Ed Sheeran

Week 38: Ed Sheeran- ▶️

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No need for an introduction, so let’s get straight into it. The opener is ‘Opening’, where Ed adopts one of the key things that propelled him to stardom: rapping. Ed talks candidly about how he feels in a precarious place with his career, and frictions are occurring behind the scenes. The vulnerability contained within the lyrics and the flow shows that he is concerned by the events, and does not want them to reappear from his past. This does not set up the rest of the album, as you will find out as you read on.


Ed sticks with the tried and tested material for which he is known, and has so far borne fruit for him. ‘Opening’ seems somewhat out of place. His latest single, ‘Camera’, is a typical Ed track, where he discusses finding an old phone that evokes memories of conversations with all his exes, as well as conversations with his friends who are no longer with us, such as SBTV founder Jamal Edwards. A channel that championed Ed’s rise. The rest of the song delves into his personal memories with his wife, Cherry, rather than reflecting on the past conversations mentioned earlier.


New tracks like ‘In Other Words’ are aspiring to be ‘Perfect’, and my favourite ‘The Vow’, a touching ode to his wife, is reminiscent of ‘Thinking Out Loud’. I also love the uptempo of ‘A Little More’, with the sinister lyricism about hating your exes, and Ed showing little empathy towards them. The lyricism attempts to be humorous, but I can imagine it will not resonate with the Generation Z and below crowd.


Ed momentarily steps into the unknown, and that is where he showcases his versatility with tracks like ‘Azizam’, which combines a club track with Middle Eastern instruments. On ’Sapphire’, he collaborates with the Punjabi superstar Arjit Singh, and he even combines English vocals with Punjabi. He also teams up with Jayesh Kathak for tabla rhythm on ’Symmetry’. Ed shows that, despite being out of his comfort zone, he is willing to throw himself into these new avenues.


It was refreshing to see Ed collaborate with Indian, Khaliastani, and Iranian artists. Despite his claim to be apolitical, this collaboration seems to convey a defiant message that we are all equal, and it sends a pointed message to the far-right nonsense we are currently witnessing. Who cares if his songs preach love? That is exactly what we need more of at the moment. It is also a welcome escape from current affairs.


The final track ‘Heaven’ reminds me of Bon Iver, and I believe Ed has mentioned he is a fan of theirs, so it is not surprising to see him adopt their vocal effect for a second time (I cannot recall which album it was utilised before). Although I would have preferred that he ended on ‘The Vow’. It is such a sweet love song.


The record shows a more personal storybook about his struggles with fame and the music industry, but Ed, quite rightly, also revisits an old path. The last two albums were very heavy, considering what happened to his wife and the deaths of his friends.

He did express that he wanted to make a more upbeat record because of the last two. Hopefully, on future albums, we will see Ed do more songs exploring the Middle East. As for something more personal than he has yet to attempt? If he wants to do that, then that’s up to him. Regardless of the subject, it is likely to reach number one due to his status. Taking a risk in that sense will pay off.


Song recommendations: ‘The Vow’, ‘A Little Bit More’, ‘Symmetry’

7/10

Week 1: Ed Sheeran- +–=÷× Tour Collection (Live Edition)

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Ed’s “Mathematics Tour Collection” was released in the late summer of last year. Still, I am unsure of what I should be reviewing, so I have reviewed the latest edition of the album that was included in the standard edition towards the end of last month, which is a live version. I am not particularly sure if the songs are from random shows or just one particular show. Apparently, the live version was recorded via Ed’s in-ear monitor. I will get on a bit later about why I believe I do not find that to be the truth

After a two-year tour, which is set to continue into the current year, the fans, known as “Sheerios”, were eagerly awaiting a live version of the compilation. Finally, as mentioned earlier, the live album arrived towards the end of last month , boasting a massive 26 songs . It’s a mammoth listen , but one that’s as good as all his shows. I was lucky enough to see him at His Master’s Voice Hatfield Forum in October 2011 during his debut “Red” tour , an experience I’ve already shared in my first review of his material.

Despite being live, the mix has been produced to make it smoother than it usually is in a live setting. I enjoyed most of the songs performed. Of course, there were songs like ‘Sing’ and ‘Bad Habits’, which I do not, but I gave them a chance. They are better than their studio counterparts.

Back to earlier with the in-ear monitor, I heard that the sing-alongs were not evident, but I found that nonsense. I could hear his biggest hits sung by the crowd and Ed participating in crowd participation. It didn’t sound like they used an in-ear monitor for those tracks because I could hear everything crystal clear. You wouldn’t get that from a monitor because you hear what every member of the band is doing. You will notice most musicians take their monitors out during crowd interaction, or they would only hear muffling.

