REVIEW: ED SHEERAN
Thinking out loud: This long awaited album by the Brit singer has 17 tracks which includes the huge hit "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill." Critics have said that this has to be the best album by Ed thus far.
ED IS BACK
BY: MARCUS LEONG
We all last heard from British singer songwriter, Ed Sheeran in 2014 when he released his second album, x. He serenaded us with his soulful voice and his tender yet powerful ballads like “Thinking Out Loud” and “Photograph.”
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Now he is back with not one but two singles and judging from the sounds of it, I think it’s safe to say that the 26-year-old, ginger haired lad is set on having us fall in love with him all over again. His two singles “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You” are two preludes to his next album “Divide.”
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“I really wanted to show two different sides to my music that I’m equally passionate about,” he said, breaking away from mere guitar strumming. Not every artist excels with exploring a different sound of music but with these two singles, Ed sure nails it.
My personal favourite is “Castle on the Hill.” Ed teamed up with pop hit maker Benny Blanco, who also helped produce his 2014 single “Don’t.” While that tune served a rhythmic, boom-clap twist to music, “Castle on the Hill” aims to achieve something much greater. The soaring guitar anthem harmonized with sweet nostalgic lyrics from Sheeran’s younger days. “When I was six years old I broke my leg. I was running from my brother and his friends” he croons as he reminisces his past. With “Castle on the Hill” it is the chorus which gets your head bobbing and feet tapping. The massive chorus simply begs for a sing along. I give this song a 4 out of 5 stars.
I'm on my way: Castle on the Hill is one of the two new releases from Ed Sheeran's Divide. Opting similar vibes to his previous hits, this song is sure on its way into being stuck in our minds.
Sheeran’s other single “Shape of you” adopts a different vibe. The song opens with a familiar tune of the marimba, before the nostalgic and iconic guitar strumming kicks in. With “shape of you” Sheeran revives his intimate and hypnotic guitar looping. Fun fact, this song was originally meant for Rihanna but Sheeran decided to keep this one for himself. Wise move Sheeran as with this song he is able to channel his inner Casanova self, earning Sheeran a 3.5 out of 5 Stars for this tune.
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With two completely different sounding songs coming out of Sheeran, it makes a great prelude to the album. In fact, it makes anticipation for the brit’s studio album “divide” unbearable. I am eagerly anticipating the follow up singles from the ginger haired, guitar playing, hit making crooner.
Shape of Ed: The song "Shape of You" is gives off a different vibe to all the other songs the ginger haired singer had written in the past. With the huge contrast to Castle on the hill, it poses for greater anticipation for the new album as fans wait eagerly to see what he has worked out.