Sam Fender: Seventeen Going Under (5th Anniversary) (Limited Special Edition) (2LP)

Fender says he holds a mirror up to himself on this album. It’s a coming-of-age album that deals with youth and the trials and tribulations of growing up. At the same time, it’s a celebration of life after hardship and a celebration of survival. Fender on the album: “It’s a relatable journey that takes you through an often-wasted youth, through turbulent relationships with friends and family, and through the struggle to figure out what comes next and how to get there.” He wrote eleven songs for the album and recorded them with producer Bramwell Bronte in his hometown of North Shields, England. The small town serves as the backdrop for these deeply personal vignettes of a young life that accelerates breathlessly from zero to sixty, slams on the brakes, and then bounces right back to where it all began. The album tells the story of all the cherished memories, tricky encounters, and events that Sam can’t forget. Sam Fender released the title track “Seventeen Going Under” as his first single in July. And it shows that, even in terms of sound, the 27-year-old is picking up where he left off in 2021: Indie rock and pop with plenty of emotion, paired with a powerful voice and a charming British accent, continue to form the musical foundation of his secret recipe. And comparisons to Bruce Springsteen—which were already made with “Hypersonic Missiles”—are absolutely justified here. To mark the 5th anniversary of “Seventeen Going Under,” this special edition of the album is being released on two crystal-clear vinyl records with alternate artwork. This marks the first time ever that six tracks from the deluxe edition are being released on 12" vinyl: “Better Of Me,” “Pretending That You’re Dead,” “Angel In Lothian,” “Alright,” “Good Company,” and “Poltergeists.”