As one of the greatest songwriters of my generation, it is hard to believe that Sam Fender remains relatively unknown to many Americans. With a stellar debut album, “Hypersonic Missiles,” and a powerful follow-up, “Seventeen Going Under,” both earning commercial success and critical acclaim, I expected nothing less from his latest release on Feb. 21, “People Watching”—and it delivered. From thoughtful, beautifully crafted lyrics to intricate, dynamic instrumentals, Fender continues to create top-tier music.
One standout aspect of “People Watching,” as with any Sam Fender album, is the songwriting. The opening title track captures a poignant sense of nostalgia while subtly discussing mental health, a recurring theme in Fender’s discography. Another favorite of mine is “Crumbling Empire,” inspired by Detroit—an interesting location for someone who is from North Shields, England. In it, Fender explores themes of class struggles and societal decline. Beyond the lyrics, the production shines, thanks to collaborators like Adam Granducial from The War on Drugs and Markus Dravs, who produced for Arcade Fire and Coldplay, whose contributions add jangling guitar tones, resonant horns and driving percussion to the mix.
The album took on an even greater form when I saw Fender live at Vorst Nationaal in Brussels on Mar. 19. His setlist was perfect, blending fan favorites with some of his favorite tracks from “People Watching” and a few songs created specifically for a live audience. Even my least favorite track, “TV Dinner,” is impressive in a live setting. The only part that I found disappointing was the audience’s, excluding the floor, lack of energy—though the excitement during the encore made up for it.
After such an incredible album release and performance, I can only hope Fender gains more recognition in the United States and eventually plays in Detroit. I highly recommend “People Watching” to fans of singer-songwriters like Noah Kahan, British and Irish alt-rock bands like Fontaines D.C. and Heartland rock artists like Bruce Springsteen, whose influence is prevalent in Fender’s sound. Overall, “People Watching” is one of the best albums of the 2020s—a must-listen and an easy 5/5 stars for both the album and the concert.
