// Workers AI · dad joke modeDoes Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic have a band? They're great at math-rics.
| Reading, Writing and Arithmetic | ||||
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 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 15 January 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1989–1990 | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 38:34 | |||
| Labels | Rough Trade, DGC | |||
| Producers | The Sundays, Ray Shulman | |||
| The Sundays chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Reading, Writing and Arithmetic | ||||
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Reading, Writing and Arithmetic is the debut studio album by English alternative rock band the Sundays. It was released in 1990 on Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom, and on DGC Records in the United States. The album's title is wordplay on the name of the band's hometown, Reading, Berkshire.[1]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Chicago Sun-Times | [3] |
| Classic Pop | [4] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A−[5] |
| NME | 8/10[6] |
| Q |  [7] |
| Record Mirror | 4+1⁄2/5[8] |
| Rolling Stone | [9] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10[10] |
| The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music | [11] |
The Toronto Star compared lead vocalist Harriet Wheeler to Edie Brickell, noting that "the two bring the same trippy sense of coquettish, off-the-cuff muse to a foundation of quirky, guitar-based arrangements."[12] The Los Angeles Times wrote that the album "carries just enough mystery and grace to recall the early promise of 10,000 Maniacs".[13]
The album has appeared on many best album lists. Pitchfork ranked it 15th on its list of "The 30 Best Dream Pop Albums".[14] The website also listed the record as one of "The 25 Best Indie Pop Albums of the '90s", commenting, "Even if the Sundays hadn't named their debut Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, its bookish nature would've been apparent. Harriet Wheeler sings like she's trying to get the librarian's attention without disturbing others, and guitarist David Gavurin strums with a studied focus."[15] Ira Robbins of Rolling Stone called it "a collection of uncommonly good songs graced by Harriet Wheeler's wondrous singing", finding that "Wheeler brings an exceptionally expressive voice to bear on the rich melodies and homely lyrics that offer offbeat thoughts about life, love and the English climate."[9] In 2024, Uncut ranked Reading, Writing and Arithmetic at No. 134 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1990s".[16]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by David Gavurin and Harriet Wheeler.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Skin & Bones" | 4:16 |
| 2. | "Here's Where the Story Ends" | 3:54 |
| 3. | "Can't Be Sure" | 3:22 |
| 4. | "I Won" | 4:23 |
| 5. | "Hideous Towns" | 3:46 |
| 6. | "You're Not the Only One I Know" | 3:50 |
| 7. | "A Certain Someone" | 4:25 |
| 8. | "I Kicked a Boy" | 2:16 |
| 9. | "My Finest Hour" | 3:59 |
| 10. | "Joy" | 4:10 |
| Total length: | 38:23 | |
Personnel
[edit]- Harriet Wheeler – vocals
- David Gavurin – guitar
- Paul Brindley – bass
- Patrick Hannan – drums
- Lindsay Jamieson – tambourine
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[17] | 40 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[18] | 56 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[19] | 37 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts)[20] | 4 |
| US Billboard 200[21] | 39 |
References
[edit]- ↑ Vice, Jeff (3 September 1990). "'Sundays' Will Add Hot Stuff to Cool Repertoire". Deseret News. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
[...] employs a pun involving the band's hometown (actually pronounced RED-ing not REED-ing) [...]
- ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Reading, Writing and Arithmetic – The Sundays". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ↑ McLeese, Don (11 May 1990). "Sundays take elementary approach to perfection". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2016 – via HighBeam Research.
- ↑ Wallace, Wyndham (October 2026). "The Sundays: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic / Blind / Static & Silence". Classic Pop. No. 109. p. 93.
- ↑ Sandow, Greg (20 April 1990). "Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ↑ Williams, Simon (13 January 1990). "Teachers' Pets". NME. p. 25.
- ↑ Aston, Martin (February 1990). "The Sundays: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic". Q. No. 41.
- ↑ Southwell, Tim (13 January 1990). "The Sundays: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic". Record Mirror. p. 16.
- 1 2 Robbins, Ira (14 June 1990). "The Sundays: Reading, Writing And Arithmetic". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ↑ Hannaham, James (1995). "Cranberries". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 96–97. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music. Virgin Books. p. 381.
- ↑ Potter, Mitch (20 April 1990). "The Sundays: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic". Toronto Star. p. D16.
- ↑ Hilburn, Robert (1 July 1990). "Drum Roll, Please: The Mid-Year Top 10". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 63. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ "The 30 Best Dream Pop Albums". Pitchfork. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ↑ "The 25 Best Indie Pop Albums of the '90s". Pitchfork. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ↑ "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1990s". Uncut: The Archive Collection. No. 7. 2024. p. 47.
- ↑ "Australiancharts.com – The Sundays – Reading, Writing and Arithmetic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Sundays – Reading, Writing and Arithmetic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ↑ "Charts.nz – The Sundays – Reading, Writing and Arithmetic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 21/1/1990 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ↑ "The Sundays > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
External links
[edit]- Reading, Writing and Arithmetic at Discogs (list of releases)
