Cannonball is a song by 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. It was released in France on November 9, 1993, where it charted for 30 weeks, peaking at No. 8. The song demo was originally called “Grunggae” as it merged “island riffs and grunge”. This demo was later included in the 20th anniversary re release of the album LSXX.
The rhythm of the introduction is constructed from metallic clicking on a snare rim and cymbal stand, which is tapped out by 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.
Tracklist:
- Cannonball
- Cro-Aloha
- Lord of the Thighs (Steven Tyler)
- 900 (Josephine Wiggs)
The music video for Cannonball was directed by Kim Gordon and Spike Jonze. It features the band in a garage, and the Deal sisters 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.
Credits
Guitars and lead vocals: Kelley Deal and Kim Deal
Bass and vocals: Josephine Wiggs
Drums: Jim MacPherson
Artwork by Paul McMenamin
Design by Vaughan Oliver
Photography by Jason Love
Recorded at Coast Recorders, San Francisco; Cro-Magnon, Dayton; Refraze, Dayton
