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"I have grown up, I am a father now." These are the first words Ed Sheeran sings on =, his fourth official solo album, the one that arrives four years after ÷. Between these two records, he got married to his old sweetheart and had a baby -- he also released the stopgap No. 6 Collaborations Project, a star-studded affair that kept him on the charts -- major life events that provide the fuel for the 14 songs on =. Supported by a bed of supple R&B rhythms, retro keyboards, and a vague hint of his signature acoustic guitar, Sheeran tackles new fatherhood and love everlasting, taking time to offer such complementary accents as "Visiting Hours," a nod to a departed friend. Despite his feint at late-night debauchery on "Bad Habits," the album teems with mature aspirations: he's grappling with growth, sensing the passage of time, and wishing he could relive first times once again. These themes are simultaneously profound and banal, an emotional territory that suits Sheeran's knack for crafting candied corn. Sheeran never chooses a winding path; whether it's his melody or lyrics, he always opts for the straightest course. By favoring simplicity, he veers toward clichés and homilies -- this is particularly true when he's writing for and about his newborn child, such as the singsong lullaby "Sandman" -- yet he knows how to turn his highly personal observations into adult contemporary pop: music where the vibe matters as much as the hooks. Here, Sheeran's melodies are soft yet insistent, and the production glistens with flair borrowed from younger, hipper artists who mine a similar blend of retro new wave and modern R&B, but he knows how to turn this stylish sound into something cozy and reassuring. That comforting gloss is the surest sign that Ed Sheeran has indeed grown up: he's not chasing trends, he's making music for people who have aged out of the clubs but have yet to wallow in nostalgia.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Fred, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Bass, Boy Soprano, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Producer, Piano, ExecutiveProducer - Foy Vance, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Piano, Backing Vocals - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Joe Rubel, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Piano, Programmer, Drum Programmer, Bass - Matt Glasbey, Engineer, Programmer - Robert Sellens, Engineer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Camden Clarke, AssistantEngineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Steve Mac, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, VocalProducer - Chris Laws, Drums, Engineer, Programmer, Recorded by - Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer, VocalProducer - Fred, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer, Pizzicato Violin - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Engineer, Guitar, ExecutiveProducer - Kal Lavelle, Composer - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Dan Pursey, Engineer, Recorded by, VocalProducer - Joe Rubel, Engineer, Additional Programmer, Recorded by - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Michael Jones, Violin - Laurie Anderson, Viola - Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - David Hodges, Composer - Graham Archer, VocalProducer - Leon Bosch, Double Bass - Fred, Producer, Piano, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Kathy Gowers, Violin - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, ExecutiveProducer - Kirsty Mangan, Violin - Gary Pomeroy, Viola - Matthew Denton, Violin - Ashok Klouda, Cello - Thomas Gould, Violin - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Parisi, Additional Strings - Beatrix Lovejoy, Violin - Warren Zielinksi, Violin - Tim Lowe, Cello - Fred Gibson, Composer - Anna Blackmur, Violin - Meghan Cassidy, Viola - Ciaran McCabe, Violin - Joe Rubel, String Recording Engineer, Strings Programmer - Matt Glasbey, Engineer - Jan Regulski, Violin - Marije Johnston, Violin - Martyn Jackson, Violin - Matthew Sheeran, Strings Arranger - Rebecca Lowe, Viola - Samantha Wickramasinghe, Violin - Eoin Schmidt-Martin, Viola - Antonia Kesel, Violin - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Victoria Harrild, Cello - Neil Dawes, AssistantEngineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer - Ann Bielby, Viola - Marta Di Nozzi, AssistantEngineer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer, VocalProducer - Iain Archer, Slide Guitar - Fred, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Backing Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, ExecutiveProducer - Will Reynolds, AssistantEngineer - Parisi, Additional Production - Fred Gibson, Composer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Hal Ritson, Keyboards, Additional Vocals, Additional Programmer, Bass, AdditionalEngineer - Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer, VocalProducer - Fred, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Backing Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Richard Adlam, Additional Programmer - Louise Clare Marshall, Additional Vocals - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Will Reynolds, AssistantEngineer - Fred Gibson, Composer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer, VocalProducer - Leon Bosch, Double Bass - Fred, Producer, Engineer, Keyboards, Bass, ExecutiveProducer, Strings Arranger - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Vocals, Backing Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Producer, Engineer, ExecutiveProducer - Romans, Producer - Ashok Klouda, Cello - Sam Roman, Composer, Guitar, Piano - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Will Reynolds, AssistantEngineer - Marco Parisi, Strings - Tim Lowe, Cello - Fred Gibson, Composer - Joe Rubel, String Recording Engineer, Strings Programmer - Matt Glasbey, Engineer - Matthew Sheeran, Programmer, Strings Arranger - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Victoria Harrild, Cello - Neil Dawes, AssistantEngineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer - Marta Di Nozzi, AssistantEngineer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer - Fred, Engineer, Piano, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, ExecutiveProducer - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Will Hicks, VocalEngineer - Elvira Anderfjärd, Producer, Drums, Keyboards, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Bass - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Ben Kweller, Composer - Hal Ritson, Programmer - Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer, Backing Vocals, VocalProducer - Fred, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Vocals, Backing Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Richard Adlam, Percussion - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Will Reynolds, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, AssistantEngineer - Kevin Myers, Backing Vocals - Fred Gibson, Composer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Benjy, Drums - Benji Gibson, Additional Production - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - David Hodges, Composer - Paul Lamalfa, Engineer - Fred, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, ExecutiveProducer - Andrew Watt, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Louis Bell, Composer, Producer, Drums, Keyboards, Programmer - Andrew Wotman, Composer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer, VocalProducer - Fred, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Bass, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, ExecutiveProducer - Foy Vance, Piano - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Joe Rubel, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer, Drum Programmer - Matt Glasbey, Engineer, Programmer - Robert Sellens, Engineer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Camden Clarke, AssistantEngineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Natalie Hemby, Composer - Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer, VocalProducer - Fred, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Bass, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Will Reynolds, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssistantEngineer - Marco Parisi, Keyboards, Piano - Giampaolo Parisi, Drums, Programmer - Joe Rubel, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Additional Production, Programmer - Matt Glasbey, Engineer - Robert Sellens, Engineer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Camden Clarke, AssistantEngineer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Jimmy Barnes, Backing Vocals - Kylie Minogue, Backing Vocals, Additional Vocal Recording Engineer, Vocal Recording Engineer - Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Kevin Shirley, Additional Vocal Recording Engineer - Graham Archer, Engineer, VocalProducer - Fred, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer, Backing Vocals, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Will Reynolds, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssistantEngineer - Parisi, Additional Production - Marco Parisi, Horn, Keyboards, Piano - Amy Wadge, Composer - Jimmy Carr, Backing Vocals - Scott Carter, Composer - Michael Pollack, Composer - Jack Parisi, Programmer - Anthony Clemons, Composer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Josh McDaid, Backing Vocals - Aine McDaid, Backing Vocals - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer - Maev McDaid, Backing Vocals - Pauline McDaid, Backing Vocals - Kim Lang Smith, Composer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer, VocalProducer - Fred, ExecutiveProducer - Owen Pallett, Viola, Violin, Strings Arranger - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Vocals, Ukulele, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Glockenspiel, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer, Marimba, ExecutiveProducer - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Will Reynolds, AssistantEngineer - Michael Peter Olsen, Cello - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Aine McDaid, Flute, Recorder - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer - Maev McDaid, Harp
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Stuart Hawkes, Masterer - Mark "Spike" Stent, Mixer - Graham Archer, Engineer, VocalProducer - Fred, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Bass, ExecutiveProducer - Ed Sheeran, Composer, Producer, Vocals, Backing Vocals, MainArtist, ExecutiveProducer - Johnny McDaid, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals, ExecutiveProducer - Charlie Holmes, Assistant Mixer - Parisi, Additional Production - Marco Parisi, Piano, Strings - Giampaolo Parisi, Programmer, Sound Effects (SFX) - Fred Gibson, Composer - Matt Wolach, Assistant Mixer - Kieran Beardmore, Assistant Mixer
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
Album review
"I have grown up, I am a father now." These are the first words Ed Sheeran sings on =, his fourth official solo album, the one that arrives four years after ÷. Between these two records, he got married to his old sweetheart and had a baby -- he also released the stopgap No. 6 Collaborations Project, a star-studded affair that kept him on the charts -- major life events that provide the fuel for the 14 songs on =. Supported by a bed of supple R&B rhythms, retro keyboards, and a vague hint of his signature acoustic guitar, Sheeran tackles new fatherhood and love everlasting, taking time to offer such complementary accents as "Visiting Hours," a nod to a departed friend. Despite his feint at late-night debauchery on "Bad Habits," the album teems with mature aspirations: he's grappling with growth, sensing the passage of time, and wishing he could relive first times once again. These themes are simultaneously profound and banal, an emotional territory that suits Sheeran's knack for crafting candied corn. Sheeran never chooses a winding path; whether it's his melody or lyrics, he always opts for the straightest course. By favoring simplicity, he veers toward clichés and homilies -- this is particularly true when he's writing for and about his newborn child, such as the singsong lullaby "Sandman" -- yet he knows how to turn his highly personal observations into adult contemporary pop: music where the vibe matters as much as the hooks. Here, Sheeran's melodies are soft yet insistent, and the production glistens with flair borrowed from younger, hipper artists who mine a similar blend of retro new wave and modern R&B, but he knows how to turn this stylish sound into something cozy and reassuring. That comforting gloss is the surest sign that Ed Sheeran has indeed grown up: he's not chasing trends, he's making music for people who have aged out of the clubs but have yet to wallow in nostalgia.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:48:22
- Main artists: Ed Sheeran
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Atlantic Records UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, © 2021 Warner Music UK Limited An Asylum Records UK release, a division of Atlantic Records UK, ℗ 2021 Warner Music UK Limited
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