Pinegrove builds and burns a lot on Cardinal, and they’re left with the hard-earned knowledge that everything’s probably going to be alright. It’s not the stuff teenage anthems are made of, maybe, but maturity comes with its own small pleasures.
Cardinal feels like one big determined push outward, an album-length fight against solipsism without losing your sense of self in the process.
While it never really strives for inventiveness, Cardinal is steeped in honesty so raw and delivered so loosely that it almost feels like a private show that your friends would put on in your basement. There’s no flash here, just a finely crafted batch of searingly personal indie rock songs.
When your friends in the neighbor's basement are cooking up some serious shit
Highlights: Old Friends, Aphasia, New Friends
An entertaining and classic sounding emo record.
Best Track: Old Friends
Worst Track: Visiting
(Analbumaday Day 141)
After the first track of this album I expected to HATE it, buuut, giving credit where it’s due, I did not HATE it, just wasn’t really into it. Mainly the vocals, not my thing, there are times where strainy, voice crack filled vocals work, and times where it’s mostly just awkward. Here it’s pretty awkward. I thought the sound was alright, certainly didn’t play it safe, and it paid off in moments, while other times it made me question what they ... read more
this album gives off such warm vibes i love it
Fav Song(s): Old Friends, Aphasia, Waveform
1 | Old Friends 3:27 | 95 |
2 | Cadmium 4:12 | 80 |
3 | Then Again 2:39 | 77 |
4 | Aphasia 4:30 | 92 |
5 | Visiting 3:06 | 81 |
6 | Waveform 4:31 | 83 |
7 | Size of the Moon 4:47 | 90 |
8 | New Friends 3:16 | 91 |
#4 | / | A.V. Club |
#4 | / | For The Win |
#10 | / | BrooklynVegan |
#12 | / | BLARE |
#14 | / | Paste |
#15 | / | Vulture |
#20 | / | The Skinny |
#24 | / | Stereogum |
#25 | / | The 405 |
#30 | / | Consequence of Sound |