Over teh years, Ed Sheeran has established himself as a significant figure in the music industry. It has been two decades since he independently released his first album and 14 years since he joined a major label, ultimately becoming one of the most commercially successful british artists of his generation. This lengthy career has led to the emergence of new pop artists who cite him as an influential force in their own musical journeys. As a notable example, singer-songwriter Myles Smith, who was just a teenager when Sheeran’s breakthrough album + came out, even plays one of those small acoustic guitars that have become synonymous with Sheeran’s style. At this point, anyone with even a casual interest in music knows what to expect when Ed Sheeran drops a new record.
The hallmark of Sheeran’s success lies in his unmistakable sound; regardless of whom he collaborates with—be it Pharrell Williams, Eric Clapton, Eminem or Aaron Dessner from The National—the results invariably resonate as quintessentially Ed Sheeran. Whether this is seen as evidence of an indelible musical signature or perceived as a lack of artistic innovation depends on one’s perspective—those who appreciate his cumulative sales exceeding $200 million may view it positively while critics might see him as emblematic of everything wrong with contemporary music. the latter group will find their sentiments echoed in Play’s unremarkably titled opening track Opening—a more weathered counterpart to you Need Me, I Don’t Need You from back in 2011 were he confidently declared himself “not the pop star they think I am.”
The adjectives used to describe Play are certainly fitting; its predecessor albums from earlier this year—2023’s muted effort alongside Autumn Variations—were crafted with Dessner at the helm—the same collaborator behind Taylor Swift’s acclaimed folk-inspired lockdown albums.While critics praised these works for their depth, public reception seemed lukewarm at best. Play appears designed to reassure stakeholders; although there is an intriguing narrative about how it was completed during his time in Goa—the influences from south Asian sounds feel more like decorative elements than integral components.
You can here traditional Indian percussion sprinkled throughout tracks like Heaven along with Hindi and Punjabi vocals featuring guest artist Arijit Singh on Sapphire—but none overshadow the inherent essence that defines Ed sheeran’s style; whether it’s sweetly emotive ballads or upbeat tracks that sometimes come off too eager for approval resulting in slight irritation. Despite incorporating tablas and Hindi lyrics into some songs, listeners will still easily identify them as classic Ed tunes amidst other offerings ranging from mediocre acoustic musings like Archaic Phone to masterfully crafted pieces such as Digicam and The Snarl—a testament to his knack for creating wedding dance favorites.