X
by Ed Sheeran
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Jun 23, 2014
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
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  1. The Telegraph (UK)
    Jun 24, 2014
    100
    Throughout it all, Sheeran stays true to the essential artistic notions of the classic singer-songwriter genre by treating his music as a vehicle for emotional veracity, personal revelation and universal inclusion.
  2. Billboard.com
    Jun 23, 2014
    81
    x finds a hungry artist doing everything possible to elevate to another level, simply by abiding by his instincts.
  3. The Guardian
    Jun 23, 2014
    80
    An album more obviously influenced by urban music than its predecessor, which sees Sheeran gently, but confidently, pushing at the boundaries of what he does.
  5. Boston Globe
    Jun 23, 2014
    80
    Taylor Swift bestie and duet partner, writer of songs for One Direction, management client of Sir Elton John, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran comes into his own on his sophomore album x--pronounced “mulitply.”
  6. Q Magazine
    Jun 23, 2014
    80
    He's taken chances and won again. [Jul 2014, p.115]
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  7. The A.V. Club
    Jun 24, 2014
    75
    ["Thinking Out Loud" is] one of few minor lapses on an otherwise solid pop album, on which Sheeran acknowledges that growing up is messy and tough--but affirms that navigating life with maturity and confidence is possible.
  8. Entertainment Weekly
    Jun 23, 2014
    75
    These little rebellions [dropping F-bombs, admitting to "smoking illegal weed"--even flirting with rap] don't make him edgy, but they feel more honest than the gooey, light-of-a-thousand-stars ballads he's known for.
  9. AllMusic
    Jun 24, 2014
    70
    These gangly excursions in rap are evidence of Sheeran's youth and his generation, something that keeps X from being merely a bit of excellently crafted mature pop and gives it some appealing character.
  10. American Songwriter
    Jun 23, 2014
    70
    X presents Ed Sheeran in somewhat of an identity crisis. Still, it’s fascinating to hear him work out whether he’s a hopeless romantic or just a guy who thinks romance is hopeless.
  11. Los Angeles Times
    Jun 24, 2014
    63
    Well-crafted, generous and willing to lay it on thick when necessary, but fun to be around nonetheless.
  12. PopMatters
    Jul 28, 2014
    60
    The album is good that’s for sure; Sheeran is too talented to deliver a sub par album. It suffers in terms of consistency.
  13. musicOMH.com
    Jun 24, 2014
    60
    Most of these ballads are in the middle of the album, which drags it down somewhat, so it’s a blessed relief when Pharrell returns to produce the excellent Runaway.
  14. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    Jun 23, 2014
    60
    Actually, there’s nothing Sheeran does here that Mraz hasn’t done before, often more cleverly. Even so, Sheeran can write a hummable tune and, clearly, has something young girls love even more than looks: heart.
  15. Rolling Stone
    Jun 23, 2014
    60
    There are plenty of oversweet ballad moments ("Tenerife Sea"). But he can be surprisingly hard-bitten, too.
  16. No Ripcord
    Jun 30, 2014
    50
    Though charmingly lo-fi and sure to satisfy any enamoured female fan, most of these tracks drag on too long without any payoff.
  17. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    Jul 14, 2014
    40
    Charmless kiss-offs (“Don’t”) and sappy sentiments (“People Fall in Love in Mysterious Ways”) dominate otherwise, landing with the thud of the authentically uninspiring.
  18. Sputnikmusic
    Jul 1, 2014
    40
    X is a vapid and overly confident album that feels more like regression than progression for Ed Sheeran's indie folk sound.
  19. NOW Magazine
    Jun 26, 2014
    40
    The appeal is easy to hear, but ultimately X undermines emotional rawness with slick production and lyrical goop that feels calculated and bland.
  20. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 24, 2014
    40
    x's first third is not without its issues but there is charm, not to mention the feeling that Sheeran really is trying to raise his game. A pity, then, that the remaining 35 minutes is alternatively as generic and simpering as it gets.
  21. The Observer (UK)
    Jun 23, 2014
    40
    The name of the game here may be multiplying, but Sheeran knows where his bread is buttered and that is in writing chick lit, not window-steamers.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Discussed Album of 2014
12
#12 Most Shared Album of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 381 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 292 out of 381
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 381
  3. Negative: 62 out of 381
  1. NazAw
    Jun 23, 2014
    7
    The singer/song-writer Ed Sheeran is back at it, with his sophmore LP "X" which was followed up by the two Hip Hop/R&B influenced tracksThe singer/song-writer Ed Sheeran is back at it, with his sophmore LP "X" which was followed up by the two Hip Hop/R&B influenced tracks "Sing" and "Don't". Songs, heavyweight producers like Pharrell and Rick Rubin (respectively) laid hands on. A more rougher and mature Ed Sheeran with a flave of urban music, packed with more experiences of the 'BS', though the same sweet and hopeless lad he remains with his ballades, better lyrically and sonically than ever.

    "Sing", a cut bringing the thoughts back to the early 2000 where Neptunes production had it's landmark, a song that could easily slip in to Justin Timberlake's debut album.
    "Sing" is a summer hit, finding himself more up-tempo than he has ever been and also a drastic change for Sheeran. The track swirls with guitar riffs and heavy beats throughout with verses and chorus sung in a gorgeously outstanding melisma and falsetto. Both production and vocals, makes one reminisce on a Timberlake and even Michael Jackson.

