Hypersonic Missiles (album)

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Hypersonic Missiles
A Caucasian man in a black shirt and a denim jacket is shown, amidst a black background. "Sam Fender" and "Hypersonic Missiles" are displayed in white text in the top left and top right corners, respectively.
Studio album by
Sam Fender
Released13 September 2019
Recorded2017–2019
Genre
Length48:21
LabelPolydor
Producer
Sam Fender chronology
Dead Boys
(2018) 		Hypersonic Missiles
(2019) 		Seventeen Going Under
(2021)
Singles from Hypersonic Missiles
  1. "Play God"
    Released: 30 March 2017
  2. "Leave Fast"
    Released: 14 June 2018[5]
  3. "Dead Boys"
    Released: 14 August 2018[6]
  4. "That Sound"
    Released: 22 October 2018[7]
  5. "Hypersonic Missiles"
    Released: 5 March 2019[8]
  6. "Will We Talk?"
    Released: 2 July 2019[9]
  7. "The Borders"
    Released: 1 September 2019[10]

Hypersonic Missiles is the debut studio album by English musician Sam Fender, released on 13 September 2019 by Polydor Records.

Supported by seven singles—"Play God", "Leave Fast", "Dead Boys", "That Sound", "Hypersonic Missiles", "Will We Talk?" and "The Borders"—the album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, number one on the Scottish Albums Chart, and number six on the Irish Albums Chart. It sold over 41,000 copies in the first week on the UK Albums Chart and was the 11th best selling vinyl album of 2019.[11] The album has since sold in excess of 230,000 copies (October 2021).[12]

Hypersonic Missiles received generally positive reviews from critics, particularly towards Fender's lyricism and stylistic influences.

Background[]

Sam Fender grew up in North Shields in North Tyneside.[13] He started obsessing over Bruce Springsteen albums after his brother introduced him to the albums Darkness on the Edge of Town and Born to Run. At the age of 13 he began to write his own music inspired by Springsteen as well as Oasis and Joni Mitchell.[14] He started to perform open mic nights with his brother where he would cover Jimi Hendrix songs as well as noughties indie rock songs. After he turned 18 he began performing paid gigs at restaurants.[15] In 2010 he was spotted performing by Ben Howard's manager who quickly took him on as a client. Following brief acting roles on the shows Vera and Wolfblood, Fender released his debut single "Play God" on 30 March 2017 before re-releasing it in anticipation of his album in January 2019. It was Fender's first single to chart, reaching number 51 in Scotland and 89 on the UK Singles Chart.[16] "Play God" was featured on the soundtrack for FIFA 19.[17]

In 2018, Fender was placed on BBC's Sound of 2018 shortlist alongside Billie Eilish, Khalid, Lewis Capaldi and winner Sigrid.[18] He released his single "Dead Boys" which was premiered as Annie Mac's Hottest Record in the World.[19] Fender released his debut EP Dead Boys on 20 November 2018 featuring the album tracks "Dead Boys", "That Sound" and "Leave Fast".[20] Alongside the EP's release, he embarked on a UK headline tour which included 3 nights at "Omeara" in London.[21] In 2019, Fender won the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards.[22]

On 6 March 2019, Fender released the title track of Hypersonic Missiles. The song was described by Fender himself as an "unorthodox love song."[23] On 6 July, he announced the album alongside the release of the single "Will We Talk?". As well as this, he announced his biggest UK tour to date which completely sold out and included two nights at O2 Brixton Academy and four nights at O2 Academy Newcastle.[24] Following the album's announcement, Fender performed the fastest selling date ever at the Mouth of the Tyne Festival as well as supporting Bob Dylan and Neil Young at Hyde Park, London.[18]

Fender built his own studio in his hometown of North Shields to record the album with money from his record label. He worked with his long-time friend and producer Bramwell Bronte on the record despite the suggestion from his record label to work with a high brow producer, a fact that Fender has said he is proud of.[25]

Music and lyrics[]

Hypersonic Missiles drew heavy comparisons to Bruce Springsteen due to Fender's "lyricism and his vignettes of working-class struggle."[26] Many also drew comparisons to The Killers and Jeff Buckley blending elements of Americana, post-punk and pop rock.[27] The title track was described by Fender as being inspired by a "newly developed Russian missile that travels at something like nine times the speed of sound" as well as describing the song's protagonist as being a "tin foil hatter."[28] The track "The Borders" was described by Fender as his favourite and most personal song on the album and describes the "story of two boys growing up together and then going their separate ways." NME described the track as "chest-punching".[29] The Guardian described the track's "hypnotic, motorik beats" as well as the drum machines on "You’re Not the Only One" to The War on Drugs.[30] Fender tackles his own entitlement on the track "White Privilege" and has said that his white privilege "has affected my success, definitely, white boy with a guitar, fucking great, original, here comes another one."[27]

