Album Review: X by Ed Sheeran

1. "One"

Building on the sounds of his debut studio album (+), “One” tells the sweet melancholy story of a true love felt by Ed Sheeran and of course his lover. It’s a slow paced folk-pop infusion record that feels full of live yet incredibly delicate and sparse. I honestly think that every other singer wishes they could paint a story as vivid without trying hard – Ed Sheeran is one of the few that knows how to do time and time again.

2. "I'm A Mess"
Ed Sheeran goes for a much more acoustic approach, applying minimal effects to "I'm A Mess" (there's a guitar and a dash of a beat, but not much more). This stripped down track is even more bare boned than "One", which led the album off on a familiar note to satisfy his longtime fans (for those of you that recall +, the English singer's first album).

3. "Sing"

When “Sing” was first released as the album’s lead single, it sparked lots of complaints from the fans. Many claimed he was trying too hard to fit in with mainstream format, but if you listen closely to “Sing”, you’ll realize that Ed Sheeran isn’t trying to fit into a pattern, he’s trying to create his own. I mean honestly… when have you ever heard another innocent English singer/songwriter try his hand at a hip-hop inspired pop song. That’s what I thought… never.

4. "Don’t"

There’s no better way than this to get back at an ex-girlfriend who cheated on you: come up with a slick melody, make it catchy and of course, include all the juicy details. The concept of “Don’t” likely revolves around Ellie Goulding (who he briefly dated several years ago), but it feels like Ed had someone else on his mind when he came up with this one: Taylor Swift. T Swizzle (Ed Sheeran’s American best friend), who is notorious for not only being the only country artist with two albums that debuted with first weeks sales of 1,000,000+, is also well known for writing about all the people who “brake her heart”. I know it wasn’t his intention, but “Don’t” can’t help but feel like a punch in the face for Swift. Her best friend (who’s more junior when it comes to the music business) just created a single song that’s better than ½ of her break-up discography.

Lyrically, the song opens up about how this mysterious relationship started off slow but quickly took off until the couple was ordering pizza to-go, singing on Sheeran’s couch and spending a night in a hotel room. It also details how the relationship crumbled: she cheated on Ed with someone on the same floor of a hotel they were staying at. Ed sure knows how to keep it both sassy and classy.

5. "Nina"
Written with perhaps Nina Nesbitt in mind, Ed Sheeran goes all over the place about a love that ended just as soon as it began. It's both pop and hip-hop inspired (yet again), but takes a different approach on love. While "Don't" focused on cheating, "Nina" focuses more on not being able to connect with your lover. At one point, Ed even sings "You should go Nina/Cause I ain't never coming home Nina", a truly heart crushing line.

6. "Photograph"
When I first listened to this track, I got a really strong "Lego House" vibe (for those of you that don't know, that track featured on Sheeran's debut album; it's also my favorite track from that album). Unfortunately, "Photograph" still really doesn't compare to "Lego House" in terms of overall quality (and that's a bit of a shame). It is, however, nice to hear a piano for the first time on any part of this album.

7. "Bloodstream"

Let’s just start by saying this: it’s a disappointment. Why? Because it gets you all pumped up, but it turns out to be a dud. “Bloodstream” isn’t a bad song - in fact it’s one of the album’s better ventures – yet it feels over simplified. The verses and the pre-chorus make it feel exhilarating (by Ed Sheeran standards), but the chorus itself ruins the song. Ugh. It just bothers me for some strange reason. Ah…oh well.

But on a more positive note, "Bloodstream" does contain some of the most creative lyrics on X, and its overall structure trumps most of the albums other songs as well. A river of "mmmhhs" and a side of "ahhhs" wash over the base of the track in a melodic, end of the world fashion.

8. "Tenerife Sea"
The calming lullaby whooshes of "Tenerife Sea" are both soothing and heart melting. As the track progresses, it becomes perfectly clear: Sheeran is a master craftsman. As his voice weaves around a melodic guitar, the true essence of beauty and emotion are heard more clearly than ever before. It's not a game changer, or something you'll end up hearing on the radio, but "Tenerife Sea" will forever remain etched into the minds of listeners as a pure pop gem.

9. "Runaway"
Though this track didn't really strike well with me upon first listen, after several more plays, I began to enjoy it. With that being said, "Runaway" is still among one of the album's sinking points mainly because it feels a little lost in the sea of 'runaway' hit singles that surround this track (see "The Man", "Bloodstream", "Afire Love", etc.).

10. "The Man"

Built around a "boom-boom-clap" beat, "The Man" blends an very thick accented proper English free style rap with a clean cut chorus where we find Sheeran belting out: "I don't love you baby/I don't need you baby/I don't want to love you no, anymore. The track gives off a strong hip-hop vibe that appears to over power, but a closer listen reveals a meadow of folk-pop sounds echoing throughout.

The thing that really sets "The Man" apart from the rest of the pack, is its ability to feel both complex and twisted while remaining in seemingly safe territory for Sheeran (who's no beginner when it comes to the less is more concept). Additionally, it has a strong replay quality that'll help it find its way into the hearts of millions of fans around the world.

11. "Thinking Out Loud"

Just like Rixton's Jake Roche said on Twitter: "Just downloaded "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran. I had a cry. A crouch down in the shower until the water runs cold kinda cry". There's simply no better way to put it, "Thinking Out Loud" really sounds like that. Drawing inspirations from a variety of male pop vocalists hand crafted for Adult Contemporary radio, the track is reminiscent of approximately 1/4 of Jason Mraz's discography (that's actually quite a bit). It is not a runaway success like "The Man" or "Don't", yet "Thinking Out Loud" still puts up a good fight.

12. "Afire Love"
Written with his late grandfather in mind, "Afire Love" is one of the most touching ballad styled tracks on the entire album. More importantly, it is one of Ed Sheeran's most prolific efforts from X, mainly because it stands out in the waves of hip-hop or folk-pop inspired tracks. Scratch the hip, the hop and the folk, because "Afire Love" is a pure pop gem with a solid chorus and monumental verses.  What's more touching than the song itself? It was lyrically completed at Ed's grandfather's funeral. Watch out for this one... it'll likely impact pop radio sooner rather than later.

Rating: 94/100 (A)
Certified Fresh

Overview: I definitely had a hard time giving this album a 94 (that's the highest I've given since I started doing reviews in November), but it feels right. Why? Because Ed Sheeran knows how to deliver something all audiences (not just average teenage girls) will remember and cherish for quite a while. Sheeran's debut studio effort, +, was set in a very subtle singer/songwriter fashion and was draped with dreary lyrics and snotty-Kleenex/bawl-your-eyes-out music (acoustic works, folk pop, and indie pop all in slow fashion). Follow up x is a huge departure from the Tumblr girl's favorite record sound of +. Incorporating more mature themes (songs written about actual relationships), new sounds (hip-hop flavored verses and pop radio styled hooks), and more people (notably Pharrell  Williams), is what really set x apart from +. I mean let's be honest: Ed Sheeran could have created a body of work worse than +, and it still would have sold millions. Luckily for him, x ventures to a mature enough mark to appeal to a broader spectrum of listeners, and it's also chalk full of interesting highlights.

From the tear welling "Afire Love" to the heart crushing "Don't", x has something for all kinds of lovers (and listeners).