Get ready for an immersive journey because this review is going to be a deep dive. I tuned in to this album via his official YouTube channel, but the ultimate digital experience is the one mixed with Dolby Atmos. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s like being right there in the studio or at the show. This technology is so powerful that it might even overshadow physical CD versions, which currently can’t match its immersive quality. Just like at his live shows, the opener is ‘Tides’.

I love ‘Tides’. It’s a full-on rock anthem, and it’s clear why it’s chosen as an opener. It’s a real crowd-pleaser, and I can only imagine the electrifying atmosphere it creates in a stadium. Despite not being one of his popular tracks, I’m certain that after this tour and the release of the live edition, it’ll gain a strong following and become a fan favourite. I was personally captivated by its rock attitude and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Does Ed’s music resonate more with his loop pedal or with a band? The answer is in your hands. For me, it’s a matter of the venue. I find his solo performances more intimate in an arena or open air, while the grandeur of a stadium is best complemented by a band. Imagine ‘Tides’ without a band in a stadium-it’s a rock anthem that thrives on the depth and fullness a band brings.

After that barnstorming opener, the tempo drops with ‘Blow’. Ed still puts his heart and soul into it to win the crowd/listener over.

‘Castle on the Hill’ follows, and it sounds amazing live, especially in a stadium. Live is where it is at for me. Studio recordings can never capture that magic in a bottle. Again, this track would be flat without a full band.

Now, usually with Ed’s live albums, they fuck up how he uses the loop pedal, and your mood can drop while Ed sets it up for the song.

However, on ‘Shivers’, which follows ‘Castle on the Hill’, they have cut out all the fannying around, and the track begins as he has almost finished setting up, so you are still riding from the high of the previous track.

Of course, some Sheerios will not like the idea of not seeing him set up the loop pedal with his various sequences and layers, especially on the final track, ‘Bad Habits,’ but the producers have to think of all the listeners and how to keep the momentum.

The live version includes all his songs, such as ‘The A-Team’, ‘Lego House’, ‘Give Me Love’, et cetera. You cannot please everyone with the listings, but that’s how the dice rolls.

I mentioned in my review of “Divide” that ‘Dive’ is a heart-wrencher, but Ed sings it subliminally live. Knowing the personal meaning behind it makes it even more of a standout because he manages to keep his emotions in check.

Tracks like ‘The A-Team’ and ‘Lego House’ from his debut “+” remain timeless and still are live favourites.

‘Overpass Graffiti’ was performed the correct way live to bring the rhythm section to life. Ed with just a loop pedal wouldn’t have given it justice.

One of the main sticking points is crowd participation, with some arguing it’s difficult to hear the crowd. However, I personally disagree; I can hear them loud and clear. Perhaps I’ve just been lucky to have the volume set at the perfect level. To gain a broader perspective, I’m eager to hear from a Sheerio who was at one of these shows.

My one flaw with the live tracks is the remastering of them. I would rather hear all the imperfections, and the rawness you experience at the shows. Now, I am not saying include the soundboard(they sound terrible when you listen back), but smooth it over just enough to keep that live feel.

Hopefully, any of the flaws can be corrected in a live film version, which surely has to be inevitable to celebrate a tour of this magnitude.

Of course, my absolute favourite will probably always be ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You,’ and it hasn’t changed after listening to it on this tour. The delivery, the flow, and the lyricism have always been top-class on this. Now, I am going to hopefully do this once this year; who knows? I am going to pick tracks you should avoid because there were far too many excellent tracks.

Songs to avoid: ‘Sing’, ‘Bad Habits’

9/10

Week 39: Ed Sheeran- Autumn Variations

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What is this? His seventh album to get to number one? He’s only three behind Noel Gallagher in that respect. This time, Ed returns with a folky and reflective record that is quite apt this time of year, given the season we are about to enter. The title even reflects that by being called “Autumn Variations”. I couldn’t care less if this is Ed returning to what he knows best; it works for him.

The opener is called ‘Magical’, the title is apt, and the lyrical content, which you will notice throughout, is autobiographical and thought-provoking. Most of the album has this as a constant with some slight, excuse the pun, variations. The subjects include his birth, patriotism, pub talk, et cetera.

