Divide Excells all expectations Ed Sheeran Returns & Takes over the charts Again! (Full Album Review)
At last the return of the beloved talented ginger returned,
with his album release of Divide his
third studio album, in the space of 48 hours since releasing we witnessed it
instantly became a bigger and better version of Ed Sheeran than we could
possibly imagine. Divide has already racked up 432,000 copies in just three
days and outselling the entire UK top 200, twice. That’s an achievement none of
us ever truly imagined, to which it’s safe to say we finally have another Ed
Sheeran Album to embrace.
This is his name on the album so ÷
leans on little asides from Sheeran’s own talent. Equally, it wasn’t written to
please critics - it was written to please fans, to be commercially
successful... and that’s exactly what Sheeran will achieve with this.
With the clever Mathematics title referencing from his previous album
titles “Multiply’ & “ Plus” Divide instantly made that great sense of
something new and exciting was going to be embrace around the release. The
regular album contains 12 tracks whereas the Deluxe Edition contains 16 tracks
(Which is the one we will be reviewing)
Tracklist:
01.
Eraser02. Castle on the Hill
03. Dive
04. Shape Of You
05. Perfect
06. Galway Girl
07. Happier
08. New Man
09. Hearts Don’t Break Around Here
10. What Do I Know?
11. How Would You Feel (Paean)
12. Supermarket Flowers
13. Barcelona
14. Bibia Be Ye Ye
15. Nancy Mulligan
16. Save Myself
Eraser
‘Eraser’ feels like an unusual way to open the album -
Sheeran has never been a strong rapper [he admits as much in ‘take it back’ on x]
- but is redeemed by the chorus. The
chorus goes as follows “I’m well aware of certain things that can destroy a man like me, but with that said give me one
more, higher Another one take the sting away I am happy on my own, so here I’ll
stay save your lovin arms for a rainy day and I’ll find comfort in your pain
Eraiser” I felt it was a nice and unique start to an album, I mean personally
it made me intrigued to find out more,
it sort of prepares you to sit back and embrace the journey we’re about to be
taken on.
Castle on the Hill
Castle on the Hill was one of his two singles that he
released that instantly became Number one and number two in the UK top 100
chart. It’s your classic Ed cult classic anthem, the track where it helps you
embrace who you are and who you have become.
‘A soaring, euphoric ballad about coming back to the place he grew up.
Again, it’s a strange place for the song - a ‘hero’s return’ track would surely
be better towards the end of the album, but then again this entire work seems
to be Sheeran trying to get back to what he cares about most. Even if
you’ve only heard the track once it has such a fantastic chorus that everyone
and anyone would be able to embrace and can’t help but to sing a lot if they
suddenly hear it play on the radio. “I’m on my way, driving at 90 down those
country lanes singing to tiny Dancer and I miss the way you make me feel and
it’s real, We watched the sunset Over the castle on the hill”
Dive
'Dive' brings the tempo back down for one of the best vocal
performances on the album, while ‘Shape of You’ stands out so much on the
record because it’s such a huge step away from Sheeran’s comfort zone: the
insanely catchy, Marimba-fuelled percussion seems inspired by the time he spent
in West Africa during his year’s hiatus, while the lyrics, although as simple
as they are on his other songs, are more explicitly sexual than anything else
on the album. It’s one of those tracks that if you have a “What if or if o
Shape of You
Shape of you was another single that he released before his
album launch that happened to end up first and second in the UK charts. When
the track starts you sort of threw back a little because it’s that unique and
different sound you’re used to hearing from Ed, it has that tropical dancefloor
with a witty classical lyrics from Ed. The song exhibits the sweet
seductive vocals that he has become so iconic for, then twists euphoric
lapses into rap, creating a slightly odd yet successful sound that pulls
together ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.’ Newly
injected are tropical looped beats, reminiscent of a Sia offering, which give
the song enough new flair to make this a comeback that not only signals a
return to form, but a nod to the future. It’s one of them songs where you think
to yourself that you can’t imagine singing along to because it’s not your
typical Ed Sheeran ballad you all know and love yet then the chorus and bridge
takes over and instantly you’re humming or singing all along. “ I’m in love
with the shape of you, We push and pull like a magnet too although my heart is
falling too I’m in love with your body and last night you were in my room and
now my bed sheets smell like you. Every day, discovering something brand new
Well, I’m in love with your body”.
