Paper Bag Records
Released on July 10th, 2026
“Coming-of-age” music is usually defined in hindsight – we don’t know the good times, the transformative times, until that transformation is already complete. This means that you’ll find today’s teenyboppers looking back on 2010s pop as “the good ol’ days” in the same vein you’ll hear the town hippie talk about the times of Hendrix and Morrison. Despite this relativity, there are some artists who are able to invoke a feeling of nostalgia in the moment, a longing for a past that we are currently living in. Blending past and present is no easy feat – yet the Winnipeg-based group sundayclub achieve this time and time again throughout the songs that make up their self-titled debut album.
The band itself is described as exploring ‘the strange limbo of early adulthood: that feeling of being caught between who you were and who you’re becoming,’ and I couldn’t agree more. I suspect this album will serve as an anthem of youth for many of those who give it a listen. SUNDAYCLUB carries a dreamy vibe that, when blended with an indie-rock sound, leads to a feeling of nostalgia and childlike wonder. Made up of Courtney Carmichael and Nikki St. Pierre, the indie duo teased this album with the release of “Sad Summer”, a catchy yet grim song about one who spends the best months of the year indoors and isolated. As an introvert, this song hits close to home. Many times have I canceled plans only to sit and grumble over having nothing to do. You see folks walking outside, soaking up the evening sun and the warm summer air, and can’t help but feel envy. This only feeds the sadness.
SUNDAYCLUB deals with topics such as heartbreak, loneliness, sobriety, and communication. The sound is consistent throughout the album. It’s a cozy sound, and it serves to cover each track in a comforting aura, allowing us to dwell into these sensitive subjects without feeling overwhelmed. Just enough to make us a bit emotional. As the days get shorter and the air gets colder, this is a perfect album to warm us up. It’s like an auditory cup of tea, purifying us from the inside.
This duo doesn’t shy away from keeping things simple and making catchy tracks. By the end of each song you’ll find yourself humming along to the chorus while being absolutely mesmerized by Carmichael’s raw lyrical style. As for St. Pierre’s compositional work, he keeps things just as real, perfectly accentuating the heartfelt lyrics with an empowering sound that makes you feel as good as it sounds.
For those who are looking to take a trip down memory lane, only to realize that we’d never left in the first place, this album is for you. It will make you feel a certain nostalgia for the present moment, to make us realize the mistakes we have yet to make and the feelings that come with it. No matter how old you are, there is always room left to grow.
