Go backstage with The Music and receive FREE:

  • Exclusive members-only editorial, charts
  • Our subscriber-only newsletter
  • Members only competitions to win tickets, experiences and more
  • Access to our street press archives
  • First access to our exclusive limited edition vinyl variants

Thank you for being a part of our community! Enter your email address as verification and you'll be taken backstage right away.

Please ensure that you provide a valid email address.

Album Review: Ed Sheeran - X

Sevana Ohandjanian
StarStar

At its best, it’s vaguely insightful lyricism on broken hearts.

More Ed Sheeran Ed Sheeran Profile

Ed Sheeran seems to be suffering a banal personality crisis on X.

You've got him lamenting long-distance love (One), irate about said love's indiscretions (Don't), then a heartfelt tale of leaving home (Runaway). Gauging by lyrics like “stumbling home drunk… I listen to sad songs”, Sheeran is probably a mopey drunk and one of those guys who can't stop talking about how high he got the night before.

With standard singer-songwriter musicianship – neither inspirational nor awful – at its worst, this is James Morrison with a guitar.

At its best, it's vaguely insightful lyricism on broken hearts.