The album’s second half gets more adventurous, with Ed being more creative and deviating slightly from the folky first half. ‘ When Will I be Alright’ is a prime example where Ed shows his vulnerability and melancholy and adds a violin to match that emotion. ‘the Day I Was Born’ was also another favourite of mine. Wonderfully autobiographical. 

If you like Ed at its simplest, baring his soul on the acoustic, this album is for you. I loved it and the reflective nature. Quite a few people I have spoken to about it do not like “Autumn Variations” and called it “boring”. I’m afraid I have to disagree with them.

Song recommendations: ‘ When Will I be Alright’, ‘the Day I Was Born’, ‘Magical’

8/10 

Week 19: Ed Sheeran- –

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Boat:

One thing you will notice about “-‘ is that Ed uses a lot of weather-based themes to foretell the latest trials and tribulations in his life. Although the lyrics and his delivery are pretty heart-wrenching, they are encased with rays of sunshine regarding the instrumentation. You may start to think it is a typical Ed acoustic, but the song builds as the choir comes in, making it more uplifting over Ed’s heartfelt vocals. Some of you may not like it and feel it is the same old thing because Ed is out with the acoustic again, but I say, listen to his frank story.

Salt Water:

Again, listen to the lyrics as he goes deeper with another life story. When you listen to the instrumentation, you understand how apt the title is. You have piano keys throughout, which represent the waves engulfing him, and the slow, steady drum beat, which means his struggle to stay afloat as the water tries to pull him under. There is then a bright moment with Female vocal harmonising coming in, which represents Ed’s soul letting go as it burns him inside from the pain he is experiencing. The bridge is where the tracks have ethereal tones, meaning Ed succumbs to the waves as he falls to the ocean bed. He has accepted drowning in his sorrows. The track then fades out, which represents Ed’s spirit giving up.

Eyes Closed:

For once, Ed starts a track on an uplifting melody. However, the song in question is another heartbreaker and a moment of reflection. This one is a tribute to SBTV’s Jamal Edwards, who tragically passed away early last year due to an overdose. Jamal was the guy who gave Ed his early but growing fan base when Ed performed from his London home over the Internet. It is undoubtedly how I initially heard of Ed after a friend, Joe, showed me some of the performance through his mobile phone in 2009. From there, I would keep my eyes peeled for Ed as I was left impressed. Those performances on SBTV gave him the platform he needed. So, the track has an uplifting melody, but it is also there to show that not everything appears as it seems and represents Ed’s sense of loss perfectly. Why? Because the upbeat melody represents Ed’s veil of happiness as he carries on after Jamal’s death when really behind the veil, he is struggling to come to terms with it.  The behind-the-veil segment of the tracks is Ed’s lyrics, which reveal the true extent of his grief. Ed, with an acoustic baring his soul, is Ed at his best.

Life Goes on:

If you thought the previous track was heavy, put on your lifejacket because this one is gut-wrenching and pulls at your heartstrings—a deeply personal story. Cherry Seaborn, Ed’s childhood sweetheart and now his wife, is carrying their child when Ed taps into the emotion Cherry is experiencing when she hears the news. Ed belts out ‘it hit like a train’ to convey the feeling that Cherry has found out that their happiness is soured with news that she has been diagnosed with cancer. The track is Ed talking directly to you candidly about how he is worried about what may be on the horizon. Ed is begging his wife throughout to fight and beat the horrible illness as he cannot imagine life without her. Why is it called ‘Life Goes on”? Well, Ed is saying that, unfortunately, the world doesn’t stop when a tragedy occurs. If you don’t shed tears or feel anything as Ed pours his heart out about Cherry, then quite frankly, your body is just a vessel with nothing in it. Even though Cherry could not be operated on during her pregnancy with Jupiter, she has since had treatment and is recovering.

Dusty:

After the heaviness of the previous track, Ed switches up to hip-hop. The instrumentation is quite groovy, as most hip-hop is, and represents the light at the end of the tunnel for Ed, as do the lyrics, as they are more optimistic. Indeed Ed even says enthusiastically, ‘the future is so bright’. The bridge is out of synchronisation with the rest of the song as it sounds like something the likes of 5ive, 911, Boyzone, Westlife, et al would utilise in their songs back in the 90s. This track is like a continuation of ‘Salt Water’, although this time, it is Ed climbing off the ocean bed and swimming up while floating on the calmer seas as he gets above the water. Ed represents this with a high-frequency sound at the end of the track. The sound means his ears are unblocking as he returns to the surface.

