NEWS

Folky British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has recently released his latest album “x,” which already looks like a smash.

From the start, Ed Sheeran has managed to disregard the conventions of mainstream pop while still managing to enjoy its successes.

His breakthrough radio single “The A Team” was written about a drug-addicted prostitute. The track, from Sheeran's debut album, "+" (pronounced "plus"), veiled its traumatic content in a sensual melody, a clever trick that has helped the 23-year-old singer-songwriter transition from pub gigs to arena acts in roughly three years.*

The accented yearn of his voice distinguishes him from other aspiring folk artists, but Sheeran's writing is where his real talent lies – particularly the attention to detail in his lyrics and his unorthodox phrasing.*

As the title implies, "x" (pronounced "multiply"), Sheeran's highly anticipated follow-up, raises the bar from his debut. He falls even deeper into feelings of love, jealousy and inebriation while trying to navigate pop superstardom -- a problem which will surely only be intensified by this album.

By: Joanne Kinnen

*Billboard.com