After an extremely successful first album, a tour with Taylor Swift and a couple of sold out solo shows at Madison Square Garden, Ed Sheeran is finally releasing a second album. It has a lot of pressure to overcome, but it certainly delivers.
His first album “+” dropped in 2011, and it is filled mostly with acoustic love songs, but it’s clear that with his highly anticipated sophomore album called “x,” Sheeran wanted to create songs with hooks that will be stuck inside your head all day. The single “Sing,” for example, was released, and soon the world added it to its “great songs ruined by overexposure” list. It seems that songs with Pharrell Williams attached to them have that effect on the world.
Even though Sheeran stays true to his roots of love songs on an acoustic guitar, he experiments a little more with hip-hop and soul with this album. For me, one of the standout songs on the album is “Don’t.” It’s edgy, it’s angry and it’s catchy. It’s about an unknown popstar breaking his heart by having sex with his friend. Ouch. Despite the dark topic of the song, the opening vocal hook continues throughout, and it’ll have you bobbing your head by the end of the second chorus.
Songs like “One,” “Photograph,” and “Tenerife Sea” fit perfectly with the image of his first album, which is great for returning fans. However, for me, the more interesting songs are those that break away from his past album. “The Man” and “Take It Back” showcase Sheeran’s rapping abilities, and “Bloodstream” lyrically portrays the feeling of getting so fucked up you that forget the world.
Along the lines of “Bloodstream,” there are other topics in this album that are a bit more mature. “Afire Love” discusses Alzheimer’s disease; “Runaway” talks about his leaving home when he was sixteen; “Even My Dad Does Sometimes” speaks to expressing emotion and death. Many of his songs also contain lyrics that discuss alcohol-laden issues, which bring the album into focus with realism rather than simply the fantasy of romantic love.
Of course, one of the most notable things about this album is Sheeran’s voice. Although the hooks and the experimentation with new beats are great, the album still focuses in on the uniqueness of this singer-songwriter’s voice. His song “I’m a Mess” is aptly named, and it relies mostly on Sheeran’s vocals to carry it through. It’s simple but powerful.
Critics in the UK are not fans of the second album, saying that it lacks depth. However, Sheeran’s intent was for the album to be a success straight away, rather than the slow-building success generated by his first album. You’ve got to have catchy pop tunes on your album to make that happen.
Via: tumblr.com
I don’t think it’s the fact that it lacks depth that bothers some, I think it’s the fact that people assumed it would follow the same path as other singer-songwriters’ second albums and be more of the same. Sheeran has proven himself to be an innovator when it comes to doing a lot with very little, and this album asserts it further.
Critics aside, Ed Sheeran’s second album does everything a second album should. It experiments a little, but it also keeps the tradition of the first. It will keep current fans happy, and open the door for new ones as well.
“x” was released on June 23rd, and can be purchase on iTunes and in stores or heard on Spotify.
Notable tracks: “Don’t,” “The Man,” “Runaway,” and “Afire Love”
Featured photo courtesy of: KreatiVisuals.com