    "Don't" is basically the guys anthem for women being disloyal and unfaithful with you, but deeper to the story, it is his feelings pouring out after that his fellow-celebrity crush and lover went behind his sight with another man. And who the girl is *cough, Ellie Goulding?, cough* we may never know.
    The song is the closest thing a singer/song-writer is coming to 2 Pac's "California Love" and Blackstreet's "No Diggity". Two tracks Dr. Dre did what he's known for, outside of his Beats-collection, and on here the bounce infectiously got a wrap on what could, or should be Sheeran's next single. A track Sheeran has been open about the influence of.

    "All my senses come to life / While I'm stumbling home as drunk as I, have ever been.." he sings shattered and lonely for some warmth on the opener "One", as he slowly realises that his woman slips out of reach for the days that goes by.
    An absolutely beautiful song, that starts up with him and his acoustic guitar then with adds of a light beat-kick and orchestral melodics. The second chorus in, switches to that he knows, she is being lossed, but hopes at least for her to stay in friendship even if they don't share the same ammount of love. Where this all had it's chance to go Disney, it felt fresh and quite crushing.
    While his precursor "+" shared the topics a like, the execution mostly had it's lacks, if it was a corny lyric or just a weak production, it had it's critics, it was recognized by myself to, but for this run you actually feel the emotions and don't feel the need to cringe instead. Sheeran is putting a closure to the same girl he had mentioned on "+", end chapter, good mate. This will probably be the most played for the rainy days, a song that will top at the back-hand of the year.

    The album is a change pace for Sheeran, more than before, he embraces influences from other artists and genres, like The Streets influenced cut "The Man" where he raps excellent with a sing-songy flow, or if it is just a sting of touch of a rapidly vocal output of Craig David. His love for Hip Hop is all over, especially the first half which also is the stronger and more memorable part. Though all the songs might not have the fire as the six opening tracks, they still got a little charm in them without being that much of a filler.

    Ed Sheeran is out this time, with a broader purpose to stay, there lyrics, melodies don't end up beeing the cheesy teen-pop, high school poetry, but, noticeably grown as an artist. He his writing more cohesive, sexier and taking his music further bringing another element to it which could have failed to his right, but ended up being the most satisfying album he has done, proven me his talents and that some mistakes, just was mistakes.

    "Multiply" as pronounced, is one of the best mainstream pop music we are going to across this year, and one of the better ones in a while!    … Full Review »
  2. Wael
    Jun 24, 2014
    8
    The one word that can sum up the whole record is "Brilliance". With "x", Ed Sheeran experiments musically, while not straying a lot from hisThe one word that can sum up the whole record is "Brilliance". With "x", Ed Sheeran experiments musically, while not straying a lot from his comfort zone and the formula he used on his previous record, "+". From the first lyric until the last one, Sheeran performs so flawlessly you can literally feel his pain, agony, happiness, love, or confusion. Here's a track-by-track review:
    1. One: No other track could have kicked off the album so beautifully, with Sheeran desperately asking a former lover to "always be a friend". My personnel favourite.(10/10)
    2. I'm a Mess: Great track with some great guitar riffs, and the last minute and a half will blow you away with Sheeran repeating "For how long I loved my lover?". A huge concert-bomb, this track is.(10/10)
    3. Sing: The lead single off of the record and the Pharell-driven Timberlak"ish" track is easily a stand-out, specially due to Sheeran's flawless falsetto.(10/10)
    4. Don't: A blue-eyed pop/hip-hop hit about a cheating flame. Obviously, a huge future-single choice. This track says "Rick Rubin" all over it.(10/10)
    5. Nina: A track about Sheeran and his former lover "watching DVD and smoking illegal weed", but finally he asks her to leave cause he'll never stop touring. Good one, but not the best one. (8/10)
    6. Photograph: There are no words to describe this, as many said, Snow Patrol-meets-Taylor Swift ballad. Just like Ed said it would, this track is gonna "change the path of his career". I would give it an 11 if i could. (10/10)
    7. Bloodstream: A bit clichéd, but the song is saved by 3 elements: Ed's soulful vocally-beautiful performance, Ed's perfectly executed guitar-riffs, and the obvious imprint of Rick Rubin on it. (9/10)
    8. Tenerife Sea: I'd be a liar if I said this track is not a great love weeding-ready song. One of those songs that says what every girl wants to hear. (9/10)
    9. Runaway: If this song doesn't become a huge hit and beautiful stop in concert, then I don't wanna live anymore. Once again, this great Pharrell-Timberlake song also says "ED SHEEEEERAN" all over it. He's not trying too hard, it just comes naturally. (10/10)
    10. The Man: If you missed the Streets you saw on You Need Me, I Don't Need You, well here we go back to his great rap, but about a different concept: heartbreak and the loss of an old flame. Flawlessly-done.(9/10)
    11. Thinking Out Loud: probably the biggest track on the album, along with Photograph. Great performance, great vocals, great instruments, great lyrics, great production. GREAT GREAT GREAT. (10/10)
    12. Afire Love: While his debut single was about a drug-addict prostitute, this one is about Alzheimer's and his grandpa's struggle with it. Yep, this is how much Ed's lyrics are diverse. Great heartbreaking closer.(9/10)
    So that about sums up the whole concept of the Brit's sophomore installment: You're Happy? Listen to it. You're sad and confused? Listen to it. Ed Sheeran just shows us just how far his talent can go. BUY IT PEOPLE!!    … Full Review »
  3. KarlaTabii
    Sep 8, 2014
    10
    Such an amazing album full of great songs. Ed is proving more and more how amazing and talented he is. I´m obsessed with "Shirtsleeves" andSuch an amazing album full of great songs. Ed is proving more and more how amazing and talented he is. I´m obsessed with "Shirtsleeves" and "Even my dad does sometimes", the lyrics are really good.… Full Review »
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