The very first time I heard “Seventeen Going Under” I cried like a baby. There was something about Sam Fender’s voice and the musical arrangement accompanying him that moved me in that moment, a gravitas that held a meaning I didn’t quite understand but was committed to figure out. It’s the languished longing of his lyrics, the certainty of specific syllables, the soulful saxophone solo. It’s all of it. This album swiftly burrowed its way deep into my marrow and hasn’t let go ever since.
What makes Seventeen Going Under so special isn’t just the ghost of Bruce Springsteen that floats through every corner of the album (and to be clear, that ghost is everywhere), or the arrangements and chord progressions which consistently refers back to the soul of 70’s/80’s roots rock. Those elements are just a foundation. What makes this album truly special is Fender’s poignant social commentary alongside his candid self-reflection on life experiences. It might be too soon to call him the voice of a generation, but he certainly has the potential especially with vocal talent as blessed as his.
From the Fleetwood Mac esque gorgeous harmonies on “Getting Started” to the uplifting journey of “Seventeen Going Under” to the biting venom directed at failed war policies in “Long Way Off”, Fender covers an immense amount of ground with a confidence that only the conviction of youth can truly pull off.
Seventeen Going Under is the sound of nostalgia, the audio embodiment of the carousel that Don Draper beautifully described in season one of Mad Men. And above all else, it is absolutely a must-listen.
Standout Songs: “Seventeen Going Under”, “Long Way Off”, “Spit Of You”, “Last To Make It Home”
