Review – Sam Fender: People Watching
By Northern powerhouse Sam Fender makes a triumphant return with People Watching, a soaring and deeply introspective album that cements his place as one of Britain’s most vital songwriters. Blending raw social realism with sweeping, anthemic rock, Fender captures the tension between his working-class roots and the isolating nature of fame, crafting an album that feels both intimate and immense.
Building upon the foundations of Hypersonic Missiles and Seventeen Going Under, this album delves deeper into the complexities of fame, working-class struggles, and the tension between personal success and communal roots.
Following the success of Seventeen Going Under, Fender could have comfortably rested on his laurels, but People Watching proves he’s unwilling to play it safe. Teaming up with Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs, he expands his sonic palette, introducing atmospheric textures, delicate folk influences, and subtle psychedelic flourishes without losing the electrifying heartland rock edge that made him a star.
The album’s opener and title track sets the tone, a slow-burning reflection on the distance he now feels from the everyday lives he once chronicled so vividly. This theme of alienation continues throughout the record, most notably on “Arm’s Length,” a haunting duet with Brooke Bentham that pairs Fender’s bruised storytelling with a hypnotic, reverb-drenched soundscape. “Crumbling Empire” explores the emotional weight of his success, admitting that while he still sings for his hometown, his life has irreversibly changed.
But Fender never loses sight of the stories that defined his early work. “Chin Up” is a gut-wrenching snapshot of struggling families facing impossible choices, while “TV Dinner” takes aim at the exploitation of working-class narratives by an industry eager to romanticize hardship. “Remember My Name” is perhaps the album’s most affecting moment, a tribute to his late grandfather, featuring the Easington Colliery brass band in a nod to the region’s rich musical heritage.
Fender’s gift has always been his ability to turn deeply personal experiences into universal anthems, and People Watching is no exception. It’s a record that feels both expansive and confessional, filled with moments of quiet vulnerability and thunderous catharsis. A testament to Fender’s growth as an artist, People Watching offers a nuanced exploration of personal and societal themes without sacrificing the anthemic choruses and emotive melodies that have become his hallmark. It’s an album that resonates on both a personal and universal level, capturing the essence of contemporary life with honesty and artistry.
