X Album Review

On the exterior, Ed Sheeran resembles anything but a pop star, with his ragged beard and oversized band tees. However, his latest album, ‘X’ (23^rd June, 2014) has earned him pop-music royalty status, and placed him at the forefront of social media frenzy once again.

With his last album ‘+’ (2011) setting an impressive benchmark in the charts, Sheeran ensured he’d be a tough act to follow. But to no surprise, the lyrical genius and music mastermind has outdone even himself. This album promises to be every beat bigger and better than the last, multiplying exponentially on the quality of music, and reinventing the unique sound of Ed Sheeran that we have all come to know and love.

‘X’ marks the spot where you will find it all: the rhythmic and soulful balladry (One, Photograph), the rocky, upbeat jams (Sing), and the passion inducing recounts of personal heartbreak and family affairs (Nina, Don’t, Afire Love). Sheeran seamlessly weaves these genres into one another and brands it with his extraordinary falsetto and skillful acoustic artistry.

Collaborating with good-friend and fellow namedropper, Taylor Swift, on his latest album, Sheeran doesn’t hold back on the vindicating. There is no doubt that Nina did in fact exist, and isn’t she lucky to have a track named after her! And let’s not forget ‘Don’t’, the track that has circled the rumour mill for weeks now, sending fans on a crazed investigation to pinpoint the culprit of Sheeran’s heartbreak. He made no conscious effort in hiding the fact that the song was “100-per-cent factual. If anything, I toned it down”, he said in an interview. All signs point to his fling with fellow musician, Ellie Goulding, who reportedly was also involved with Niall Horan of One Direction.

Whoever she may be, and whatever may have gone down between the sheets after that lemon and bottle of gin, there is no denying that ‘X’ has exceeded expectations, and it’s safe to say, Ed Sheeran has done it again.

8.5/10

Dina Khoweiss
24/6/2014