Track-By-Track Review- “Multiply” (X) by Ed Sheeran

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran established himself as a prominent figure in the music industry when he released his alblum “Plus” (+) in 2011. He had previously released numerous EPs and singles, none of which managed to breakthrough to mainstream. He now writes songs not only for his own projects, but for/with other artists such as One Direction, Taylor Swift, and Lupe Fiasco. His unique style gives him a bit of an edge on other mainstream artists, with a distinctive voice and his twists with lyrics and phrasing.

Track by Track

One- Very reminiscent of the last album, fairly stripped down, acoustic feel. It shows off his falsetto beautifully and the harmonies add a bit of depth.

I’m a Mess- This one will remind you of Jack Johnson. Very stripped back, and you can hear Ed’s accent a lot more than usual on this track.

Sing- This song was produced by Pharrell and it really shows. It’s catchy, but it’s one of those songs that will grow tired after a few weeks of being played on a loop on the radio.

**Don’t- This track really surprised me, because the lyrics stray from Ed’s norm. It has a bit of a Taylor Swift vibe, as the song is a blatant stab at an ex-lover. But the twist Ed puts on it makes it incredibly memorable, and for the shock-value of the difference in him, this is one of my favorites.  

Nina- CATCHY!! Another ode to a past lover, it will remind you of his last album. Best compared to ‘U.N.I’ and ‘This’—but better!

Photograph- Sweet idea, but there doesn’t seem to be an end point to it… not to mention it’s kind of a rephrased version of ‘Tenerife Sea’ and ‘Thinking Out Loud.’

Bloodstream- This one is just different enough to catch your attention, and the hook will be stuck in your head the rest of the day. The build-up/busyness at the end is the cherry on top of a great song!

Tenerife Sea- Cute love song, with a nice rhythm that will make you want to sway, or maybe dance in the living room with a significant other. The lyrics show off Ed’s knack for rewording the clichés we hear all too often into something you haven’t heard yet.

Runaway- You’ll get hooked on the melody with this song. Not a subject that he’s written a ton about in the past, so it’s a breath of fresh air to hear something different.

The Man- Song with a story… This tells the story of a failing relationship, with a great hook and some shocking revelations in the last verse, it’s probably one of the best songs on the album.

Thinking Out Loud- Sounds a lot like your average wedding song. Good music to dance to, with a few clichés here and there. Sure to be a favorite among the masses for the sheer lovey-dovey factor.

**Afire Love- Hands down the most emotional song on this album. The song recounts his experience with his grandfather having Alzheimer’s and later passing away. This one is beautiful.

**Take It Back- This song is a lot to take in, and it will take you a few times of listening through to really get it. It’s all very fast paced rap with exception of about 2 lines for the hook. Very impressive, shows off his different talents.

Shirtsleeves- To be perfectly honest, this is my “skip-over” song. It’s another love song, but it’s not nearly as interesting as the other examples on this album.

Even My Dad Does Sometimes- This one is different in the fact that it’s predominantly piano for the backing music, rather than guitar (until the end). Again, he shows his knack for turning everyday situations and thoughts into beautifully worded music.

I See Fire- This song is technically a re-release, since it was originally released as a part of the soundtrack for the film “The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug.” It’s a lot different than a lot of Ed’s other works, with more instrumental elements than his usual guitar. The harmonies on this track are on point and will surely give you chills.  

**My Top Three