Album Review: Sam Fender – People Watching
3 min read
North Shields own Sam Fender rose to prominence in late 2017 with the 1-2-punch of being nominated for the BBC’s Sound of 2018, and then the release of his debut EP Dead Boys, the title track becoming his mainstream breakthrough and leading to him wining the Critics Choice Award at the 2019 Brit Awards. His subsequent albums, Hypersonic Missiles and Seventeen Going Under have seen huge success both here and overseas, and his latest offering People Watching is set to continue this.
The title track represents the album’s sound and themes perfectly. Life, death, and everything in-between when it comes to the lyrics, and musically everything feels streamlined and tight. People Watching’s driving drums and bass barrel along as Sam sings of the final days of his friend, the journeys he made between home and the care home. It’s poignant and mesmerising, leading seamlessly into Nostalgia’s Lie, a song that evokes the title in its bright guitar chords and soaring melody. Chin Up has a brit-pop swing to its melody and its anthemic chorus, appropriate for a song about keeping positive while everyone around you is struggling. The string section weaves in and out of the vocals, and end the song with a lullaby-esc refrain.
At the album’s midpoint Crumbling Empire delivers both a burst of energy and a throwback sound, sonically reminiscent of Mike + The Mechanics’ The Living Years. Lyrically, it delves into the lives of many, from the states, to Newcastle and Camden, depicting troubled people and worrying senecios in a clear-cut and sophisticated way. It would be a standout track, if it wasn’t for the company it keeps. Little Bit Closer is a by-the-number rock song, while Rein Me In has a satisfying jaunty rhythm and a catchy chorus. TV Diner is an interesting departure, dealing with Sam’s view of the celebrity landscape, seemingly targeted specifically at his own experience. Something Heavy touches on the losses and mental anguish Sam has endured over the year, but contains in an upbeat tune, while final track Remember My Name forgets the musical confines of the previous songs and uses a brass band to its full potential. It’s moving, bracing, and helps sum up the sentiment of the track’s lyrics perfectly.
Some creatives worry about the ‘third album slump’, and while it’s something that Sam may have faced personally, from the outcome you would never know it. People Watching takes all the strengths of Sam’s previous work and elevates it to the next level. The mixes are crisp and lofty, vocals at the forefront to allow for maximum impact. It’s a fantastic, emotional listen from start to finish.
Writer and Musician, Ryan Bulbeck has been published with a number of online publications, and has worked with a myriad of great artists, both as a performer, and as a producer. His most recent band The 295 are still active, playing shows around the UK.