"Dead Boys" tackles the theme of male suicide and mental health issues and was written as a reaction to losing a friend to suicide.[31] The track has been described as "stark" and "cathartic."[32] The track "Play God" was described by Fender being "set in an alternate dystopian reality that shares similarities with our own world."[33] "That Sound" was described as being "a celebration of music" and "a not-so-subtle middle finger to the naysayers that tend to rear their heads as soon as things start to work out for you, especially back home."[34] Clash magazine described it as "crisp power pop, it soars towards the crunching chorus, a real ear-worm that stays stuck in your head for days."[35]

"Saturday" was described by Fender at a gig at Electric Brixton in London as being about "hating your landlord."[36] "Will We Talk?" was described as "a heady blast of high-octane, melody-packed, smash'n'grab rock'n'roll that launches from the traps at full pelt and doesn't relent until the guitars and a string-section subside three minutes later."[37] The track is about one-night stands and is inspired by "The Cut" nightclub in Newcastle.[38] "Call Me Lover" is about infidelity and was inspired by an affair with a married woman that Fender had at 19. He also described the track as one of the few "pop songs" on the album.[39] "Leave Fast" was described by The Line of Best Fit as "an excellent study on provincial fear." The track stems from the fear of staying in your hometown forever.[40] The track "Use" was described by Pitchfork as entering Nina Simone-inspired territory.[41]

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic81/100[43]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4/5 stars[44]
Clash8/10[45]
The Guardian4/5 stars[30]
The Independent4/5 stars[26]
The Line of Best Fit8.5/10[46]
NME4/5 stars[47]
Pitchfork6.1/10[41]
The Skinny4/5 stars[48]
The Telegraph4/5 stars[49]

Hypersonic Missiles received critical acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 81, based on 11 reviews.[43] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian praised the album, calling it "perfectly imperfect rock". Jordan Basset of the NME after giving the album 4 out of 5, added that "the Geordie Springsteen's debut excels at documenting small-town frustration, which is why he means so much to so many people. This album isn't perfect, but he's a welcome antidote to polite chaps with guitars". AllMusic claimed "it reveals itself to be a fitting soundtrack to the weekend, addressing hopes and frustrations with a persistent intensity and rousing melodies that fall in line with the catharsis at hand."[44] In a more mixed review, Pitchfork claimed that the album had a lack of focus and was full of "mostly formulaic arrangements".[41]

Accolades[]

Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Clash Top 20 Albums of 2019 13 [50]
Gigwise Top 51 Albums of 2019 14 [51]
The Independent Top 50 Albums of 2019 20 [52]
NME Top 50 Albums of 2019 38 [53]

Track listing[]

Adapted from Sam Fender's online store.[54]

All tracks are written by Sam Fender.

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Hypersonic Missiles"Bramwell Bronte3:57
2."The Borders"Bronte5:32
3."White Privilege"Bronte3:29
4."Dead Boys"Bronte3:23
5."You're Not the Only One"Bronte4:35
6."Play God"Bronte3:45
7."That Sound"Bronte3:25
8."Saturday"
  • Bronte
  • Rich Costey
3:01
9."Will We Talk?"
2:42
10."Two People"Bronte3:56
11."Call Me Lover"
  • Bronte
  • Costey
  • Fender
3:21
12."Leave Fast"Bronte3:44
13."Use" (live) 3:31
Total length:48:21
Japan bonus tracks [55]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
14."Spice"Bronte2:23
15."Poundshop Kardashians"Bronte2:41
Total length:53:57

Personnel[]

Adapted from Discogs.[56]

