Patience isn't really the best trait of people. Whenever we like something in particular we want more of it, right away. We're like hungry animals just hunting to please our urge. That's why it's so incredibly frustrating when a season of our favorite TV show leaves us off with an unbearable hiatus. Or in this case, when an artist disappears from sight for a year.
From the very beginning, Ed Sheeran has been providing us with a fair share of surprises. The moment he emerged on the musical scene it was obvious that it’s not just any other artist. His first album brought a new vibe to the music industry. Who’d expect that lovely, slightly edgy ginger man to bring us that many catchy singles? But it’s not just about the fame and popularity of the songs. They would be nothing without the soul and heart you can hear and feel in each and every one of them.
After a great success of the first album came the second one. Let’s just admit that sequels in general are worse. And let’s just admit that after such an enormous popularity that the first album received there was a lot of concern whether the second one would meet the expectations. Or perhaps rather whether there was anything more to Ed Sheeran that he could provide us with. It’s a bit like X-Factor if one gives all of themselves during the audition and amazes the judges then the bar is set for them basically at the highest level they can reach and the general expectation is to go higher and get better and keep on being mind-blowing. On the other hand, if one doesn’t show their best on the audition they might not get through. And that’s more less where we were with Ed’s first album. He showed us his unique style and blew us away, setting the bar so high that it was questionable if there’s any space for him to amaze us even more.
But being a true artist and a soulful man he dropped his second disc, which showed us how not all sequels disappoint. And it was definitely visible in sales, which went just over the moon. Again he shared a piece of his heart with us and not only entertained with great tunes but also delivered touching and drilling lyrics. As I once said already, there are two kinds of people – music people and lyric people, and Ed’s magic gets to both of those groups and it’s the combination of both that makes him a master of his craft.
So, after yet another great surprise he decided to take some time off recording and touring. Absolutely understandable, massively frustrating at the same time though because after such an amazing album instead of feeding us more he put us on a strict and ruthless diet. But we all know that too much is not good as well and once we get more and more of something we like we get bored of it. Like listening to one song over and over again – we do it because we love the song but after few hours it’s the last thing we want to hear. That’s why, no matter how frustrating would that break was it was definitely needed to keep us all still hooked to his music and not to overdose it.
That whole route brings us to yesterday when after this long fast that he put us through, his third album was released. Long awaited, highly expected and… again not a tiny bit disappointing. ‘Divided’ is kept in Sheeran vibe but somehow different to the previous records. Sheer, honest and touching. Well-balanced between fun and light, and heavy and piercing. Again he managed to deliver a perfect mixture of fine tune and beautiful lyrics that make each and every track on this album unique and rich in emotion. That’s the sort of album that makes you think with each song, the one that brings a priceless experience to the listener not only just a catchy tune.
It’s been 6 years and 3 albums. Each better than the previous one. He’s growing personally and musically and he puts it all into his music, provides it during live shows. He brings his listeners on the journey of his experience and lets them take whatever is vital for them from it. He doesn’t force them to take on his point of view or his experiences. He shares his part and leaves space for everyone to adjust it to themselves. He’s grown, you can hear it on this album, and that’s what brings him higher over the bar he set for himself with previous records.
Thank you Ed for making these records and making them a part of my journey. It’s time for me to go get this (un)divided next piece on vinyl.
From the very beginning, Ed Sheeran has been providing us with a fair share of surprises. The moment he emerged on the musical scene it was obvious that it’s not just any other artist. His first album brought a new vibe to the music industry. Who’d expect that lovely, slightly edgy ginger man to bring us that many catchy singles? But it’s not just about the fame and popularity of the songs. They would be nothing without the soul and heart you can hear and feel in each and every one of them.
After a great success of the first album came the second one. Let’s just admit that sequels in general are worse. And let’s just admit that after such an enormous popularity that the first album received there was a lot of concern whether the second one would meet the expectations. Or perhaps rather whether there was anything more to Ed Sheeran that he could provide us with. It’s a bit like X-Factor if one gives all of themselves during the audition and amazes the judges then the bar is set for them basically at the highest level they can reach and the general expectation is to go higher and get better and keep on being mind-blowing. On the other hand, if one doesn’t show their best on the audition they might not get through. And that’s more less where we were with Ed’s first album. He showed us his unique style and blew us away, setting the bar so high that it was questionable if there’s any space for him to amaze us even more.
But being a true artist and a soulful man he dropped his second disc, which showed us how not all sequels disappoint. And it was definitely visible in sales, which went just over the moon. Again he shared a piece of his heart with us and not only entertained with great tunes but also delivered touching and drilling lyrics. As I once said already, there are two kinds of people – music people and lyric people, and Ed’s magic gets to both of those groups and it’s the combination of both that makes him a master of his craft.
So, after yet another great surprise he decided to take some time off recording and touring. Absolutely understandable, massively frustrating at the same time though because after such an amazing album instead of feeding us more he put us on a strict and ruthless diet. But we all know that too much is not good as well and once we get more and more of something we like we get bored of it. Like listening to one song over and over again – we do it because we love the song but after few hours it’s the last thing we want to hear. That’s why, no matter how frustrating would that break was it was definitely needed to keep us all still hooked to his music and not to overdose it.
That whole route brings us to yesterday when after this long fast that he put us through, his third album was released. Long awaited, highly expected and… again not a tiny bit disappointing. ‘Divided’ is kept in Sheeran vibe but somehow different to the previous records. Sheer, honest and touching. Well-balanced between fun and light, and heavy and piercing. Again he managed to deliver a perfect mixture of fine tune and beautiful lyrics that make each and every track on this album unique and rich in emotion. That’s the sort of album that makes you think with each song, the one that brings a priceless experience to the listener not only just a catchy tune.
It’s been 6 years and 3 albums. Each better than the previous one. He’s growing personally and musically and he puts it all into his music, provides it during live shows. He brings his listeners on the journey of his experience and lets them take whatever is vital for them from it. He doesn’t force them to take on his point of view or his experiences. He shares his part and leaves space for everyone to adjust it to themselves. He’s grown, you can hear it on this album, and that’s what brings him higher over the bar he set for himself with previous records.
Thank you Ed for making these records and making them a part of my journey. It’s time for me to go get this (un)divided next piece on vinyl.