There’s a real Bruce Springsteen vibe to Sam Fender’s music, despite the fact that the musician hails from the U.K. Fender, who won the BRITs Critics’ Choice award last year, is all about the epic storytelling, infusing each rock song with a sense of narrative and character, as well as actual issues. Hypersonic Missiles , his debut album, opens with a track of the same name that takes on apathy and contemporary politics. “I’m not smart enough to change a thing,” he croons. “I’ve no answers/ Only questions.” On “White Privilege,” Fender tackles Brexit, patriarchy and his own inherent privilege, while “Dead Boys,” an evocative indie-folk number, looks at the tragedy of suicide. It’s not all external stuff, though—Fender also takes on love and the loss thereof. The propulsive “Will We Talk?” is all about the impact of a one-night stand, told cleverly and with serious insight, a sort of self-aware take on modern dating. While there is that contemporary sense in Fender’s lyrics, with each of the songs reflecting something that’s true of the world now, the music itself feels more classic, a continuation of artists like Springsteen, Neil Young and Tom Petty. As a whole, the album hits instantly and with an impact, and there’s clearly something special here. Fender is young, but he stands out from his peers, particularly since he’s not only articulate but actually interesting. Get on this bandwagon now.