Artist: The Sundays
Year: 1990
Going with a smash tonight. So, I can't imagine there is much for me to add that you don't already know. That first single "Can't Be Sure" was certainly one of the highlights of 1989 and, after a triumphant Peel Session, many got excited at the prospect of a debut album in 1990. There would end up being three albums during the '90s before they called it quits. All of them were pleasant enough, and the 1997 single "Summertime" stands out in my mind, but I think "Here's Where the Story Ends" is head and shoulders above anything they ever did. I called this a smash a moment ago, but as I check the charts, I'm shocked to find this wasn't a hit at all in their homeland. Meanwhile, the song went to No. 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks list here in America. So, for those of you on that side of the pond, this one is our "Can't Be Sure." Harriet Wheeler and her angelic voice, backed by a judicious amount of jangle from future husband David Gavurin, certainly deserved a better fate in the UK with this timeless tune. If you haven't heard this one in a while, soak it in right now.
12 comments:
The Sundays' debut is virtually faultless in my view and is still played an awful lot in this house.
As I recall, so desperate we're the British music press to find 'the New Smiths' that the poor Sundays were pretty much hyped to death before they even got properly started. That said, the debut album was great - and a big part of my Student Years. After that, though...
If either 'Blind' or 'Static & Silence' had been the band's first LP, it would have been rightly lauded. The only real problem with those albums is that they had to try and follow such a stunning debut.
Nice choice! Not as good as 'Can't Be Sure', but close. Very close, in fact!
I thought this would be much higher in your 100, Brian. You're commment "pleasant enough" neatly sums up most of the other songs of theirs I've heard.
Totally agree with The Swede about the debut album, virtually flawless. The other two albums had some decent tunes but they never bettered their first offering. Much as I love Here's Where The Story Ends if I was to pick one Sundays track it would be Can't Be Sure.
Really nice string here, fellas. Can't Be Sure is a great song, but I decided to leave that out of the running since it was first released as a single in 1989. Still, I get your point, Scott, and Dirk. This of often cited as a favorite. Perhaps I'm selling the second and third albums short, as the Swede suggests. As MisterPrime says, there was quite a bit of media pressure on this band. How could they possibly live up to expectations? Having said that, the first album was something special, and we all seem to agree on that point.
I have a question for you UK readers: Was this song issued as a single where you reside? I find it difficult to believe this song didn't chart. This song was a pretty big deal here in America.
The song, gorgeous as it is, was never released as a single in the UK.
Great song. Played 'Reading, Writing and Arithmetic' a ton back in the day. Need to revisit that CD to see if it still sounds fresh after all these years. Cheers!
Thanks for letting me know that, Anonymous. It's all a little clearer to me now.
Hiya, McPop. I have a feeling if you put that one it may make your weekend. I had not listened to it in a long long while either.
No problem, Brian. Enjoyed your write-up on the song. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic is an almost perfect record. I suspect, much like The Stone Roses and their eponymous debut, The Sundays were crushed by the weight of expectation on their subsequent follow-ups.
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