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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
11:34 AM 29th June 2014
arts

Album Review - Ed Sheeran - X (Atlantic Records)

 
Halifax born Ed Sheeran has paid his dues touring non-stop since his teens. His big break came via social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. Now with success in the UK and America he looks like he is going to have a long successful career.

His new album X (which stands for multiply) is a rounded album that will appeal far beyond his young fan base and to an older audience. The lead single off the album, Sing (produced by man of the moment Pharrell Williams) is not really representative of the rest of the album. The track is the sort of tune that Justin Timberlake does so well.

The album continues in Sheeran's melodic style with most of the songs written about his own experiences. Nina is about a childhood sweetheart whose heart gets broken. On the track Don't he sings about a romantic liaison with a female pop star.

At times he sounds like James Blunt especially on Photograph. He does a bit of rapping on Take It Back when he talks about his career to date: "For 4 years I never had a place to stay" he raps. There is also some poetic hip-hop too on the track The Man.

The album is the work of a classic singer/songwriter and is one of the albums of the year so far. If you do not get chance to see him at Leeds Arena later this year, I am sure you will see him collecting a BRIT for his work next February.

4 out of 5