Ed Sheeran's Latest Album Is My Least Favorite And Here's Why | The Odyssey Online
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Ed Sheeran's Latest Album Is My Least Favorite And Here's Why

Ed's newest album, "Divide," left me feeling disappointed.

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Ed Sheeran's Latest Album Is My Least Favorite And Here's Why
Ed Sheeran

I want to start off by saying that if you know me at all, you know I love Ed Sheeran. He's my all-time favorite musician. That being said, his third album just isn't doing it for me. I'll be honest: I was quite disappointed by it. Not only does it lack the poetic lyrics that tug on my heartstrings, it's lost that special "just a man and his guitar" feeling. Ed's new album, "Divide," is overproduced and truly not that powerful. I'm still going to memorize every single song, but it's my least favorite album thus far. Here is my song-by-song breakdown of where it went wrong.

1. "Eraser"

The extended version of this song talks about how much Ed dislikes fame and being in the limelight. (It also talks a lot about his cocaine habit). It definitely bummed me out the first time I heard it; I think as a fan, I want to believe that he's enjoying every minute of being a celeb. However, this song is very "Ed-esque" and sounds extremely similar to his past songs "The Man" and "You Need Me, I Don't Need You."

2. "Castle on the Hill"

This was Ed's second released single off the album. I love how personal it is to his childhood, but it isn't one of my favorites from the album. I wish it was more stripped-down and raw--just Ed and a guitar. The produced background track takes away from the song.

3. "Dive"

The power of Ed's voice is showcased in this song. However, the lyrics are kind of lame. At one point he says he's "jumping in harder than 10,000 rocks in the lake." I mean, that's great, but anyone could write that. I expected more.

4. "Shape of You"

This is the first song I heard from Ed's album, and it is still one of my favorites. It is so catchy that I can't help but bop my head every time it comes on, and the world agrees. "Shape of You" has been on the top 10 chart since it debuted. My only complaint is how mainstream it sounds; you would never guess it was an Ed Sheeran song.

5. "Perfect"

I read an article online that said Ed wrote this song solely to try to make it more famous than "Thinking Out Loud." If that's what he was trying to do, I don't think he'll succeed. This song is BEAUTIFUL, no doubt, but I don't know if anything will outdo the success of "Thinking Out Loud." The lyrics don't have the same passion.

6. "Galway Girl"

The first time I heard the song, I thought the lyrics were subpar. That opinion hasn't changed, but the beat makes it impossible not to dance to. My biggest complaint about the song is the inclusion of an Irish tune in between verses and the overwhelming background music. It just doesn't sound like Ed. And, if I wanted to listen to an Irish jig, I would YouTube it.

7. "Happier"

I've listened to this song so many times, and I have no idea what to say about it. It's reminiscent of some of Ed's older, slower songs that I love. The lyrics almost tugged at my heartstrings, but not quite. I wish he'd spent more time on the words of this song to really give it that extra oomph.

8. "New Man"

This is the funniest song on the album. Let's be real: It's probably the funniest song Ed has ever written. Ed describes a man covered in tribal tattoos that he doesn't understand, rock hard abs and boat shoes without socks. What he's really describing is your average 20-year-old "f**kboy" and I love it. It must have been really fun to write--what a great way to get over your ex.

9. "Hearts Don't Break Around Here"

I think this is the most forgettable song on the album. It's not amazing and it's not bad. (Although, can any Ed Sheeran song truly be bad?) It's right in the middle. It's a love song, but the lyrics aren't very impressive. Meh. That being said, it is the perfect rhythm to slow dance to with your significant other.

10. "What Do I Know?"

The message to this song is simple but so important because Ed says, "love can change the world." It's been stuck in my head more than any song on the album. However, I think it sounds like a song that would be performed on a children's TV show to teach them a lesson about spreading love in the world. It doesn't sound very mature.

11. "How Would You Feel (Paean)"

This is my favorite song on the album. It's so effortlessly beautiful. I think the reason I like it so much is that it is almost entirely stripped down to just Ed and a guitar. The piano track that accompanies it is beautiful but unnecessary.

12. "Supermarket Flowers"

If any song on the album is going to make you cry, it's this one. This is a beautiful tribute to Ed's grandmother, who passed away while he was recording the album. Sniff. How could I say anything bad about that??

13. "Barcelona"

I love the Spanish vibes in this song. It is very unlike Ed to sing in another language and to include the Latin track in the background. I felt like his words didn't line up with the background music as well as they could have. That being said, pass the sombrero. I'm booking a flight to Barcelona ASAP.

14. "Bibia Be Ye Ye"

This song is extremely catchy, but I have no idea what "Bibia Be Ye Ye" means. The lyrics tell a story about drunken antics and paint a picture of Ed getting trashed, losing his stuff, and then finding it again. I honestly have no clue what the point of this song is.

15. "Nancy Mulligan"

This is my least favorite song on the album. I'm sure it has significant meaning to Ed, but I just can't get into it. It's not relatable and the background track really annoys me.

16. "Save Myself"

The last song on the album bums me out just as much as the opening track, "Eraser." In this song, Ed talks about how everyone he loves puts themselves first and how he copes with the pain by drinking and taking pills. The message is sad but true: "before I love someone else, I've got to love myself." But the coping mechanisms he's using aren't healthy.

I felt bad writing this article because it is truly painful for me to say anything bad about an artist I admire so much. I think that Ed is in a sort of mid-life crisis right now as he tries to deal with fame and the pressures that come with it. I hope that Ed finds his groove again and releases a fourth album that knocks my socks off.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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