Ed Sheeran - = (Equals) Album Review

 

Global pop sensation Ed Sheeran has made his overdue return to music with the anticipated release of fourth album = (Equals). The Suffolk-born singer songwriter has an awful amount of hype to live up to, following on from the success of 2017's ÷ (Divide) where Ed showed no fear when spanning a plethora of genres whilst birthing his most successful hits in Shape of You and Perfect.

The release of recent singles Bad Habits and Shivers showcased Ed continuing his path of experimenting within the pop genre to much avail, both tracks had a consistent run at the top of the UK singles charts. Whilst = teeters with the idea of probing into other genres, there are still bog standard, formulaic love songs aplenty and at times a certain reluctantly for Sheeran to disband from the pattern with has given the artist unbound success in his career.

Equals launches into orbit with Tides - a guitar driven, honest account of Ed Sheeran's current life. Tides unintentionally serves as a sequel to Divides's Castle On The Hill, it presents the same raw aura with an undeniable bounce and glimmer of hope. The tone is set for chart topper Shivers to follow and maintain the upbeat mood with its three minute jaunt.

The pace is reduced for the first time and the acoustic melodies which are a talisman in Sheeran's illustrious career are introduced in the form of First Times. The track is a real reflection where Ed croons about enjoying the smaller, simple encounters over the huge landmarks he has passed in his life. Bad Habits is a well placed anthem to break up the lesser tempo tracks and the synth-fuelled bop is certainly a highlight.

Overpass Graffiti has an air of influence from the likes of The Weeknd and whilst is catchy in its pounding drum beat and backing vocal sonics, it lacks the punch in the vocals which the instrumental deserves. The Joker And The Queen appears as the frontrunner for the romantic song on =. The piano laden ballad has emotion spread throughout its duration and a song which mentor and overall music icon Sir Elton John would raise a glass to. Expect to hear The Joker And The Queen at future weddings where Ed Sheeran continues his reign of first dance king.

Equals hits its peak with Collide overlaying Ed's besotted lyrics atop a chilled drum and bass pattern. The singer is able to express himself comfortably with his dulcet tones melding with its musical surroundings. 2step is reminiscent of tracks from the early days of Ed's discography and is the only instance of rapping on the album. The staccato flow makes for a welcomed touch and combines effortlessly with the R'n'B influenced chorus - "We'll go all night / Two-steppin' with the woman I love / All my troubles turn to nothing when I'm in your eyes, electrified."

The 14-track record finds itself struggling to reign in the love songs and falls into a pit of monotony. Ed Sheeran has always had a gift to write romantic songs with witty concepts and that allows the tracks to breathe an air of authenticity and to stray away from becoming generic. However he may have overdone it and tracks like Love In Slow Motion finds itself on the borderline of cringeworthy.

Sandman could be seen as a polarising song. It is clearly a depiction of a parent's love to their child and the anticipation of their journey into the world. The percussive background provide a jovial, playful feel to the track. It is a cute effort and a change of pace but may not be deserving of multiple playbacks. Be Right Now ends proceedings with a kick drum that overpowers everything in its way. The vocals stay smooth for an instance too long - Ed is generally at his best when his rasp and grit seep into his vocal lines and Be Right Now would have benefitted from that. The cry of "Just stay here and be right now." draws Equals to its conclusion.

As a whole, = is a passable pop record and one which shows instances Ed Sheeran's maturity as a lyricist and as a human in general come to fruition. On the flip side there are several bland spots which a more naive Sheeran would have filled with passion in the past. The glimpses of experimental musicality from the likes of Bad Habits and Collide make for the album's best bits, however there is an undeniable comfort zone which doesn't allow for Equals to reach its full potential.

Rating: 6.5/10