By Joe Vickrey
Vundabar, Cardinal Bloom, and the guy who paints banks burning down while he stands outside of them. What do all three of these artists have in common? Each of them have had their years of hard work and brilliant craft-honing rewarded with major success on TikTok.
It feels like just yesterday when Utah’s own Cardinal Bloom released their debut EP Glow in 2019. The Only Place I’ve Ever Known has been in the works for what feels like a lifetime for longtime fans of the band. Rest assured; it’s well worth the wait. This is such a refreshing guitar-driven album for anyone who’s a fan of anything from pop to alt rock. Vibes aplenty, this record reveals no weakness between its loudest and most delicate moments.
The Only Place I’ve Ever Known is an album that the freshman class of 2030 will refer to as a pillar of Provocore. The vocals sound like effortless perfection, the rhythm section is locked in, and the production feels both intimate and open. The band jump between jangly to head-banging rock effortlessly while featuring a wide variety of textures. Many of the songs have these massively memorable transitions which feel so fresh in comparison to the standard pop formula.
The album begins with “Somewhere to Hide” which may be my favorite track in the collection. It sounds like a cooler, more modern song from A Rush of Blood to the Head by C*ldplay. Cascading guitar riffs, slick vocals, and a dynamic pulse make for an immersive introduction. This is a perfect example of the group’s songwriting talent.
“So Sweet” is another standout moment in the record. The intro of the song sounds like it could be The Cure’s new single. Real cool feel. The lead guitar is weird and wobbly, and it bounces back and forth with the lead vocal in such a fun way. As a word of caution: these songs are all absolutely earworms. They WILL get stuck in your head. You’ll pause the album to see a funny video on Instagram only to realize three hours later that the phrase, “don’t you want to waste your time with me?” has been playing in your head on loop ever since.
The grand finale, “The Porch” gave me goosebumps. It’s like Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova” but feels bigger. From a soft-spoken acoustic ballad with rotary speaker guitar lines to distorted vocals and a chaotic instrumental build, it feels larger than life. If it’s any indication to what’s to come, then I want to dive in headfirst.
The Only Place I’ve Ever Known was recorded at Provo’s own June Audio. For a debut album, this is massive. While it sounds professional, personal, and pristine, more importantly it sounds like friendship. I was once told, “When recording, fun sticks to the tape,” and Cardinal Bloom are prime examples of this. They seem like a tight-knit group in their social posts, but they sound like best friends on the record. From top to bottom, it’s a great listen, and if you’re looking for the future of indie rock, it’s been here all along.
Be sure to follow Cardinal Bloom on Instagram, and check out “Somewhere to Hide” below!