for cancellation.
• What is the vibe of the music video for ‘Medium Machine’?
  The video shows the band as teenagers performing in bedrooms with dreamlike, surreal visuals.

Feeling inspired by Sports Team’s nostalgic yet fresh energy? Bring their music closer to your space by shopping your favorite album cover poster at our store here. It’s a perfect companion for any true fan’s wall.