Review | Ed Sheeran’s new album misses the perfect formula

Grammy-winning artist Ed Sheeran released his fourth solo studio album, titled “=,” Oct. 29. WikiCommons

When people think of Ed Sheeran, they may describe him as the king of wedding dance songs, the artist that’s always glued to their guitar like Linus is to his blanket or even the adorable, ginger-haired Brit who raps with quick sarcasm and specificity.

And with three albums, four Grammy awards and over 75 million monthly listeners on Spotify under his belt, those perceptions of the 30-year-old pop sensation have led to a legendary career. 

On his debut album, “+,” Sheeran shows attitude and wit with songs like “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You,” where he flat-out said things like, “I make shit happen, call me a laxative” and “Call yourself a singer-songwriter, you’re just bluffing. Name’s on the credits, and you didn’t write nothing.” 

The British singer-songwriter’s second album, “x,” features Sheeran strumming the hell out of his guitar in songs like “I’m a Mess” and “I See Fire,” which is a ballad truly worth blasting in the car. With his third album, “÷,” Sheeran captures the hearts of any romance-swooner with songs “Hearts Don’t Break Around Here” and “Perfect.” 

With almost all the elements of PEMDAS getting proper representation, Sheeran’s latest album is entitled “=.” The album, which was released Oct. 29, seems to do exactly what a normal mathematical equal sign would — compare two like things. Sure, this album shows the consistency of this artist, but it idly does not create any more development or surprises; it’s a replica of his previous discography.

But the irony is that the tracks from “=” are essentially more generic versions of Sheeran’s previous hits. Singles like “Bad Habits” and “Shivers” serve to promote the album, and though they do achieve a catchy, club-like beat that loops in my head all day, these new songs emulate Sheeran’s 2017 single “Shape of You.” 

Similarly, Sheeran took the elements of his previous heartfelt songs like “How Would You Feel (Paean)” and dumbed-down the essence in new songs like “The Joker and The Queen” and “Love in Slow Motion.” Previously, Sheeran hurled his heart out of his chest like a home run at The World Series, but now it appears that his passion is more akin to a gentle toss toward the dirt. 

Sheeran has inspired his audience to strive for quirkiness, detail, and of course, true romance. When I saw Sheeran in concert in high school, I saw the passion in his strumming, and his joy was beaming throughout the entire arena with each tap to his loop pedal.

Sheeran reminds me of growing up, discovering love, finding comfort in heartbreak and being able to passionately and creatively live your life. In the past, I listened to “Happier” when I went through my first breakup, I jammed out to “Galway Girl” with my friends on Saturday nights and dreamt of my dream wedding when listening to “Tenerife Sea.” 

I was expecting just as much passion in this new album like all these other impactful songs achieved. And while the formula was the same, it just didn’t hit the mark. 

That’s not to say I won’t listen to any of it ever again. There were many aspects of the classic Sheeran that pulled at my heartstrings and hit my soul with powerful metaphors. 

The opening track on the album, called “Tides,” gives a great recap of what Sheeran has been up to in the past four years since his last solo album: specifically, getting married to his high school sweetheart and having a daughter. My favorite line in the song is “Time stops to still; when you are in my arms it always will, and life is changing tides,” which helps the listener understand life is not a crazy roller coaster with abrupt ups and downs, but a continuous stream that ebbs and flows. 

Another track that stands out is “First Times,” which functions as an ode to Sheeran’s wife. And while some people may think the song is so cheesy it might as well be played in the background of a romantic comedy, I, on the other hand, soak in all the mushiness and love every minute of it. When I first heard the lyrics, “The greatest thing that I have ever achieved — these four little words, down on one knee,” I practically fell on the floor in full-swoon.

And it wouldn’t be a Sheeran album without an intense tear-jerker. In “÷,” it was “Supermarket Flowers,” which makes me cry thinking about how much I adore my mom, but the new sob-fest in “=” is “Visiting Hours.” This song serves as an emotional ode to one of Sheeran’s close friends that passed away this past year, and the song brought tears to my eyes. Sheeran is at his best on this twelfth addition to the track-list. With just the guitar, subtle piano and his ever-flowing voice that somehow jumps from high to low seamlessly, it’s a beautifully sad piece in all the right ways that requires the highest absorbity of Kleenex.

Overall, I’m not saying this album was a defeat; it was just missing the extra touch of creativity I expected from Sheeran and was so eager to hear again. Nevertheless, this album is still going to be on shuffle for the foreseeable future for me, and I expect all die-hard fans to do the same. “=” wasn’t the best formula, but like any mathematician, I expect nothing less from Sheeran than coming up with even better results next time.