I was initially introduced to The Sundays, an English alternative rock band, through the song “Summertime” from their album Static and Silence, released on September 22nd, 1997. I remember constantly hearing it through TikTok and other social media platforms. It quickly became an ear worm for me and I started frequently listening to it, and for good reason. Although “Summertime” is the most popular song on the album, I don’t feel as though it could ever get old. 

The album Static and Silence has many different types of songs that offer many different experiences and “Summertime” is one of the most cheerful. If you’re looking for a carefree, fun, and positive song centered around love, and of course, summer, this song is for you. 

Static and Silence shouldn’t be known solely for “Summertime,” though. This album offers so much more feeling and deserves so much more recognition. My personal favorite is “When I’m Thinking About You.” To me, this song centers around the idea of thinking about someone that is no longer in your life, but still frequently enjoying the thought of them. The song’s main goal is to convey the wonder that the thinking causes, especially when you could turn around and do something about it, but instead you just keep thinking. It’s the perfect song to listen to while sitting in the car or cuddled up on the couch by the fireplace, especially at night or on a rainy day. 

Another song that deserves much more attention is “Folk Song.” I first introduced myself to this song when sitting in class, working. It’s quiet, peaceful, and is very beautifully put together, especially with the standout guitar. Part of the calming vibe of this song comes from the lyrics that center around the fulfillment that nature provides and the climb through life that provides so much passion in return. Ironically, I think that this song is perfect for a study playlist. It’s calming and relaxing enough to not be too distracting, but engaging enough to not put someone to sleep. 

Overall, I love this album. There are so many other beautiful songs in this album but I do think that some of the things I love most about it is how interpretive it is, how much variety is included, and how thought provoking it is. I strongly recommend listening to this album and forming your own opinion on the songs’ meanings. I rate this album a strong 9.5/10.