SOUND JUDGEMENT

The latest album releases reviewed

SEVENTEEN GOING UNDER

SAM FENDER HHHHI

It’s special when an artist like Sam

Fender comes along, who simultaneously manages to reinvigorate the man-withguitar template while keeping things decidedly classic.

The 27-year-old from North Shields outdoes himself on his second album, Seventeen Going Under. Fender has been hailed as the second coming of Bruce Springsteen and this album does nothing to dispel the idea.

His mixture of remorse, anger and world-weariness is a potent one and when he sings, “I see my mother / The DWP see a number,” on the title track, it’s clear this is an intimate pain.

SKIN

JOY CROOKES HHHHI

Soul singer Joy Crookes was nominated for

BBC Music’s Sound Of 2020 and the Brit Awards rising star award. Her debut album Skin treats listeners to brass bands, an 18-strong string section, soothing lyrics and the 23-year-old’s rich vocals.

The south Londoner, who is of mixed Irish and Bangladeshi heritage, has said the album is about her identity.

“It is an autobiographical body of work covering subjects from casual sex to generational trauma, abuse of power and mental health,” she said.

The record is said to have been written by her between the ages of 15 to 21, and if this is a sign of her early talent, it offers an exciting prospect of what the future holds.

LET IT BE SPECIAL EDITION (SUPER DELUXE)

THE BEATLES HHHII

Often referred to as The Beatles’ break-up album, Let It Be will always be a source of fascination for fans. This special re-release of the 1970 record features new material, including 27 previously unreleased session recordings and a four-track Let It Be EP.

It’s been mixed by producer Giles Martin, son of “fifth Beatle” Sir George Martin, and sound engineer Sam Okell.

As with the original, this new album is accompanied by a documentary, this time titled The Beatles: Get Back and crafted by Peter Jackson.