Sam Fender has experienced quite an extraordinary few years. While his 2019 debut ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ catapulted him to chart-topping success, the intensity following his 2021 follow-up, ‘Seventeen Going Under’, was almost bewildering. He swiftly ascended to festival headliner status and collected numerous awards along the way, making his transition to a genuine stadium artist happen quickly.
It’s easy to see why; on ‘Seventeen Going Under’, the North Shields singer-songwriter crafted a collection of powerful, poignant songs that deeply explored the struggles of the working class, demonstrating a level of thoughtfulness and empathy that can only stem from real-life experience. The album was striking in its emotional depth, and with some perfectly timed meme moments (like his hungover appearance on BBC Breakfast, which still circulates), he solidified his image as the quintessential man of the people. This makes his next move all the more intriguing. With several stadiums already booked and nearing sell-out status (this year will mark his third, fourth, and fifth performances at his beloved St. James’ Park), it would be easy to picture Sam delivering ten polished hits for his third album, but what he does instead is far more rewarding.
While it is driven by its powerful, though equally heartbreaking, lead single ‘People Watching’ (whose anthemic chorus of “Somebody’s darling’s on the street tonight” stands alongside ‘Dead Boys’ and ‘Spit Of You’ as a lyrical trojan horse), the entire album is significantly more subdued than its precursor. Unafraid to explore both personal and political themes, and often where the two overlap, ‘People Watching’ penetrates the current societal landscape and presents a stark reality without embellishment. Songs like ‘Chin Up’ highlight the current cost of living crisis with lines like, “The cold permeates the neonatal baby / Can’t heat the place for fucking love nor money,” while ‘Crumbling Empire’ addresses the detrimental effects of privatization and capitalism with lines such as, “My old man worked on the rail yard / Getting his trade on the electrical board / It got privatised, the work degraded / In this crumbling empire.” Together, these tracks create a vivid and painfully accurate depiction of a society in turmoil.
Amid these portrayals of the "marred streets," there’s also insight into the narrator’s psyche: a young man grappling with his identity in this new version of his world. The reflective ‘Wild Long Lie’ — a song that resonates with anyone returning to their hometown for Christmas — captures this sentiment perfectly, as Sam quietly realizes, “I think I need to leave this town,” encapsulating the feelings of dislocation that fame often brings.
Predictably, the intimacy of the album is mirrored in its music. Collaborating with Adam Granduciel from The War On Drugs lends a cinematic quality to the tracks (especially in the sweeping, Joni Mitchell-inspired closer ‘Remember My Name’), complementing the observational nature of the lyrics. It is less charged than some of his earlier works, and one can also detect the influence of his musical idol; while ‘Seventeen…’ may echo Springsteen’s 1975 breakthrough ‘Born To Run’, this album feels more aligned with the darker, reflective moments of ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’.
Is this the album that most people anticipated? Probably not, but that is irrelevant. Instead, ‘People Watching’ offers a stark yet remarkable reflection on our present times, viewed through the lens of Sam’s dynamic past few years, ultimately reinforcing his status as one of the great songwriters of our era.
An album that conveys a sense of immediacy while also being timeless.
A perfect blend of nostalgia and the present moment.
An expressive and heartfelt album, filled with profound emotional resonance.
James Bay immersed himself in every moment with the audience at his inaugural sold-out Wembley concert, creating a palpable sense of connection that resonated between him and the crowd, generating an unforgettable energy.
Following a time of significant health struggles, Nao is ready to make a comeback with ‘Jupiter’, her uplifting and self-assured fourth album, which showcases her shedding constraints and appreciating the small joys in life.
Its effects will remain long after the final notes have faded away.
An album that clearly solidifies his status as one of the prominent songwriters of our era.