End of Youth:

Oh dear, that calm ocean has turned rough again as Ed finds himself battling the waves that are dragging him under. To represent the sense of drowning and hopelessness, Ed utilises minor chords, which, if you have a good ear for music, are used in sad/reflective songs. To add to the gloomy mood, Ed throws in strings that match his vocals as he foretells how the grief drove him to attempt suicide. Another track that leaves his heart open.

Colourblind:

Staccato piano chords over loving lyrics to begin with Ed propelling back to 2013 when he was recording “X” and recording the controversial ‘Thinking Out Loud'( I am not going to go into the details about that. Just Google Marvin Gaye and Ed Sheeran for that story.), which this song draws inspiration from. The track is uplifting, and Ed’s happiness is heard through the vocals. When he was in the booth, he had a smile on his face when delivering the vocals on this one. Ed then tests his vocal range as he goes high and falsetto over a choir, adding that angelic and floating touch.

Curtains:

Ed showcases another segment of his vocal range: singing lower than ever. This track also breaks away from the usual acoustic and heads into the electric and rock arena as you can hear electric guitars, crashing cymbals, and thumping drums over Ed’s vocals. The chorus is even more frantic, representing that Ed is breaking free of his worries and rediscovering his zest for life. This whole track has a positive message for Ed and the listeners.

Borderline:

Once again, Ed sinks to the bottom of the sea as the depression takes hold. I call this the manic depression track because the instrumentation represents the manic cycle, and the lyrics describe the clinical cycle. When we get to the chorus, the song breaks free of the manic depression, and a bright sky breaks through. Very autobiographical.

Spark:

This is like swimming against the rough seas, represented by the bouncing beat before the drums match Ed’s soaring vocals to mean conquering the rough seas, which gradually get calmer. Ed is leaving his worries and his past behind and moving forwards.

Vega:

Another reflective moment as Ed returns to his beloved Martin in a song talking about the devastating news of his wife Cherry heard during the pregnancy and almost broke Ed entirely. He delivers his pain perfectly in the chorus—an emotional track. The track is very downtempo, but the lyrics contrast this with optimism that things will improve for Cherry and the family.

Sycamore:

This is a follow-up to ‘Vega’ with Ed and Cherry feeling relief that the nightmare is over and they can recover from the ordeal. Strings accompany an optimistic but wary Ed as he talks about being by Cherry’s side at the hospital. A clever track melodically because it shows the feeling of optimism and fear, which is what happens with an experience like that.

No Strings:

This is Ed letting go over stabbing piano chords as he expresses what Cherry means to him. After his wife’s recovery, Ed feels she has to know just how much he loves her, and that love is why they made it through.

Hills of Aberfeldy:

Remember when everyone mocked ‘Galway Girl’? I didn’t mind it, to be fair. I found it rather uplifting, but many thought it insulted Celtic music. He is back again with another Celtic song, but it will be warmly received this time. This is your typical traditional Celtic song. No fancy additions like on ‘Galway Girl’. The vocal delivery is that of an old Celtic singer with acoustic guitar joined by bagpipes and marching drums. Sonically, the track is calm, suggesting that Ed finds peace after a rough journey. Another ode to his wife, which looks to the future and ends the album with a message of hope and never fading love.

Song recommendations: ‘Salt Water’, ‘Hills of Aberfeldy’, ‘No Strings’

9/10

Week 44: Ed Sheeran- =

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I am going to do a brief track-by-track summary from Ed’s final album using mathematical symbols (Or so he says.):

Tides: 

This track sounds akin to ‘Castle on the Hill’ from his previous and best album so far “, ÷“. I also felt it had a touch of Oasis, Sam Fender, and Bon Iver. You can tell by the subject that Ed has grown up as he talks about his family rather than being drunk or high on nights out. Some might say the title is aptly named as life has changing tides and our responsibilities become more.

Shivers:

This was the second single off the record and reached the top spot in the first week of release. This is more a track about Ed witnessing others having fun and enjoying life again as the world slowly opens up after the pandemic. The tempo is ideal for vibes on a night out with elements of uplifting dance.

First Times:

We became accustomed to this typical Ed Sheeran song before and after his debut album “+”. Ed once again picks up his acoustic Martin & Co Junior, telling fables about his life, from his success of playing out and controlling EE Stadium(Wembley)to his marriage to Cherry and the birth of his daughter. Strings accompany this gentle ballad, and has an Irish folk feel to it. After all, Ed grew up listening to the likes of Planxty.

