"Static & Silence" is the third and final studio album by The Sundays, released on 22 September 1997 in the UK and the following day in the US. The title comes from the album's last track, "Monochrome," which reflects the themes explored in the album. The cover art references the Apollo 11 Moon landing, connecting to the lyrical content of "Monochrome."
By this time, band members David Gavurin and Harriet Wheeler had mellowed with age, drawing influence from artists like Van Morrison, which infused the album with a folk-rock sensibility. Notably, "Folk Song" even includes a quote from Morrison's "And It Stoned Me." The couple also incorporated their love for Frank Sinatra and 1960s French film music into their sound.
During the album's promotion, Kevin Jamieson joined the band as a backup guitarist after contributing percussion on the record. He was previously known as the lead singer of Jim Jiminee, adding a new dimension to their live performances during the UK and US tours. Overall, Static & Silence reflects a mature sound and introspective themes, concluding the band's studio efforts on a reflective note.
The lead single "Summertime" from Static & Silence became The Sundays' highest-charting single in the UK, reaching No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart. It also performed well in the US, hitting No. 10 on the Modern Rock chart and No. 13 on the Adult Top 40 chart, while charting at No. 41 in Australia. The second single, "Cry," peaked at No. 44 in the UK Singles Chart. These tracks highlighted the band's distinctive sound and further solidified their place in the alternative rock scene of the late '90s.
