The Breeders are an American alternative rock band based in Dayton, Ohio, consisting of members Kim Deal, her twin sister Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs, and Jim Macpherson (drums).
members: Kim Deal, Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs, Tanya Donelly, Britt Walford, Carrie Bradley, José Medeles
formed in: Boston
labels: 4AD, Elektra
genres: alternative rock
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Kim Deal, not fulfilled in her role as bassist of the Pixies, began writing new material while the Pixies were touring Surfer Rosa in Europe with Throwing Muses. As neither band had plans in the immediate future, Deal discussed possible side projects with Throwing Muses guitarist Tanya Donelly. They recruited Carrie Bradley, violinist and vocalist in Boston band Ed's Redeeming Qualities, and recorded a short demo tape. Tracks on the demo tape included early versions of "Lime House", "Doe", and "Only in 3's".
Are you them, or do you know them? The mail slot is open.
"Cannonball" is a song by American alternative rock band the Breeders from their second studio album, Last Splash (1993). It was released as a single on August 9, 1993, on 4AD and Elektra Records, reaching No. 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart.
In November 1993, the single was released in France, where it charted for 30 weeks, peaking at No. 8. The song demo was originally called "Grunggae" as it merged "island riffs and grunge".
The rhythm of the introduction is constructed from metallic clicking on a snare rim and cymbal stand, which is tapped out by the Breeders drummer Jim McPherson. The loud, distorted voice of Kim Deal at the beginning of the song was achieved by singing closely into a harmonica microphone, which can also be seen in most live performances.
"Cannonball" is an alternative rock, pop rock, indie pop, and grunge song that lasts three minutes and 36 seconds. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by EMI Music Publishing, the song is written in the time signature of common time, with a moderately fast rock tempo of 112 beats per minute and composed in the key of E-flat major (E♭), while Kim Deal's vocal range spans from a low of E♭3 to a high of B♭4. The song has a basic sequence that alternates between the chords of B♭5 and E♭5 during the introduction and verses and follows B♭5–E♭5–A♭5 at the chorus as its chord progression.
As the lead single from their second album, "Cannonball" went on to become the Breeders' biggest commercial success. NME, Melody Maker and The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop annual year-end critics' poll all named it best single of 1993, which helped propel the album Last Splash to platinum status. AllMusic's Tom Maginnis complimented the single, writing, "the song conveys an effusive energy, balancing quirky hooks with a gushing power, supporting playful, goofball lyrics that perfectly deliver the song's sense of unhinged, freewheeling fun".
The music video for "Cannonball" was directed by Kim Gordon and Spike Jonze. It features the band in a garage, and Kim and Kelley Deal in what seems to be a dressing room trashed with clothes, sitting in a chair together. There are also shots of a cannonball rolling through Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, as well as a shot of Kim Deal singing underwater.