By Brooklyn Solis
Ed Sheeran has finally released his fourth studio album, after nearly two months of teasing.
Sheeran’s latest LP, “=” (Equals), is a tribute to what has become a life he considers quite magical- a life dedicated to being a good father and husband.
“The theme of the record is me turning 30, becoming a dad, losing a friend, trying to balance work and marriage,” Sheeran shares with Apple Music.
The 14-track album takes us through Sheeran’s most memorable moments that make life worthwhile. The lyrics from “First Times” prove just that, as Sheeran sings of different moments from his relationship with wife Cherry Seaborn.
“The greatest thing that I have achieved/ Is four little words down on one knee/ You said, ‘Darling are you joking?’/ And I just said, ‘Please,'” he sings.
With a perfected recipe of combined ballads with up-tempo pop songs “=” is engineered to please as many people as possible.
Sheeran’s only wish from his fans is to listen to the album in its entirety and in order.
“Please just listen to it once in order, that’s all I ask,” the artist shared on Apple Music. “I don’t care what you do after your first listen. Put songs on a playlist, put the album on shuffle — whatever you want. But you should listen the way it’s intended to be listened to at least once.”
Intentionally placing the songs in order to share the transition of his life from a pop star to a dad, “Tides,” is the first single in “=.” Sheeran astutely closes the album with “Be Right Now,” a track embodying the shielded world of his family.
“I purposely wrote this as a closing track. It felt like the end of the record, my family basically going back into our world.” Sheeran tells Apple Music.
Sheeran is scheduled to perform on the Nov. 6 episode of Saturday Night Live, though it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to travel in time due to his diagnosis of COVID-19.
Listen to Sheeran’s full new album below:
