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Critic Reviews
83
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.
10y
80
Cardinal feels like one big determined push outward, an album-length fight against solipsism without losing your sense of self in the process.
10y
80
What they lack in showiness or branding, they make up for in honesty and slightly battered spirit.
10y
80
In another place and time, Pinegrove could have ridden a self-assured record like this to widespread indie acclaim. Instead, it feels like an act of generosity, a record lovingly crafted and intimately written, full of sounds, observations, and emotional realizations that you didnโt know you wanted in 2016, but, in fact, needed desperately.
10y
80
Whatโs unique about Pinegrove is how they compress uncertainty, doubt and fear without being overbearing.
9y
80
The Montclair, New Jersey's band's sound โ off-the-cuff, loose heart-on-sleeve indie-rock cut with Americana โ is the perfect vessel for that kind of premature twilight, anxiety and loss. Above all else, it feels so goddamned natural.
10y
80
Pinegrove blurs the lines between what it’s playing and what its saying, but that works in Cardinal’s favor, resulting in one of the most comfortable, rewarding, repayable albums of the nascent alt-emo genre.
6y
75
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.
10y
When your friends in the neighbor's basement are cooking up some serious shit
A really simple but well done record. It connect with you. eh lacked for words. enjoyed the some writing i was able to focus on the vocals and production. tho the lacking tracks lack I bit more noticabley. sounds great tho yea
An entertaining and classic sounding emo record.
Best Track: Old Friends
Worst Track: Visiting
"You could hold it right in your hands collapsing and still not know"
A very cosy album, perfect for around a campfire. Starts very strong and coasts through with no complaints. I love the duo of bookend tracks. I wouldn't consider this Midwest Emo at all, it is definitely more alt-country. I know that as a genre, Midwest Emo has lost all meaning, but this doesn't fit the older definition nor the newer. Not in anyway the records fault, just something that confused me. Very ... read more
Really fun album, my only complaint really is the mixing is a bit off, but beyond that there are some really great tracks on this album. Definitely great amongst indie and Midwest Emo records
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Track List
| 1 | Old Friends 3:27 | 94 |
| 2 | Cadmium 4:12 | 83 |
| 3 | Then Again 2:39 | 78 |
| 4 | Aphasia 4:30 | 92 |
| 5 | Visiting 3:06 | 81 |
| 6 | Waveform 4:31 | 79 |
| 7 | Size of the Moon 4:47 | 88 |
| 8 | New Friends 3:16 | 90 |
Total Length: 30 minutes
Year End Lists
| #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 |
| #32 | / | Variance |
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