Bad Habits: 

Everyone wondered if Ed still had it after taking a sabbatical, but in the summer, he proved that when this track became the summer anthem. Originally, Ed had no plans to release this as the teaser, nor did he want it to play out as the record’s theme. However, Ed saw that people wanted to go out and enjoy themselves again after lockdown, so he tried to reflect that in the song.

Overpass Graffiti:

This uplifting track around synthesisers reminded me of Dua Lipa’s ‘Be the One’ from 2017. It even follows the same theme of Dua’s song: love. The track also has Bon Iver-Esque vocal overlays.

the Joker and the Queen:

This Piano ballad with strings about love reminded me of Bread’s ‘Make it with You’ and sounded briefly melodically like the Noisette’s ‘Never Forget You’. It also reminded me of the music in the 60s for some reason.

Leave Your Life:

Ed told Jools Holland that he wrote this song for his daughter so that she is always among his thoughts, even when he is on the road. It was also inspired after a close friend passed away. It features Ed beatboxing, a string sample looped during the verses., and how he remains faithful to his wife and daughter no matter how far away he is.

Collide:

It has shades of Jimmy Cliff’s version of ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ with its implementation of maracas and the drumbeat. There is a haunting keyboard effect, pan pipes. The sensation can be described as being under a waterfall in the African jungle, as Ed assures you everything will be okay. The outro brings in the piano. The track is a top-heavy production.

2step:

So far, Ed hasn’t rapped on the album until now, albeit he does it sparingly. This is like an Usher RnB beat with a looping guitar riff as Ed touches on love, the common dominator on the record.

Stop the Rain:

An acoustic track with electronic drums, a funky bassline and synths. Sounds a bit Latin too.

Love in Slow Motion:

Ed isn’t just driven by music anymore—an ode to his wife about making their marriage the utmost priority in his hectic life. The song features a mandolin and his trusty acoustic friend. The track sounds like a combination of the Goo Goo Dolls ‘Iris’ and the Corrs’ ‘Falling in Love’.

Visiting Hours:

Ed wrote this about his late friend, mentioned under ‘Leave Your Life’ by Michael Gudinski. Ed lets out his raw emotion as he laments that he won’t be able to share future experiences with his friend and that he wishes there were visiting hours in heaven to update Michael and still see him. Again, the song features acoustic accompanied by piano with a choir during the chorus, strings at the breakdown, and horns and synths.

Sandman:

I imagine this lullaby was created as a song to send Lyra to sleep instead of him reading her a story. The lyrics are delightful, with dreams of those beautiful things we let our vivid imaginations run away with as children. For example, Ed says, “A Snowman made of ice cream”…I mean, we all had mad dreams like that. The track features a xylophone (usually used for lullabies.), a ukulele, a tropical beat, strings and a music box. You can’t get any more lullaby than this.

Be Right Now:

The closer has pulsating drums, electronic piano, synths, and a New Order/Peter Hook-Esque bassline, and as it reaches the chorus, the tempo speeds up and sounds like a track by Georgia.

Okay. I lied. It could have been a more brief summary.

Song recommendations: ‘First Times’, ‘Visiting Hours’, ‘Love in Slow Motion’

9/10

Week Ten: Ed Sheeran- ÷

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Divide

Eraser:

One thing that struck me when hearing this track is that it has a certain sense of “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” feel. He foretells how his life has been since he reached superstar status and its effect on him, from those days of just singing in a church, performing in a room to internet viewers and playing out to thousands in well-known stadiums and arenas.

Castle on the Hill:

This song is about being raised in the Suffolk village of Framlingham. It also shows a specific humbleness to the guy who has gone on to be far more in the grand scheme of things. He still remembers where he is from and speaks fondly about the memories he made there.

Dive:

Here, Ed expresses fears about falling too fast into a new relationship. A heartfelt song, which also features some might say a guitar Legend in Eric Clapton. Not for me, but Ed sees Eric as this, and the very first thing Ed performed live in a talent show on guitar at 14 was Eric Clapton’s “Layla”, albeit the rhythm section of the song (He didn’t win the contest, by the way).

Shape of You:

Another song about romance, and this time, it is about praising his lover and enjoying every moment with her. It’s also your typical pop song, which will get stuck in the listener’s head, and Ed puts his hallmark all over it to make it stand out from the rest of the artists in the singles chart.

Perfect:

Another tender moment, which Ed has been known for on his previous albums, makes its way onto “÷”, and why not? This is where Ed shines through and shows his maturity beyond his years. It is also an ode to his girlfriend, Cherry Seaborn. You can’t help but be gripped by the lyrics, “Well, I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know. She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I’ll share her home”. This encapsulates the whole meaning of the song, where you hope your dreams and future are mirrored by the one you have chosen to be your eternal lover.

