ALBUM REVIEW: Sam Fender - People Watching

Sam Fender is cementing his Indie legacy with the release of his newest album ‘People Watching’. With well over 100,000 sales in the first week, ‘People Watching’ makes Sam Fender three for three with number one albums. Much like his previous records, the album has a big sound with soul searching lyrics. The title is apt as the thematic content explores the stories of people Sam can see around him. Across the 11 tracks, he covers societal ills, the music industry, romance and much more. 

Photo Credit: MAC SCOTT

Compared to his previous albums, ‘People Watching’ is softer, making more use of acoustic guitar and mellow vocals. There is a cohesive sound across the whole album, with a complex, layered texture and very clean production, thanks to Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs. With this uber-smooth production and the use of strings in places, there are some saccharine moments, but it is quickly pulled back by the more punchy songs like ‘TV Dinner’.

If there is one thing Sam Fender knows how to do well, it’s write about heavy subjects while keeping the song sonically upbeat and brimming with hope. The title track sets the tone for the rest of the album in this respect; for a song about saying goodbye to a loved one who is dying in a hospice, it is remarkable how joyful this heavily Springsteen-inspired song sounds.

‘Crumbling Empire’ is lyrically much more like Sam’s first album ‘Hypersonic Missiles’, a politically charged social commentary, which ends with some of the best guitar on the album. ‘Remember my Name’ might be the best song on the record, an incredibly personal story about Sam's grandparents with heart-wrenching lyrics. The use of brass instruments, swelling strings, a slow pace and sombre vocals makes it an absolute masterpiece, and an amazing end to the album. 

‘People Watching’ is a move away from the raw and gritty, rock and roll sound of Sam Fender’s earlier albums and may lack in festival-ready anthems. However, it does showcase the tender side of his songwriting beautifully, allowing the poignancy of his songwriting to shine through.