Search - Sunday Runners :: Sunday Runners

Into your head

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 07/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Original pop is not easy to find, especially if you want some genuine artistic merit.



But the Sundayrunners manage to create some in their self-titled debut, blending the sounds of Radiohead and the Pixies with a murky, swirling vibe all their own. It takes a few listens to peel away all the layers, but it's worth the time you spend.



It opens with a unique sound: Guitar riffs and distant percussion, overlaid with.... church bells? That sound sets the tone for "Elected," a symphonic pop that gets a bit of a boost from some enchanting chimes. It also sets the tone for the songs to come: Expect dense, catchy pop melodies with some extra flourishes.



The next few songs are more or less in that vein, which breaks with the crystalline "Into Your Head" and the lazy, slower sound of "1993," only to lapse back into the murky pop. The final song climaxes the album with a softer sound: expansive organ, delicate piano, and finally a downtempo rock finale. It's hard not to be a bit dewy eyed as it fades out at last.



Randy Diderrich apparently veered from one band to another -- and one style to another -- before settling into the psych-rock groove. As a result, the Sundayrunners sound a lot more polished than many new bands. There's no fumbling for a unique sound, or awkward songs that don't belong. Every song fits in neatly, like part of a musical mosaic.



Most bands have anywhere from two to five people. Not so with Sundayrunners. With ten people contributing to the music, it's no surprise that the music is so dense, murky and symphonic. All those different drums, basses and guitars woven together let the music swirl. Ethereal keyboards and the odd blip give it that psychedelic edge.



Diderrich's silky vocals are suited to his music. he sounds almost like an instrument in the louder songs, and is graceful and smooth on the softer ones. His songwriting is equally good -- a little lonely and sad, but sweetly pretty ones, with a romantic twist that leaves you feeling a bit melancholy.



The Sundayrunners, with Diderrich in the lead, craft a lush, sprawling pop masterpiece that doesn't stumble a single time. Beautiful and intimate."

Excellent album with only one criticism

Angeline L. Green | Louisville, KY | 08/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoyed the album and think that it makes a fantastic addition to my collection. The harmony on the vocals, the music, and the lyrics are all great. If I had one criticism of the CD it's that it is too upbeat through almost the whole thing. A couple of songs (in particular "Into Your Head") get a little bit of a downshift in mood. But with the melodic harmony and lyrics I would love to see a couple of darker songs, or even some songs that show less of an upbeat spirit. But this is still a great CD that I would definitely recommend."

Smooth, melodic, sometimes haunting alterna-pop

whitsbrain | Minneapolis, MN United States | 02/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The debut from Sunday Runners is smooth, melodic, sometimes haunting alterna-pop. Songs like "Half My Height" and "Evolver" feel like a melding of bands like The Cure and Radiohead while "Memories Left At Sea" remind me of Human Radio or Michael Penn fronted by U2-like vocals. This is a very entertaining and engaging new release.



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