Sam Fender - People Watching

Sam Fender’s third album arrives burdened with immense expectation. While his debut established him as a rising star, 2021’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’ propelled the Geordie singer-songwriter to stratospheric new heights on a trajectory marked by a Glastonbury sunset slot, sold-out stadium shows, and his name becoming a household staple.

No pressure for the follow-up, then. Where his first two records focused on working-class struggles and identity, it is the duality of hope and despair that lives and breathes in every fibre of ‘People Watching’. Starting with the glorious title track, a soaring exploration of death and the loss of innocence framed as a bittersweet celebration of life, this reflective tone permeates the project.

Connection is the one true thread tying these expansive, emotionally rich songs together. Each is generously broad and sweeping, but on closer inspection reveal sharps truths without being overly granular or introspective. Instead, they find universal appeal in their face-value simplicity and foundational depth.

For instance, the simple riff and infectious vocal hooks of ‘Arm’s Length’ captivated fans even before its release, but its aching romance introduces a tortured soul grappling with attachment anxieties and emotional burdens. This yearning flows into ‘Wild Long Lie’, where a Christmas homecoming stirs swirling and overwhelming reflections on love, pain, and history. Sam’s evocative wordplay nods to substance abuse, an area of experience he reinterprets with surprising positivity on ‘Rein Me In’, contrasting conflict with tantalising warmth and bliss.

This interplay of light and dark continues with ‘A Little Bit Closer’, where a different kind of high is chased; pulsating bass builds into a rich chorus where Sam addresses spiritual love with newfound openness. If this is what religion preaches, he seems to concede, it can’t be that bad. Meanwhile, ‘Crumbling Empire’ offers his most collected political commentary to date, trading fury for thoughtful reflection. “I don’t wear the shoes I used to walk in,” he admits, weaving this sentiment into a wider narrative of labour and familial ties. The grungy rhythm of ‘TV Dinner’ then amplifies this touchstone of disconnection and distance, examining fame’s isolating impact with striking sincerity.

The LP’s incisive themes are gratefully elevated by its rolling sound, the five-piece newly bolstered by backing vocalist Brooke Bentham and co-production from The War On Drugs’ Adam Granduciel. Where ‘Seventeen Going Under’ brought intimacy and nuance to his past indie bangers, the richness of ‘People Watching’ is another level entirely. These 11 tracks may steer away from directness and certainly embrace well-known influences, but the invaluable texture embeds extra feeling into each line.

Sam’s authenticity shines as he reassesses his place in the world and offers genuine examinations of diverse, in-the-moment feelings. Unwavering commitment to his roots amongst such intense evolution in the spotlight showcases that becoming a rock star hasn’t changed anything that matters - the raw but sensitive man we come to understand better with each song admits that here in many ways. With that honesty manifested in every corner, ‘People Watching’ proves that Sam Fender is no longer just a vital voice in UK rock; he’s perhaps the most essential one.