Reading, Writing and Arithmetic

Reading, Writing and Arithmetic fuses two of the dominant strains of the late '80s British indie scene like few other releases of its era. While Harriet Wheeler's kittenish vocals and the echoing, gently-reverbed production are directly reminiscent of Cocteau Twins and their shoegazing followers, David Gavurin's crisp, complex guitar lines recall Johnny Marr's best work in The Smiths. But what really set The Sundays apart was Wheeler and Gavurin's exceptional songwriting: singles "Can't Be Sure" and the exquisite "Here's Where The Story Ends" are built on instantly memorable guitar hooks, but closer listening reveals unexpected emotional depth and sly wit in Wheeler's lyrics. (The latter song's "I never should have said the books that you read were all I loved you for" is the best line Morrissey never wrote.) The other eight songs are the equal of the much-lauded singles, ranging from the slow-building tension of "Skin and Bones" to the cathartic rush of "Hideous Towns" and the playful "A Certain Someone." Not dated in the least, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic still sounds sparkling fresh and utterly beguiling more than two decades after its release.