There was no real pressure on Ed with album number two. His debut, +, which I have only just started to appreciate was a slow burner. There was never a huge fanfare around it, despite the singles did well they weren't in your face. The singer songwriter has become a huge star without ever being a 'star'. He doesn't look or act like a pop star but he writes like one.
Sheeran has penned hits for One Direction and Taylor Swift, Taylor helped him break America and the genre-less Ed has turned into a credible artist in an industry flooded with fakery. My obsession with him is definitely a 2014 'thing' but it'll go beyond that if he continues to churn out more like x.
Lead single, Sing instantly wowed me. It's awfully catchy and sounds like a Justin Timberlake tune, it mades sense when I recently learned that Pharrell helped out on it, that's one talented duo right there, bet their PRS cheques has a lot of numbers on. Don't, the follow up single is equally brilliant but for different reasons as he opens up sore wounds from his relationship with Ellie Goulding, as break up songs go this is pretty personal.
Unlike some pop albums, there's no filler here. x is diverse in both lyrically content and vibe as Ed deals with death on the delicate, Afire Love and fame on Take It Back where he pokes fun at the NME backlash, winning worst dressed and celebrity culture as he spits verses with an acoustic guitar for backing, everything that was declared on +'s You Need Me, I Don't Need You is answered. There's a steady theme of love running through it, from teenage relationships (Nina) broken up by a career in music (has Taylor been encouraging him to name and shame?) to playing the lothario (Bloodstream). Photograph builds up nicely into a sing-a-long anthem for the romantics whilst Tenerife Sea is as dreamy as the title. One touches on the perfect partner crime with intimacy and a voice so delicate you expect it to break into a million pieces any moment and I'm A Mess is tinged with Mumfords vibes, with foot stomping beats as he reflects on hazy nights and rough mornings.
Thinking Out Loud is where x peaks, a piece of pop perfection, earnest, glorious and bold, there's a huge hook, a gentle tempo, touching lyrics delivered with passion, the guitar interlude sways in for a nice extra, there's classic textures running through.
The piano led Even My Dad Does Sometimes is an emotional roller coaster full of thoughts that you are afraid to share as he reassures that everything will be ok, his vocals come across with intensity and believability. There's some fight and sass thrown in too, Runaway glares with swagger and The Man is Ed's 8 Mile moment as his rhymes are strong and cut-throat yet the chorus is soulful.
Ok, I admit, I was wrong to dismiss Ed Sheeran. He might look awkward, he might not be the snappiest dressers but he's one hell of a songwriter. He writes with a personal touch, you can't help but get sucked into his tragic tales of heartbreak, battling with maturity and being thrown into the spotlight. There's plenty of years left in him too!
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