Rocktrospectiva: The Chaming "Reading, Writing And Arithmetic" Turns 35

Released on 15 January 1990, "Reading, Writing And Arithmetic" was the the debut studio album by English alternative rock band the Sundays. The album's title is a reference to the band's hometown, Reading, Berkshire. The album spwaned two singles "Can't Be Sure", "I Won", & "Here's Where The Story Ends".

It was early in the nineties with Madchester at the height of its popular appeal, a band about as far removed from The Happy Mondays and company vibe, was about to appear and to become the new darlings of the independent music scene. With the release of their debut album Reading, Writing And Arithmetic, The Sundays received a flurry of euphoric reviews comparing the London quartet to The Smiths, and it's fair to say that David Gavurin builds his songs around the same peculiarly British melancholy yet achingly pretty guitar jangle immortalised by Johnny Marr.

But the most distinctive ingredient about the Sundays was always Harriet Wheeler's voice. Wheeler's vocals transfer effortlessly from a fragile whisper to a passionate shriek, taking often simple melodies and leading them on a merry dance across her whole impressive range.

The two best known tracks on Reading, Writing And Arithmetic are the singles Can't Be Sure and Here's Where The Story Ends, and two decades later these remain the best examples of The Sundays' appeal with their instant, breezy hooks and delicate, shuffling rhythms. The rest of the album is a little less immediate, but gradually tracks like "Hideous Towns" and "I Kicked A Boy "work their way insidiously inside your head, with Wheeler's angelic, almost hypnotic voice leading the charm offensive.

Unfortunately, The Sundays never again recaptured the heights of their debut record, fading slowly into obscurity as the world they inhabited gave way to the brash, confident swagger of Britpop. The band will release "Blind" two years later, oftenly considered their most darker experimental dream pop album, but never achieved the same succesful status they're debut did. While Reading, Writing And Arithmetic is perhaps a little too fey and lightweight to warrant true classic status, it is nevertheless a sweet, beguiling piece of work that is utterly of its time, yet still fresh and enjoyable today.

 

Reading, Writing And Arithmetic Track List:  

 

1. Sking & Bones

2. Here's Where The Story Ends?

3. Can't Be Sure

4. I Won

5. Hideous Towns

6. You're Not The Only One I Know

7. A Certain Someone

8. I Kicked A Boy

9. My Finest Hour

10. Joy