Music
Press
“SundayRunners’ degree of alt-rock notoriety in the months to come is a largely deserving acclaim. (The band) draws equally from rising-and-falling Brit-rock, pop melodies and the advance-and-retreat strategy of golden-age alternative” - Billboard Magazine
“The absolutely gorgeous melodies that are mixed with the left-of-center musical touches give the band's songs a fantastic emotional tension that keeps pulling me in. And the material is uniformly strong, with one highlight ("Elected, "Memories Left At Sea," "1993") after another ("Evolver," "Everlasting Sun," "Lip Biter"). I really believe the album is a stunner: catchy and moody, with arrangements that are so well thought-out and finely sculpted.” - Mitch Schneider (MSO)
"One hell of a solid debut disc and a nice fit on our playlist. 'Memories Left At Sea' has been one of my favorite songs in recent weeks, both on the station and on my iPod." - Matt Shiv, WOXY
…a refreshing take on guitar-based melodic-alt-pop with references to Pixies, Crowded House, Radioyouknowwho, and early Bowie. Their self-titled debut on Machine Records has a certain timelessness to it that is deserving of your attention. And every song on the record is worth your visit. – Bruce Warren, WXPN - Matt Shiv 97X WOXY / Bruce Warren WXPN
“SundayRunners bring a truckload of quirky pop on their self-tiled debut, evoking the likes of Death Cab for Cutie and David Bowie.” - PASTE Magazine - PASTE Magazine
The undisputed musical highlight of NARM this year were the new voices - the “independent” talent. I did not see a single person get up during Rod Stewart’s set and dance, but SundayRunners blew the roof off that hotel. – Panos Panay, president / SonicBids - Panos Panay / SonicBids President
“SundayRunners delivered a flawless live set for the packed Cincinnati house… filled with great songs, upbeat drums, hard rocking bass lines, driving guitar chops and superb vocals. This performance was a true sign that this band has gotten off to a great start to what should be an incredible ride to the top.” - Music News Magazine
“Chicago’s next wave… The Redwalls aren’t the only Chicago band making waves in recent weeks. Well-received albums have arrived from Fall Out Boy, Head of Femur, The Ponys and SundayRunners (whose music premiered on the nationally televised teen drama “The O.C.” before its self-titled debut was released on the newly minted Machine label).” - Greg Kot / Chicago Tribune - Greg Kot / Chicago Tribune
“[EDITOR’S PICK] Put this album on your wish lists people, this is a timeless one for sure.” - smother.net
“There's something distinctively fresh about SundayRunners. Ear-teasingly melodious by nature, the disc instinctively captures the imagination. Even with its full-on array of sonic textures, the disc somehow manages to shield itself from sounding overproduced thanks due in part to Randy Diderrich's slightly weathered yet originally vulnerable vocals. By the time you know what hit you, you'll be head over heels in love with SundayRunners and so will everyone else. Expect this CD to remain one of the best releases of 2005.” - Trouble Bunch Music
Steered by Randy Diderrich, the Chicago quintet Sundayrunners offer a fantastic song cycle on their eponymous debut. Influences like Radiohead, Doves, and the Pixies are felt in both the upbeat opener, "Elected," and the quirky, experimental pop song "Memories Left at Sea," but if Sundayrunners draw inspiration from said greats, they still boast a uniqueness that keeps them from sounding derivative. As the disc plays out, the material holds up, from the pensive "1993" to the distorted, fractured magic of "Evolver." If the drama that propels "Floor Toms Fall Away" -- which recalls several tracks on David Bowie's classic Hunky Dory -- seems a little overblown at first, it quickly reveals itself to be an ideal forum for keyboardist Aaron Grant to display his talent. It also serves as Diderrich's finest vocal performance yet. ~ - All Music Guide
Discography
CD:
SundayRunners - sundayrunners (Machine Records) Nov. 15, 2005
CD: Tame Animals - sundayrunners ( Machine Records)
July 1, 2008
Photos
Bio
Sundayrunners had taken some time off to make babies and battle diseases. We are happy to report:
All babies have been born!
All diseases have been beaten!
Oh yes, and we started and completed our second record: Tame Animals.
Its a winding tale of doctors, killers, mountains, underwater lights and, um, animals. Recorded in Midwest basements, stinky rehearsal spaces and filthy bathrooms, weve done our best to reproduce what weve learned as a band in the close confines of the van and the sweaty clubs across America.
Shut your eyes and keep the headphones on.
- Randy Diderrich (sundayrunners)
Chicago's sundayrunners and Machine Records now present: Tame Animals. The follow-up to 2005's critically acclaimed, self-titled debut album Sunday Runners. With this new 10-song release, the band offers its discerning fans an album that is unmistakably sundayrunners while putting a fresh spin on the tightly crafted power pop for which theyve become known. This digital-only release is available June 24th with a full artwork CD package to be released September 9th and followed up with regional tour dates in the fall.
Previous radio support from WOXY, The Current in Minneapolis, Philadelphias WXPN and five weeks in the CMJ Top 200 where Sunday Runners charted at over a hundred college stations over the course of five months, helped the band rack up respectable indie level CD sales in the US and several other countries on their debut. A strong demand for licensing their music led to tracks Memories Left At Sea on FOX TV's The O.C. as well as online advertising for Adidas Footwear, Elected and several other songs on MTVs The Real World, and VH1 shows. In addition, the band received positive press from respected media outlets such as Paste Magazine, Billboard, the Chicago Tribune, The Onion and many other publications.
Described as More of a band album than the first CD says Randy Diderrich, (vocals, guitar) whos done a majority of the writing and considers the prior disc more of a solo effort because it was recorded with current band members plus several other musician friends, but the band didnt come together until they started to tour to support the release. The rest of the lineup is completed with Randys brother Rick Diderrich (bass), former Tobin Sprout (Guided By Voices) touring guitarist Mason Brown (vocals and guitar), along with Dan Reinholdt (drums) and Aaron Grant (keys) who both also share their time with their other band The Buddyrevelles.
The band developed the majority of these songs, including album opener Adios! and the title track Tame Animal Trainers, during their touring in 2005 and 2006 as they performed the gamut of respected Chicago venues from The Hideout, Schubas, Double Door and The Metro as well as national tour stops at the Viper Room in Los Angeles to Sin-e and Pianos in New York and many other best clubs and key music festivals in between. Track three, Bitter Patience, introduces Brown on lead vocals, who has written and delivers lead vocals on four of these ten new tracks. Several of the other offerings tell the true stories of losing a close friends to cancer and a tragic motorcycle accident as well as grade school fights that all have helped inspire the depth of their music. Giving a nice close to the album is a cover of power-pop-forefathers Big Stars song The Ballad of el Goodo that seems to sum up the bands never surrender attitude that was needed to overcome personal and professional challenges in the completion of this long awaited sophomore effort.
Formed in 2004 by front man Randy Diderrich, sundayrunners have become an admired part of the Midwest music scene. Their sophisticated, but ultimately accessible tunes blend the best of alternative, pop and indie rock to create a sound that not only garners instant appeal, but has impressive staying power. Much has passed since their first album births, illness and a multitude of life experiences have accumulated since the sundayrunners were born as a group and this added maturity is evident on Tame Animals.
Recorded by J. Christopher Hughes, Aaron Grant and Randy Diderrich.
Mixed by J. Christopher Hughes and sundayrunners
Band MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/sundayrunners
Band website:
http://www.sundayrunners.com
Press contact for more info:
mailto:Press@machine-inc.com?subject=SundayRunners : Tame Animals
Label site:
http://www.machinerecords.com
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