Ed Sheeran’s x is out today. Rejoice! I’m feeling confident that you Sheerios have already purchased the album (Harry Styles has), but here are a few facts about the album you can take in while listening.
The Name
The album’s title is x, as in the mathematical function, not the alphabetical letter. So when you write it, type “x,” but when you say it (proudly, of course), it’s pronounced “multiply.” Just like Sheeran’s debut album +, which was pronounced “plus.” x, multiply, x, multiply, x, multiply. Got it?
The Release Date
It’s today, you bonehead!
Sorry about that. x is out Monday, June 23. Ed announced the date back on April 4, but had been contemplating it for a long while.
“I’m basically going to be promoting this [“Hobbit”] song up until awards season, and then as soon as awards season is done, the next album begins,” Sheeran told us in December, referring to his chance at a 2014 Academy Awards nomination. He didn’t get one, but we sure are glad he’s focusing on his sophomore album. Have you heard it? It sounds like audible foot rubs and crackling fires and maybe, like, a taste of champagne at a discotheque.
The Track List
“One”
“I’m a Mess”
“Sing”
“Don’t”
“Nina”
“Photograph”
“Bloodstream”
“Tenerife Sea”
“Runaway”
“The Man”
“Thinking Out Loud”
“Afire Love”
“Take It Back” (Bonus track)
“Shirtsleeves” (Bonus track)
“Even My Dad Does Sometimes” (Bonus track)
“I See Fire” (Bonus track)
The Video
If you love Muppets getting drunk, loading ladies into a Hummer limo, and puking glitter into a urinal, the “Sing” video is going to work out perfectly for you. The clip dropped May 22 to accompany the first single off x. Apparently, it was inspired by a night out with Korean rapper Psy. After hanging out at a karaoke bar and drinking soju, Psy just might have a remix for the song, Ed revealed.
The People
Sheeran pulled in some big industry names for his follow-up, including Rick Rubin, Jeff Bhasker, Pharrell and Benny Blanco. Jake Gosling, who produced almost all of +, returned for many of the tracks. Johnny McDaid and Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol worked on tracks “Photograph,” “Bloodstream” and “Tenerife Sea” — not surprising, since Ed drops a Snow Patrol reference in his “Fault In Our Stars” soundtrack song, “All of the Stars.” Tour opener Foy Vance is listed as a credit, along with Amy Wadge, who worked with him on his 2010 EP, Songs I Wrote With Amy. Emile Haynie is also credited for “Photograph.”
The Journey
“Nine Days And Nights” debuted on MTV, and the documentary followed Ed as he tried to follow the success of +. There’s tons of juicy info in there, including that Taylor Swift once made him a needlepoint.
The Sound
Sweet, romantic, depressing, uplifiting, hopeful, downtrodden, fast-dancy, slow-dancy, and pretty much every sound that can come out of an acoustic guitar. But why take my word for it? (Because I’m right.) You can get it yourself.
Emilee Lindner
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