Collecting Memories and Melodies: A Deep Dive into The Sundays

Soleil Caouette

Music Journalist 

As the temperature drops and the leaves fall from the trees, I believe these peaceful moments should be paired with a certain kind of music. A band that blends dreamy guitar riffs and melancholic melodies is none other than The Sundays.

The Sundays produce music close to the listener’s hearts, singing emotional memories and sharing delicate details of their lives. The founders, Harriet Wheeler and David Gavurin were dating in college and spontaneously decided to write music together. Harriet’s angelic vocals are truly a centerpiece for the three albums that were released, telling stories about love and nostalgia. When they dropped their first record the band did not receive massive recognition, but many people consider Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, a classic in the indie genre. The very thing that made them unique was how meticulous and patient they were in the process of creating music. Every note feels deliberate, contributing to an overall feeling of restraint and fragility. The Sundays occupied a unique place in the British indie music scene during the 90s, and their songs truly existed outside the generic trend of music being created at the time. They never There are only three albums in their discography, but the addicting melodies and gut-wrenching lyrics made a name for The Sundays. I hope you add the Sundays to your fall playlists because you will not regret it!

Their first album, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic consists of ten perfectly written songs that encapsulate the feeling of loss and growing out of phases. A lot of the songs they write about are deeply meaningful to introspective parts of one’s life. They dive deep into the real raw feelings people don’t often talk about, and the minuscule details that people overlook in life. The first song on the track, “Skin and Bones”, is arranged similarly to a conversation she is having with someone. It discusses the theme of how insignificant it is to dwell on the past when she says, “It’s that we’re just flesh and blood and we’re nothing much more”. This album is intricately put together, like an artist piecing together a collage; there are many layers to it, and every part is intentional. “My Finest Hour” represents this well because the vocals and instrumentals build up throughout the song, leaving the truth in the chorus. Wheeler sings about being vulnerable and in love with her feelings as “the words came stumbling out”.

The Sundays second record, Blind, takes a darker more solace turn with themes of uncertainty of the world and emotional chaos. There is a more experimental nature to this album after releasing their first one, and it shows Wheeler’s range and technique of singing, and the more complex guitar riffs featured in some of the songs. The song, “On Earth”, feels like the subject is hanging on by a thread. It reflects the feeling of having faith in something so life does not feel so bleak and grey. Blind sheds light on the sadder tones and feelings life has to offer in a more grounded way than Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic does. These three albums take the listeners on a journey from youth to adulthood in a very poetic way, and Blind narrows in on the harsh realities of becoming an adult after the magic of childhood fades away.

The Sundays’ third and final album, Static and Silence, is a quiet, reflective reverie of beauty, love, and time, gently fading into the horizon. Released in 1997, this was the last music they made before deciding to stray away from the music scene and start a family together. The romance is undeniable in their lives and weaved through each melody and chorus of this album. The opening track, “Summertime” created a peaceful and relaxed introduction to this record, and it shows how accepting they are to go on new paths. Wheeler’s voice sounds less ethereal and more familiar connecting with the audience one last time. There is a lot of nostalgia in all of The Sundays’ music, but Static and Silence focuses on far-away memories and beautifully reflects them.