Cadmium (song)
"Cadmium" is a song recorded by the American rock band Pinegrove. The song was released on January 27, 2016 through Run for Cover Records, as the second single from the band's second studio album Cardinal.[1] It was written by singer-songwriter Evan Stephens Hall.
| "Cadmium" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Pinegrove | ||||
| from the album Cardinal | ||||
| Released | January 27, 2016 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:12 | |||
| Label | Run for Cover | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Evan Stephens Hall | |||
| Pinegrove singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
"Cadimum" was penned by Pinegrove frontman Evan Stephens Hall, who also sings, plays the guitar, and adds percussion to the track. Alongside Hall, siblings Nick and Zack Levine contribute vocals, guitar, and drums, while Adan Carlo Feliciano performed bass guitar. Hall, Nick, Zack, and Sam Skinner are credited with recording the material; all assisted in mixing as well.[2]
"Cadmium" was inspired by the book I Send You This Cadmium Red by John Berger and John Christie, which includes a scene wherein one character sends a letter simply composed of a square. Hall at that time was sending letters to a friend on the West Coast, and the two eventually began exchanging shapes instead of words.[3] The cover art of Cardinal, as well as several lyrics on the album, reference the color red either directly or through metaphor, most notably in "Cadmium".[4]
Release and reception
Run for Cover issued "Cadmium" as the second single from Cardinal on January 27, 2016.[3]
Ian Cohen at Pitchfork considered "Cadmium" as indicative of the album's overarching themes, specifically, "the failure of words to express what [Hall's character] really wants."[5] James Rettig at Stereogum was positive in his impression of the single, writing, "Hall's revelations about communication are met with crisp affirmations from the rest of his band; each time the music drops out sounds like a step on the path to aligning what you say and how you feel."[6] Jessica Goodman of The Line of Best Fit described the "cathartic" tune as a "twanging, chiming, pleading anthem".[7]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Cardinal's liner notes.[2]
- Pinegrove
- Evan Stephens Hall - guitar, vocals, percussion, songwriting, recording, mixing
- Zack Levine - drums, recording, mixing assistance
- Additional personnel
- Adan Carlo Feliciano - bass
- Nandi Rose Plunkett - vocals
- Nick Levine - guitar, recording, mixing assistance
- Sam Skinner - recording, mixing
- Production
- Seth Engel – additional recording
- Greg Calbi – mastering engineer
- Steve Fallone – additional mastering
References
- "Cadmium – Pinegrove". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- Cardinal (liner notes). Pinegrove. US: Run for Cover Records. 2016. RFC:147.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Huq, Meilyn (January 27, 2016). "Listen To "Cadmium," A Brutally Honest New Song By Pinegrove". The Fader. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- Maine, Sammy. "Behind the cover art: Evan Stephens Hall on Pinegrove's Cardinal". GoldFlakePaint. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- Cohen, Ian (February 10, 2016). "Pinegrove: Cardinal". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- Rettig, James (January 27, 2016). "Pinegrove – "Cadmium"". Stereogum. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- Goodman, Jessica (January 29, 2016). "Pinegrove set the record straight with new track "Cadmium"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved February 16, 2021.