Ed Sheeran’s disjointed new album ‘Play’ has something for everyone

By Eva Tweeten

Ed Sheeran’s eighth album, titled “Play”,  has recently been released on Spotify and Apple Music to mixed reviews. With cross-cultural influences, particularly from South and West Asia, the album is certainly different from those Sheeran has produced before. And yet, each song still feels distinctively Sheeran–for better or for worse.

One of the greatest draws to this newest album involves the collaborations between Sheeran and Eastern artists, which can be heard most notably in “Sapphire”, “Azizam” and “Symmetry”. The first track after the opening, “Sapphire” manages to measure up exactly to what Sheeran intended the entire album to be. It is incredibly catchy and perfectly balances Sheeran’s traditional acoustic sound with distinct Indian influences. This partnership is made possible by the Punjabi lyrics in the chorus and one verse, sung by Arijit Singh. Singh is the most-followed artist globally on Spotify, so he certainly has the chops for this fun and funky song.

“Azizam” and “Symmetry” follow in the same vein, with the former having heavy Persian influences and even being available in Farsi, while the latter is built around a hypnotic Hindi chant. Both are addicting songs with a sensual undertone, which is well-suited to the Persian track title meaning “my beloved” or “my dear”. The backing tracks are reliant on the sounds of filtered synth and hi-hat, with these hip-hop influences building anticipation and passion behind Sheeran’s digitally enhanced voice.

The artist also experiments with songs more cynical and pessimistic than is typically expected of him. “A Little More” is a trashy rant about the growing hatred Sheeran has for an ex, set to the jazzy sounds of a saxophone. “Don’t Look Down” is a synth-heavy spiral of depression as Sheeran repeats the refrain of “Now we’re speeding to the ground/It’s almost over, don’t look down”. Both of these songs stick out like a sore thumb amongst the generally upbeat and encouraging rest of the album. 

Mild, almost underwhelming ballads are peppered throughout, with “Slowly”, “The Vow” and “Heaven” being sappy, yet forgettable tunes. They are perfectly enjoyable on a driving playlist, with their simple guitar, bass and drum kit backing tracks, but even listening to them on repeat will not be enough to make them stick in one’s mind. 

However, Sheeran has not lost all of his romantic charm, as showcased by his songs titled “Camera” and “In Other Words”. The latter is remarkably similar to the ever-popular track “Perfect”, and it seems to act as a continuation of that love story. 

While “Perfect” is about blossoming young love, “In Other Words” sees that romance delve deeper as Sheeran sings that he wants all that his love has to give – the good and the bad. His tender words are punctuated by a simple, yet poignant piano in place of his typical guitar. The final verse and chorus sees a beautiful crescendo as an orchestra joins in the song, culminating in a picture-perfect moment. 

Perfect for wedding montages, “Camera” is a bit more of an upbeat tune, with the prominent synth creating a heavenly aura that pairs well with Sheeran’s adoration for his subject. The artist has finally found the balance between flash and simplicity in this piece, as he is not afraid to use empty space in the song to his advantage. Sheeran draws listeners in during quieter moments, creating a greater sense of wonder when the music swells again, mimicking the singer’s swelling love for his partner.

Despite the rest of the album being inconsistent in its ability to achieve Sheeran’s quality standards, there are two songs that particularly stick out as perfectly Sheeran while also being perfectly fresh.

“Old Phone” is an understated, bittersweet song reminiscent of “Castle on a Hill”. Sheeran describes the wave of grief that washes over him as he uncovers his old phone: a relic of the life he once knew. Too many friends are now dead and gone, and his family has become irreparably fractured. Knowing that dwelling on the past can only bring greater pain, Sheeran makes the difficult decision to bury the phone again. As the song concludes with Sheeran singing alone, it leaves a lasting impression on the listener, just as the phone made on Sheeran.

But perhaps the best song of the entire album is also the simplest. “For Always” is a gentle lullaby Sheeran wrote to his beloved daughters. The pairing of this father’s tender voice with the wistful backing vocals provided by Amy Allen makes this short, uncomplicated song flawless. 

Ultimately, what this album lacks in consistency it makes up for in a handful of songs that have all likelihood to become Sheeran staples. It would seem that, despite the push to adopt new methods, Sheeran’s tried and true formula has not failed him yet. 

“Play” is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube

Eva Tweeten is a Junior Psychology major who loves analyzing books, movies and music. She is also a big animal lover who helps train service dogs in her free time!

Images courtesy of IMDB