Perfect
Perfect is another one of those songs that arguably would be
used for a first dance at a wedding just as like the single “Thinking out loud”
as it’s the beautiful story of the perfect love in a song, all throughout the
song it’s a beautiful sentiment praising how perfect his girlfriend genuinely
is. It makes you feel emotions of happiness, even if you’re single and
shouldn’t embrace someone else’s happiness of love but it’s not just the chorus
in this particular track it’s the whole wording throughout it like for example
“Cause we were just kids when we fell in love, Not knowing what it was I will
not give up this time but darling just kiss me slow your heart is all I own and
In your eyes you’re holding mine” It’s just an absolutely beautiful and such a
meaningful message towards how you should treat your fellow loved one.
Galway Girl
Because I have a Irish roots just hearing the tones and the
melodies of the music instantly brought me back to embracing my Irish fellow
ways, it’s one of those tracks where you know it’s got a lot personal meanings
behind hence the reasons why it was reportedly he had to fight to keep this specific
track on the album. It genuinely has that fun Irish nature feel. For many
reasons it became my one of my favourites on the album as it was just that
massive sense of pride that he went to his roots and embraced his family in not
one but twice was insanely beautiful. The chorus is one of those tracks where
it doesn’t have your average catchy straight to the charts feeling vibe however
it has that feeling of oh wow; I need to learn the words to this track so I
could listen to this endlessly. “She played the fiddle in an Irish band but she
fell in love with an English man. Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by
the hands, baby I just wanna dance with my little pretty little Galway girl”
you can’t help but want to embrace your Irish routes and just let loose.
Happier
Straight after the fun upbeat Irish anthem you’re through
into a world of emotion, it’s one of them tracks that instantly make you stop
dead in your tracks. Purely it’s a song of a guy who finally witnesses a girl
he loves become happier with someone else. It’s funny because the first time I ever listened to this it was
the first time I actually witnessed the same thing, so it just took me back as the words flooded
my ears in my earphones and all these memories came flooding back. However that’s why I think Ed
Sheeran is so talented because he doesn’t make you bring up terrible moments
just the good times. Well that’s what this track did for me anyway. Just by
hearing the chorus my thoughts to this track would make sense to those who
haven’t actually heard it. “Ain’t nobody hurt you like I hurt you but ain’t
nobody love you like I do. Promise that I will not take it personal, baby if
you’re moving on with someone new “(Yet before you get the tissues out that’
was only the bridge. “Cause baby you look happier you do, my friends told me
one day I’ll feel it too…
New Man
Hearts don’t break
around here
This
is another one of those straight to a ballad kind of tracks, where instantly
you feel thrown into emotion. A guy just pouring his heart onto a track
confessing how madly in love he is for this girl. To which is really refreshing
to hear after majority of songs in the charts are forever about hookers or hoes
and don’t forget the ultimate favourite stacking up money. It’s a beautiful
track for a majority of reasons but I’m not going to go in great detail on this
on in particular I’m just going to allow the brief description of the chorus to
explain how incredible this track genuinely is. “That every night I’ll kiss
you, you’ll say in my ear oh we’re in love aren’t we? Hands in your hair
fingers and thumbs baby I feel safe when you’re holding me near love the way
that you conque your fear you know hearts don’t break around here.” I just felt
listening to it was like a romantic novel, painting this wonderful
image of two loved ones happily in love while the rest
of the world around them falls apart. It was just incredible.
What do I know?
This is one of them songs where it becomes incredibly catchy
instantly, but it’s not how you normally how you would expect from Ed Sheeran,
what I mean by that is what I can gather the theme of this album is love,
family or genuine emotion, however this is a song like a poem where you
understand it, and instantly want to talk or sing it. The chorus is incredibly
catchy and defiantly lyrically easy to pick it up to sing without knowing. I
know I have said this before about the chorus of his songs on the album however
this particular chorus brings a new sense of feel “We could change this whole
world with a piano Add a bass, some guitar, grab a beat And away we go I'm just
a boy with a one-man show No university, no degree But Lord knows everybody's talking 'bout
exponential growth
And the star monkey crashing in their portfolios While I'll be sitting here with a song I wrote
Sing, love could change the world in a moment But what do I know? Love can change the world in a moment but what do I know? Love can change the world in a moment”
And the star monkey crashing in their portfolios While I'll be sitting here with a song I wrote
Sing, love could change the world in a moment But what do I know? Love can change the world in a moment but what do I know? Love can change the world in a moment”
How would you feel?
