Dead Boys (EP)

Dead Boys is the debut extended play by English musician, Sam Fender. The EP was released on 20 November 2018 through Polydor Records.[1][2][3][4] The EP includes the singles "Leave Fast", "Dead Boys" and "That Sound".

Dead Boys
EP by Sam Fender
Released	20 November 2018
Recorded	2017–2018
Genre	Alternative rock heartland rock
Length	17:34
Label	Polydor Records
Producer	Bramwell Bronte
Sam Fender chronology
Dead Boys (2018) Hypersonic Missiles (2019)

Background

Talking about the EP, Rough Trade said, "There's an edge to Fender's songs that can also make him tremble. The surging, urgent Dead Boys deals explicitly with male suicide and mental health issues, and has caused outpourings of emotion among a growing band of followers. All of Sam’s songs tend to feature a resonance and socially-aware, socially-pertinent message. It's what helps to define him, and makes him leap-frog the endless slew of winsome singer-songwriters that sound fine, but have precisely nothing to say for themselves. Leave Fast is slower, plaintive chords allowing lines about boy racers, sand dunes and shitty pubs to bring the stark images of Fender’s hometown to life. The spiky riffing on Poundshop Kardashians finds Fender struggling to make sense of vacuous celebrity and the throwaway nature of vast swathes of modern culture. The Dead Boys EP finds space for a thank you to music itself. His next gambit, the seismic That Sound, wriggles and bangs through a melody that supports the big-hearted idea that music keeps Sam Fender on the straight and narrow. It’s always been his only viable option."[5]

Critical reception

Dominic Lee from The Courier, gave the EP a positive review, stating, "I was wrong about Sam Fender. He's the real deal. Dead Boys blows my mind every time I listen to it. The Prelude opens with a beautiful arpeggio guitar segment overlayed with cascading strings and Sam’s distant vocals crying out in an almost hymn-like introduction before the guitar deepens in the transition to the title track. Dead Boys is an anthem for men in the modern world, an introspective look into the very real world of male suicide and how this is often overlooked. Fender shows real lyrical talent on this track, resonating with issues that many men- and people in general- are often reluctant to talk about and bringing them to the forefront of his music."[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Sam Fender.

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Dead Boys" (Prelude)	Bramwell Bronte	2:00
2.	"Dead Boys"	Bronte	3:21
3.	"Spice"	Bronte	2:21
4.	"Poundshop Kardashians"	Bronte	2:39
5.	"That Sound"	Bronte	3:25
6.	"Leave Fast"	Bronte	3:47

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
UK Vinyl Albums (OCC)[7]	37

Release history

Country	Release date	Format	Label
United Kingdom	20 November 2018	Digital download streaming cassette LP	Polydor Records

References

1. "Dead Boys - EP by Sam Fender". Apple Music. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
2. "Dead Boys - EP". Spotify. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
3. "Dead Boys EP Vinyl". store.universalmusic.com. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
4. "Dead Boys EP – Sam Fender | Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
5. "Sam Fender - Dead Boys - Tape". Rough Trade. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
6. "Album Review: Sam Fender – Dead Boys EP". The Courier Online. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
7. "Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 | 23 November 2018 - 29 November 2018". Retrieved 16 September 2019.