The Geordie Springsteen

Sam Fender. Pic/Wiki Commons

The voice of Sam Fender, in more ways than one, is like a distant clarion call for the disenfranchised. Riding on the coattails of a successful album like Hypersonic Missiles (2019), pre-pandemic Fender was taking the world by storm. The march was cut short by COVID-19, when everyone was stuck at home. This led to the creation of his October 2021 release Seventeen Going Under, an introspective record of the same epic sound that is becoming a characteristic of this young singer-songwriter's music.

This hour-long album speaks of his relationship with his father, the socio-political milieu of the modern world, his working-class upbringings and the tumultuous life in North Shields, England. The album echoes Springsteen-esque common man languish, with traces of Tom Petty's trademark big sound. The lyricism is incomparable to any modern record in the genre, with biting criticism of the government and its attempts at undermining the working class.

The introspective nature of this UK No 1 album touches upon the stories of an angsty teenager growing up with troubles at home and around him. Its personal nature will touch a chord with those who take time to listen to its 16 songs. The swinging guitar riffs and ballads will ache your core akin to Fender's previous record. His penchant for lesser-discussed topics such as toxic masculinity makes for a refreshing listen.

With this album, Fender has re-established himself as among the more original and uncorrupted lyrical talents of modern music, drawing comparisons with The Boss himself.

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