With this song in particular was funny to be perfectly
honest, not the song it’s self but when I heard it for the first time it was.
As I currently was experiencing something similar to what was being spoken of
in the track. Yet it’s your classical Ed Sheeran love song. However it’s one of
them songs where you literally could paint a picture in your mind of what is
being taken place within the song. In a strange way you feel in a trance, I
mean the words he uses to describe the love and affection it makes you remember
the time you once felt those same emotions.
Well that’s what it was able to do for me anyway. It’s just the words
that you hear echo for the track that does it for me “I’m falling deeper in
love with you, tell me that you love me too” listening to it made me feel I was
fifteen again expressing my love to my
first love, didn’t exactly go down how Ed Sheeran’s probably just brought me
back nevertheless.
Supermarket Flowers
This is arguably the most powerful and most emotion track on
the album. I thought it was dedication track about his mother when I first
heard it, however due to researching and finding out more I discovered it was
actually a through the eyes of his mother to dedicate his grandmother. However
the very first time I ever heard this track my eyes filled up with tears and
the amount of times I pretended it wasn’t emotional I actually listened to the
words and then I became more emotional. Even though I’m a fan of roughly every
chorus used for each track this one hit me more than usual. “So I'll sing
Hallelujah, you were an angel in the shape of my mum. When I fell down you'd be
there holding me up, Spread your wings as you go, and when God takes you back, He'll
say, "Hallelujah, you're home."
Barcelona
This was a unique fresh style that we hadn’t heard from Ed
before, I mean in parts of this specific track you even hear him sing in Spanish.
It’s just one of those fun, creative and holiday vibe songs. It’s got the fresh
European feel. I didn’t experience something like this before until hearing
this track where it makes you have the feeling of not caring about the rest of
the world and just letting loose, dance and dance. It’s such a great feel good
track. Although after hearing it and starring out my window to see rain and
wind I can’t help but feel I wish I was in Barcelona. “You and I we’re flying on an aeroplane tonight We’re going, somewhere where the sun is shining
bright Just close your eyes, and let’s
pretend we’re dancing in the street In
Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona Barcelona”
Bibia Be Ye Ye
Nancy Mulligan
Another Ed Sheeran classic in my eyes for me as it was again reflecting another
love story behind his grandparents. It’s unbelievably beautiful. It’s got that
Irish unique factor. What I mean by that is it sound unique and catchy, the
fresh Irish sound. I think that’s one of the reasons to why I genuinely fell in
love with this because of my family roots, likewise to him obviously. It’s one
of those emotional love stories where you just hoped to pray for a happy ending
at the end of the song, I just feel it’s an incredible feeling track because
the second you hear the introduction of the track you instantly smile and you
genuinely feel you want to get up and dance. It’s incredible the impact that
this track had just by the chorus alone makes you feel everything happens for a
reason. “She and I went on the run, Don't care about religion, I'm gonna marry the woman I love Down by the Wexford borderShe was Nancy Mulligan,And I was William Sheera She took my name and then we were one Down by the Wexford border."
Save Myself
Out of all the songs that featured on this album I have to
say my hand on heart this is genuinely the most powerful track in my own
personal opinion. I think because I was able to relate to it more than most of
the other tracks that was on the album. A few years ago I fell into a dark
place as I said goodbye to my best friend, so it was a real eye opener to
witness that Either Ed experienced it too or a person he was writing in honour
of experienced it too. It was the first track in a while that I felt connected
too so much that I cried my eyes out because It was unique to feel connected
towards lyrics of a song. “Life can get you down so I
just numb the way it feels I drown it with a
drink and out of date prescription pills And
all the ones that love me, they just left me on the shelf, no farewell
So before I save someone else, I’ve got to save
myself”
Divide without a doubt excelled on expctations it's without a shadow of doubt instantly formed to be the album of 2017 and we are only a few months into the new year. It's a real touching journey of an album it takes you through hoops and loops of emotions with his voice and his guitar alone. Genuinely a sensational album that I would reccomend anyone and everyone to listen to it as it would definately not dissapoint you.
Arguably a faultless performance and it was a shame that he made us wait for a whole year to hear this album. However what a worthy wait it turned out to be.
Posts
Post a Comment