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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Like the album's title, this music is about the basics. This seminal release from 1990 rerouted pop music for several years, and for the better. This simple guitar/bass/drum/vocal affair cut like a searchlight through the fog of tortuously overproduced music of the time, as The Sundays proved that more is often merely more. Harriet Wheeler's lilting, swooningly sweet voice is clearly the strong driving factor behind this debut's appeal, fore-grounded through spare arrangements and an almost timid rhythm section, though the timbre of Wheeler's voice is perfectly matched to David Gavurin's terrific 12-string guitar. Taken as a whole, the album bears repeated listening, even though some of the songs tend to blur together. The hit single "Here's Where the Story Ends" is rivalled by, if not equal to, "You're Not the Only One I Know", "I Kicked a Boy", and "Joy". --Alan E. Rapp
From Amazon.com
Like the album's title, this music is about the basics. This seminal release from 1990 rerouted pop music for several years, and for the better. This simple guitar/bass/drum/vocal affair cut like a searchlight through the fog of tortuously overproduced music of the time, as The Sundays proved that more is often merely more. Harriet Wheeler's lilting, swooningly sweet voice is clearly the strong driving factor behind this debut's appeal, fore-grounded through spare arrangements and an almost timid rhythm section, though the timbre of Wheeler's voice is perfectly matched to David Gavurin's terrific 12-string guitar. Taken as a whole, the album bears repeated listening, even though some of the songs tend to blur together. The hit single "Here's Where the Story Ends" is rivaled by, if not equal to, "You're Not the Only One I Know," "I Kicked a Boy," and "Joy." --Alan E. Rapp
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Rated as the 93rd best album of all time by NME magazine in 1993, the Sundays groundbreaking debut album could, quite easily, top any all-time best top 10. With Harriet Wheeler's wispy vocals (perhaps matched only by the voice of Frente's Angie Hart)entwined within a web of carefully constructed guitar chords and drum rhythms, the album borders, somewhat contradictorily, upon both the majestic and the fragile. Highlights include I Kicked a Boy, Here's Where The Story Ends, Can't Be Sure and, perhaps The Sundays most impressive song to date, the appropriately named 'Finest Hour'. This bitter-sweet and often enchanting album is a must for any true music fan's cd collection.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I love this band. Right from the first delectable wafting of Skin & Bones, Harriet Wheeler is a pleasure to listen to, as she takes us through tales of lost and longed-for love, recreating a mellower world perfectly. Can't Be Sure is perhaps the best, with some interesting musical effects, but I ahve especially soft spots for Here's Where the Story Ends (one of the msot famous tracks ever to start life as an album cut, alongside maybe Stairway To Heaven, Yesterday, Champagne Sueprnova and not much else), My Fienst Hour and A Certain Someone. The quality of the songs never falters, and the voice was jsut created to sing, to soothe, to shine.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Much as I'd love to sound like Harriet wheeler, I hope I've never sung along to this out loud whilst wearing my walkman. I could never match a) her voice or b) her style.
I can't explain how good this album is but every time I listen to it (which is still alot) I remember and feel something so deep that I say to myself 'this is definately my favourite album of all time'. And I hope Harriet Wheeler reads this one day as I'd love her to know.
I don't know what it is about it, or rather there is just too much about it which makes it my number 1. - Harriet Wheeler's pure crystal clear voice, the depth of the lyrics, the tunes....I have to sing along.
I can't explain how good this album is but every time I listen to it (which is still alot) I remember and feel something so deep that I say to myself 'this is definately my favourite album of all time'. And I hope Harriet Wheeler reads this one day as I'd love her to know.
I don't know what it is about it, or rather there is just too much about it which makes it my number 1. - Harriet Wheeler's pure crystal clear voice, the depth of the lyrics, the tunes....I have to sing along.
It's miles better than anything else The Sundays have done - Blind was OK and Static and Silence was a bit depthless (but quite nice). I wish I'd made this album!
The only thing which comes close in my opinion is The Cocteau Twins stuff (Elizabeth Frazer has an amazing voice too).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A thing of beauty - highly recommended
Far and away the Sundays' strongest and most consistent album, "Reading, Writing and Arithmetic" is a virtually flawless piece of indie heaven. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bob C
Heard That Listen To This
Rightly regarded as 0ne of the best albums of the nineties if not of all time.This brilliant band no longer exists but there is an alternative,try the Innocence Mission, especially... Read more
Published 10 months ago by disraeli
Brian
A timeless album. Got it on vinyl and now pleased to have it on c.d. The music is clever whilst Harriet's got a beautiful voice which sends you into a blissful state, love it.
Published 12 months ago by Brian
Here's where the story starts
The Sundays debut album arrived in 1988 on Rough Trade and immediately became one of the labels biggest selling bands thanks to the wonderful debut single "Can't be sure". Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr Ticko
Perfect
I cant do this album justice. I dont have the skill to express my feelings in words. I will say that what we have here is a timeless set of songs only rivalled, in my opinion, by... Read more
Published 23 months ago by David Gallacher
TOO MANY WEAK TRACKS
This is pleasant enough, but there is far too many weak tracks for me to give it more than 3 stars. Which probavly explains why I have only got 3 tracks off this album on my MP3... Read more
Published on 1 April 2010 by Stephen
when simplicity is a goal
Why pop music should be complicated? This record shines for simplicity but remains one of the best record ever released in the 90's. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2009 by Piferi Marco
stunning intelligent tuneful pop
first heard the sundays on glr (london indie radio) and was moved so much I rang up the station desperate to find out who was making such beguiling music, went straight out and... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2007 by John R. J. Taylor
Educational brilliance.
Its late at night and alcohol has dimmed my senses. I swagger and fall. Harriot Wheeler tells me I feel fine. And I do. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2007 by Johnny the Fret
Still amazing after all these years
I first heard the Sundays at a party many years ago, bought this album on vynal the next day, but , like many of my collection, has got lost on the way. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2007 by David Lea
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