Posted on 10/10/2025 4:08:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway
From indie‐chart toppers to cult classics, these songs capture Harriet Wheeler’s ethereal vocals and The Sundays’ jangle‑pop magic.
Ever since The Sundays emerged with their debut single “Can’t Be Sure” and the instantly adored Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, they’ve personified a kind of guitar-led indie pop that’s both literary and otherworldly. The English band—fronted by the quietly iconic Harriet Wheeler and guitarist David Gavurin—crafted only three albums, yet their influence on dream pop, shoegaze, and indie music endures.
Their songs shimmer with emotional clarity, marrying crisp, chiming guitarwork with Wheeler’s crystal-clear vocals. While they never chased commercial trends, their music broke through regardless, thanks to its emotional honesty and melodic precision. Tracks like “Here’s Where the Story Ends” and “Summertime” remain fixtures of alternative playlists, decades after their release.
Though The Sundays quietly stepped away from the spotlight after 1997’s Static & Silence, they left behind a pristine catalog. These ten songs are essential listening.
10.
Tucked away as the B-side to “Summertime,” this overlooked gem is a perfect example of The Sundays’ subtle brilliance. Sparse and quietly yearning, “Nothing Sweet” feels like a whispered secret between friends—understated, but unforgettable once it’s heard.
9. On Earth
A standout from 1992’s Blind, “On Earth” opens with a spacious guitar line that feels both melancholy and expansive. It’s one of the band’s most atmospheric tracks, offering a darker, more introspective palette while keeping their melodic sensibilities intact.
8. Life Goes On
Released on the Cry EP in 1997, this bittersweet track finds Wheeler meditating on moving forward through change. With its languid tempo and rich textures, “Life Goes On” captures The Sundays at their most graceful and mature.
7. You’re Not the Only One I Know
From their debut, this song’s jangling guitars and warm harmonies are pure ’90s indie gold. Wheeler’s gently sardonic lyrics pair perfectly with the track’s light-footed energy—a reminder of how charming and slyly funny The Sundays could be.
6. Cry
A gorgeous, guitar-led ballad that explores the aftermath of a broken relationship, “Cry” was the second single from Static & Silence. Its tender arrangement and hushed delivery showcase the band’s ability to express emotional depth with striking restraint.
5. Wild Horses
The Sundays’ dreamy cover of The Rolling Stones classic reimagines “Wild Horses” with softened edges and a celestial touch. Originally a B-side, the track became a fan favorite and a staple of their live shows—proof that even someone else’s song could become wholly theirs.
4. Goodbye
A darker, slow-burning centerpiece from Blind, “Goodbye” lets Wheeler’s voice stretch into more haunting territory. The tension between shimmering guitar lines and lyrical melancholy captures a band comfortable with emotional complexity.
3. Can’t Be Sure
Their very first single, and a UK indie chart-topper in 1989, “Can’t Be Sure” announced The Sundays as a major new voice. With its self-aware lyrics and jangling, Smiths-esque guitarwork, it remains one of their most striking statements. It even topped John Peel’s legendary Festive 50 that year.
2. Summertime
Their biggest international hit, “Summertime” turns romantic clichés on their head, dissecting dating culture with both irony and elegance. The breezy melody and conversational delivery made it a natural radio success, peaking at No. 15 in the UK and charting globally.
1. Here’s Where the Story Ends
The quintessential Sundays song. “Here’s Where the Story Ends” is all sunlight and sadness, a breakup anthem that never raises its voice. Released as the second single from Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, it became their defining moment, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and remaining in rotation on alternative radio decades later.
The Sundays - You're not the only one I know
The Sundays - Goodbye (Remastered)
Bfl
I have been on an 80s kick of late... as in really digging in the last and forgotten unknown stuff (Synth-pop/New Wave/Darkwave/Goth Rock/Ethereal/Post-Punk/Indie Rock/Indie Pop/Europop/Italian Disco/Minimal/Synthwave/Power Pop/Shoegaze).... etc...
What I have found, is a good music forum is essential, cause you will never afford some of them (Yes, I have seen some bring over $8,000.00 on Discogs).
I now have probable over 40,000 songs, so my listening in my shop rarely repeats itself... but I always crave more songs.
The Sundays were smooth... but if you dig, you can find a thousand other songs just as good that never got discovered.
You mean, you are trying find music that was released in the past, but never found it’s way to Spotify, etc.?
One of my favorite voices.
Northside - Take Five (Official Video)
The Wendys - Pulling My Fingers Off (Official Video)
The High - Box Set Go - Official Video
Flowered Up - Weekender (15 Cert Version)
The Bridewell Taxis - Spirit (1990)
Yeah, most of the stuff I hunt down is not on Spotify, and if it is, it is a version that never got released to wide audiences.
So winsome.
I’ve never heard anything as good as the Sundays, for what they do.
Sunday--Jean Goldkette
I like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkekqVPIc2Mhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkekqVPIc2M - Hold On Tight To Your Dream
Understand, music is subjective ... I feel the same for groups like “Fatal Charm”... yet others just don’t hear what I hear. Seems almost like God made each of us different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y99hwJ8tMUU
I used to hear people complain about all these Stone Roses knock off bands. I still don’t know who they are.
Kind of in the Strawberry Switchblade/Echo and the Bunnymen era.
Bkmk
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.