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[69] Gold 100,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ MacMillan, Jamie. "Sam Fender has announced his debut album 'Hypersonic Missiles'". Dork. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  2. ^ Atkinson, Jesse (2 September 2019). "'The Borders' is Sam Fender's final single ahead of his debut album – listen". Gigwise. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  3. ^ Ainsley, Helen (13 September 2019). "Sam Fender talks songwriting, Stormzy and staying true to himself: "Belief is contagious. And it's f**king beautiful"". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  4. ^ Greene, Andy (2 August 2019). "Sam Fender Interview: Springsteen Influence, 'Hypersonic Missiles'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Leave Fast – Single by Sam Fender". Apple Music. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Dead Boys – Single by Sam Fender". Apple Music. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Sam Fender shares soaring new single 'That Sound' ahead of debut EP release". NME. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Hypersonic Missiles – Single by Sam Fender". Apple Music. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Sam Fender shares secret of how he's getting his voice fit again". Radio X. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  10. ^ Lavin, Will (2 September 2019). "Listen to Sam Fender's chest-punching new single 'The Borders'". NME. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  11. ^ "The Official Top 40 biggest vinyl releases of 2019". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Sam Fender tops 43,000 sales with Seventeen Going Under". Music Week. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  13. ^ Hutchinson, Kate (3 August 2019). "Sam Fender: 'I don't want to cling on to the "class hero" thing'". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  14. ^ Greene, Andy (2 August 2019). "Could Sam Fender Be the British Bruce Springsteen?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  15. ^ Johnston, Kathleen (31 July 2019). "Sam Fender: 'The negative effects of greedy politicians have haunted the North East for years'". GQ. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  16. ^ Reilly, Nick (14 January 2019). "Sam Fender debuts new single 'Play God' and announces UK tour". NME. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  17. ^ "FIFA 19 Soundtrack, featuring Childish Gambino, Gorillaz, Logic and more". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  18. ^ a b Duke, Simon (20 September 2019). "Who is Sam Fender? Brit Awards Critics Choice winner set for number 1 album". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  19. ^ Trendell, Andrew (8 October 2018). "Sam Fender talks mental health, tackling 'toxic masculinity' and his new single 'Dead Boys'". NME. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  20. ^ O'Sullivan, James (19 November 2018). "EP REVIEW: SAM FENDER – 'DEAD BOYS EP'". When the Horn Blows. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  21. ^ Yates, Jonathan (15 August 2018). "Sam Fender announces London Omeara show on UK tour". MyLondon. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  22. ^ "Sam Fender Wins Critics' Choice Award!". Brit Awards. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  23. ^ "Sam Fender drops new single 'Hypersonic Missiles'". Indie Is Not A Genre. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  24. ^ "VIDEO: Sam Fender reveals new single Will We Talk is about one night stands". Radio X. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  25. ^ "Sam Fender recorded debut album at self-built studio to save money". Female First. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Sam Fender review – Hypersonic Missiles: Astonishing debut justifies the Bruce Springsteen comparisons". Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  27. ^ a b Harrison, Ellie (10 September 2019). "Sam Fender: 'Poor northerners are confused by the idea of white privilege'". The Independent. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  28. ^ Daly, Rhian (6 March 2019). "Listen to Sam Fender's new "unorthodox love song" 'Hypersonic Missiles'". NME. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  29. ^ Lavin, Will (2 September 2019). "Listen to Sam Fender's chest-punching new single 'The Borders'". NME. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  30. ^ a b "Sam Fender: Hypersonic Missiles review | Alexis Petridis's album of the week". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  31. ^ Fender, Sam (20 November 2018). "An Open Letter from Sam Fender About Male Suicide and His Debut EP". Another Man. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  32. ^ Mathis, Raleigh (20 August 2018). "Sam Fender tackles male suicide on the stark 'Dead Boys'". The 405. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  33. ^ Reilly, Nick (14 January 2019). "Sam Fender debuts new single 'Play God' and announces UK tour". NME. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  34. ^ "Sam Fender shares soaring new single 'That Sound' ahead of debut EP release". NME. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  35. ^ "Sam Fender Shares Glorious New Single 'That Sound' | News". Clash. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  36. ^ "Sam Fender – Saturday & Dancing in the Dark – live @ Electric Brixton, London – Feb 28th 2019". 1 March 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ Skinner, Tom (3 July 2019). "Listen to Sam Fender's euphoric new single 'Will We Talk?'". NME. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  38. ^ "VIDEO: Sam Fender reveals new single Will We Talk is about one night stands". Radio X. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  39. ^ MacMillan, Jamie (16 April 2019). "Sam Fender has announced his debut album 'Hypersonic Missiles'". Dork. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  40. ^ Powell, Aaron (15 June 2018). ""Leave First" is an excellent study on provincial fear from Sam Fender". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  41. ^ a b c "Sam Fender: Hypersonic Missiles Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  42. ^ "Hypersonic Missiles. by Sam Fender reviews". Album of the Year (website). Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  43. ^ a b "Hypersonic Missiles by Sam Fender Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  44. ^ a b "Hypersonic Missiles – Sam Fender | Songs,Reviews,Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  45. ^ "Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles". Clash. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  46. ^ Milross, Hayley (11 September 2019). "Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  47. ^ "Sam Fender – 'Hypersonic Missiles' Review". NME. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  48. ^ Reynolds, Aidan (13 September 2019). "Sam Fender album review: Hypersonic Missiles – The Skinny". The Skinny. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  49. ^ McCormick, Neil (11 September 2019). "Sam Fender, Hypersonic Missiles, review: meet the Springsteen of North Shields". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  50. ^ "Clash Albums of the 2019". Clash. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  51. ^ "Gigwise's 51 Best Albums of 2019". Gigwise. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  52. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (20 December 2019). "The 50 Best Albums of 2019". The Independent. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  53. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2019". NME. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  54. ^ "HYPERSONIC MISSILES CD + DIGITAL ALBUM". samfenderstore.com. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  55. ^ "ハイパーソニック・ミサイル[CD]" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  56. ^ "Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles (2019, B&W, Cornetto, Vinyl)". discogs. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  57. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #543". auspOp. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  58. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  59. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  60. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  61. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  62. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  63. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 20 September 2019". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  64. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  65. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  66. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  67. ^ Copsey, Rob (1 January 2020). "The Official Top 40 biggest albums of 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  68. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  69. ^ "British album certifications – Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 October 2019.Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Hypersonic Missiles in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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