= - Ed Sheeran

I started this blog to shed a light on the best music I knew. Albums that inspired me, songs I wanted to play on repeat, music I wanted to share with the world. It was meant to be a positive platform. This album fits has destroyed everything I hoped this blog to be. It is now a bin fire. But with this powerful platform comes great responsibility. And that is why I am sharing this warning message to you all. This is the worst album I have listened to this year by far.

Straight of the bat, no. I’m not one of those musical snobs who cannot like any artist who has some form of mainstream popularity. I like Ed Sheeran. I’ve seen him live twice, I’ve bought some of his previous albums and he was an inspiration when I grew up playing the guitar. Yes, his music can be a little generic and cheesy but what he has achieved is incredible and he has released some good songs a long the way. However, as releases have passed, I’ve started to become a little bored. Songs were becoming more and more gimmicky, albums were blurring into one, Ed Sheeran was everywhere and in truth, he was starting to annoy me. And then, 'Bad Habits' was released.

Like all of his more poppy releases, I instantly hated this track. It had happened with 'Sing' and also 'Shape Of You'. It sounded like generic chart music - no real message, no edge, just safe, bland pop. But like always, it grew on me and I was singing it all over the flat. 'Shivers' was later released and the same thing happened - after a few weeks it’s all that’s in my head. I started thinking that possibly this album is the one that breaks the monotonousness, shakes things up for Sheeran. Sure, it's still sounding a bit generic, but he’s ditched the 4 chord acoustic numbers... And with his previous release of collaborations with artists such as Eminem and Justin Bieber, maybe he’d been inspired to go a different way with this album. How wrong could I have been…

I hate to say it but this is 48 and a half minutes of dross. In a promo video, Ed Sheeran tries to state this is “the deepest he’s been on a record”. I cannot disagree more. His first big release, '+' felt so deep and intimate. This is generic. This is bland. This is rubbish. He is older now, a father, a husband and as he describes himself “an adult” - which means we get a slightly different take on lyrics from previous record. However the Ed Sheeran bingo sheet of lyrics can still be used. Vague tale of partying to hard - check. Mention of previous heartbreak - check. Never going to love anyone like you - check. Life was good back in the day wasn’t it… you get the gist. 

You can tick quite a few of these off in first track on the album, 'Tides', which prepares you for the cliche ridden hour that awaits you. It tells us about how life has changed but somehow it hasn’t, like the tides… truly inspirational. I think the backing to this track was one that didn’t quite make it onto 'Castle On The Hill' - it’s structure is identical, as is the premise of the song. A weak start.

Then we hit some of the meat. Singles, 'Shivers' and 'Bad Habits' sandwich track 3: 'First Times'. Somehow, despite being packed with generic love messages, this is my favourite from the album. An irregular verse chord progression (unheard of in a Sheeran track) adds to the sound on this track which has whispers of old Ed Sheeran records. It’s not overproduced, it actually feels a little bit real. But then, bang, here comes the dross. 

What follows after is song upon song filled with overproduced synths, something Sheeran has been flirting with since 'X'. Maybe he’s lost his acoustic guitar, maybe the baby broke it? Whatever’s happened, it needs to come back and fast. Which is kind of ironic. This album doesn’t sound similar to the previous in terms of instrumentation, but then at the same time, it’s just the same as all it’s predecessors. It’s such a difficult listen. 'Overpass Graffiti' is ok but the lyric “we will never fade, like graffiti” is naff; yet you know they will be littered across teenage Instagram bios for years to come. 

Most of the songs from this point onwards are based around the same premise - love will always win. It’s so safe. You couldn’t listen to any of these songs privately and admire them - this album isn’t made for that at all. It’s designed to be played if you’re mums in the car with you, background noise. But that kind of boils down to what the issue is with Ed Sheeran. He is safe. He doesn’t want to challenge his listeners - there is no edge (apart from when he slagged of Taylor Swift once). And this album is just that - safe. But will it hit number one? Inevitably. Will it make him an absolute mint? Of course it will. So why break that mould of safety I guess!

By far the worst song on the record is 'Joker And The Queen'. If you are looking for a new drinking game, put this track on and drink every time you hear a card game metaphor - you’ll be plastered by the first chorus. It's horrific. 

A few positives can be taken from the song 'Visiting Hours'. It’s a little cheesy again, but the sentiment is heart-warming and the track feels well time amid everything that has happened recently. But sadly, that is where my praise ends. This album '=' 48 minutes of meh. Avoid it if you can - shrug and move onto something worth listening to - don’t get caught by safe hands Sheeran.

Overall Rating: 2/10 

Stand Out Tracks: First Times, Visiting Hours

Written By: Matthew Bird