For our first review today, we thought we'd start with arguably the biggest release of the year so far... Yes, it's Sheeran. We've both had a love/hate relationship with the guy over the years, mainly due to him being overplayed to death by the British media. But at the same time, it's hard to deny that he is one of the most successful and pioneering singer songwriters of the last 5 years. With Divide, we can only expect that to continue.. So, enough of the chit chat. Let's dive in.
Here's our ratings system:
Here's our ratings system:
1 - Shouldn't have been recorded
2 - Filler
3 - Above average filler
4 - Killer
5 - Career defining masterpiece
Track 01 - Eraser
John - 3/5
Tilly - 2.5/5
Track 02 - Castle on the Hill
John - 4/5
Tilly - 4/5
Track 03 - Dive
John - 2.5/5
Tilly - 2/5
Track 04 - Shape of You
John - 4/5
Tilly - 3.5/5
Track 05 - Perfect
John - 3/5
Tilly - 3/5
Track 06 - Galway Girl
John - 4/5
Tilly - 4/5
Track 07 - Happier
John - 3.5/5
Tilly - 3.5/5
Track 08 - New Man
John - 4.5/5
Tilly - 3.5/5
Track 09 - Hearts Don't Break Around Here
John - 2.5/5
Tilly - 2.5/5
Track 10 - What Do I Know?
John - 3.5/5
Tilly - 3.5/5
Track 11 - How Would You Feel (Paean)
John - 2.5/5
Tilly - 2/5
Track 12 - Supermarket Flowers
John - 2/5
Tilly - 1.5/5
Track 13 - Barcelona
John - 3.5/5
Tilly - 2.5/5
Track 14 - Bibia Be Ye Ye
John - 3.5/5
Tilly - 3/5
Track 15 - Nancy Mulligan
John - 3.5/5
Tilly - 3/5
Track 16 - Save Myself
John - 2/5
Tilly - 2/5
Conclusion
John - I really enjoyed listening to this - I don't think I'll listen to it fully ever again however. There were a lot of standout songs on Divide (New Man, Shape of You, Castle on the Hill, Galway Girl) however there were quite a few dull ones too, and it seemed like there were more of the dull tracks on the record than there actually was. In my opinion, because the instrumentals to them were a bit samey, the bad parts all blended in with each other. Putting that aside, Sheeran is at his absolute best in terms of lyrical content - not many people come close at the moment.
I would have liked Divide to have had more tracks like the album opener, Eraser - fast paced, rap-like vocals, and a simple instrumental - included, as for me this is what Ed is best at. It's one of the reasons I liked Plus so much. And it would definitely have made the record a lot more varied. In conclusion then? A well written and produced album that is strongest in it's vocals and lyrics, but falls a tiny bit where variation and instrumentals are concerned. But I liked it, as I'm sure the vast majority of his fans do too.
Overall - 3.5/5
Tilly - Oh Sheeran, you frustrate me. Such a talented songwriter but with no creativity. The songwriting on Divide is for the most part very strong, but with the exception of three or four songs, they all blend into each other. The Irish influences on Galway Girl and Nancy Mulligan were a nice touch, Castle On The Hill feels a bit like a Deaf Havana rip off, but a good one and Shape Of You and New Man provide a much needed catchy pop tune. How Would You Feel (Paean) sounds like Someone Like You by Dina Carroll and Michael Buble's Home had a lovechild, which could have been a good thing but ultimately feels like a stolen song. He has so much potential, especially with his ever growing fan base, but this album felt bland. Not that it matters, and not that he cares with the amount of money he's probably made, but I for one look forward to hearing something different from him next time. Good album. Nothing more, nothing less.
Overall - 3/5
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