Galway Girl:

What I love about this is the whole sense of Ireland, from the music, instruments and Ed’s knowledge of the isle. It features an Irish band called Beoga. To think his record company were far from keen to have this rather unconventional song feature on the album because it doesn’t represent a “marketable” product. How wrong they are. Some listeners may not agree with me and find blending pop into Irish music rather insulting. Still, for me, it really works, and I really like this song and can see it featured on many a St Patrick’s Day across the pubs, bars and clubs. And why not? It has an excellent upbeat feel and will help set that jubilant mood on any occasion.

Happier:

This song is relatable to every listener, not just Ed, because it is about finding out your ex has found someone and completing the six degrees of separation. The sixth is when you’re feeling regret and what could have been and that it has hurt you to see someone else in the place that was once yours—a heartbreaking song that will undoubtedly affect you.

New Man:

A comedic side to Ed comes out in this as he indirectly digs at the “bad boys” who seem to get all the women even though they are pretentious arseholes. He also attacks the “meatball heads” you find in the gym pumping iron and blends in funny lyrics about the food they eat.

Heart Don’t Break Around Here:

A gorgeous love song that shows every element of being in love with someone. It also indicates what type of boyfriend Ed is and that he’s that “nice guy”, but I don’t feel who would finish last—some truly witty lyrics hidden within metaphors.

What Do I Know?:

A political message in this where Ed talks about how his status can make a significant difference to the world. He wants to spread unity but also says he must be qualified to discuss politics.

How Would You Feel (Pean):

“Pean” is the middle name of His current girlfriend, Cherry Seaborn. John Mayer features on the track by playing the guitar solo. What more could you want from this romantic song?

Supermarket Flowers:

This is probably one of the most emotionally charged songs on the album. This song is about the feelings you experience after someone close to you has died(in this case, Ed’s grandma and how his mum reacted to the passing the moment she passed). Although this song may be about death, the lyrics are tragically sublime. For example, the song mentions feeling inconsolable but, at the same time, reflects on all the beautiful moments you shared with that person. I can’t say I cried after hearing this, but if you don’t feel anything or stop to listen to the lyrics, then you have a heart of stone.

Barcelona:

Although the song mentions Barcelona, it is really about doing those spur-of-the-moment things during a new relationship. It is a recurring theme in this record, and you can tell that Ed is in a perfect place with his love life. The song even has a Latin feel, and you do feel like you’re in Barcelona when listening to it. Not only is this a great tribute to doing mad things in a relationship, but to Barcelona, as he mentions dancing in the moonlight of the Catalan capital.

Bibia Be Ye Ye:

Ed goes all African here (Ghana, to be exact). “Bibia Be Ye Ye” is Ghanaian for “All will be well”. This track was co-written with Fuse ODG (coincidentally half Ghanaian) and focused on changing a stormy night into a better day. This a mantra we should all live by because, as Sofia Serrano, portrayed by Penelope Cruz, says in the film Abre Los Ojos/Vanilla Sky, “Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around”. Or to quote 2Pac on “Me Against the World”, “I Know it seems hard sometimes but remember one thing. Through every dark night, there’s a bright day after that. So no matter how hard it gets, stick your chest out, keep ya head up…and handle it”.

Nancy Mulligan:

Back to Ed’s Irish roots. This time he narrates the love story of his grandparents and how his grandfather fell for his grandmother in County Wexford. The track is very knowledgeable about the county and what his grandparents did on their way to romantic destiny—another great song with Irish country music featuring heavily with the Ed Sheeran touch that does it justice.

Save Myself:

Well, the final song on the record jolts you back to reality and pulls away at your heartstrings. Ed once again bares his soul to such remarkable effect. The song discusses all those dangerous friendships where people use you for their own ends and how it makes you feel throughout the duration and when you realise their genuine motives and cut them off and the lessons you have learnt from it from now on. Not exactly going out in a blaze of glory to finish the album, but a great song nonetheless.

Overall:

I thoroughly enjoyed this record, and it is a return to form, and I rate this above his stunning debut album “+”. I didn’t find fault with any of the songs and could play this through without skipping tracks until I am ready to meet my maker. A beautiful album, and the narration from start to finish is more like reading a book than listening to the album. Fucking brilliant, Ed! I have never given ANY record a perfect score until now.

10/10