Ed Sheeran blessed fans last Friday with the release of his third studio album “Divide.” Whether you’re into the soft romantic ballads or upbeat pop anthems, this new record flawlessly delivers both, appealing to audiences of all kind.
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“Divide” was preceded by singles “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill,” the former earned Sheeran his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard charts. The success of these singles could be attributed to the fact that they signaled the end of Sheeran’s year-long hiatus.
Now fans have 16 new Sheeran songs, and so far it seems the entire album is just as well-received. On Friday, the album broke Spotify’s record of most streams in one day with 68 million listens.
The album opens with “Eraser,” where Sheeran offers insight into his personal life and inner fight with fame. He also opens up about struggle with the music industry and how money changes a person whether they want it to or not.
It’s interesting that he would kick off the album on such a serious note, but the heavy lyrics are laid on an upbeat, guitar-led track that makes it difficult to stop listening.
The next track on his list is “Castle on the Hill,” which is on trend with the lyrics about Sheeran’s personal and home life. He takes a turn, however, with the third song “Dive.”
“Dive” is the bluesy, romantic start to a thread of some of Sheeran’s best love songs yet‑ all from “Divide.” He delivers that classic, charming Sheeran croon on tracks “Perfect,” “Hearts Don’t Break Around Here,” “How Would You Feel (Paean)” and “Supermarket Flowers.”
These songs are enough to make hearts skip a beat; however, Sheeran breaks hearts just as quickly as he builds them up, with “Happier” and “Save Myself.”
For every soft ballad on the album, Sheeran matches it with an irresistible dance anthem. Included in this category is “Barcelona,” “Bibia Be Ye Ye” and “Galway Girl.” A perfect blend of soft-rock, pop vibes and tender lyrics, “Divide” will have you dancing around your room one minute and falling in love the next.
Sheeran’s new record is expected to grow much bigger commercially than both of his previous albums. Whether these claims will hold up is to be determined. One thing is for sure, however, and that’s that “Divide” showcases Sheeran’s vast talent better than ever before and fans worldwide are appreciating all 59 minutes and 33 seconds of it.