After a three-year span of silence, singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran surprises fans with unexpected releases in 2017. The 25-year-old posted a photo on his Instagram account in December 2015 asking friends, family and fans for patience as he took a break from the world of music and touring. He stated that he was, “seeing the world through a screen and not [his] eyes,” and therefore felt the need to lie low for a while.

Following an impressively quick timeline, two singles were released on Jan. 6, followed by another released on his birthday, Feb. 17. The young artist captioned an Instagram photo with the comment, “Cause I’ve been away for a bit here’s two singles rather than one – Castle On The Hill & Shape Of You,” with his first release. “How Would You Feel (Paean)” was dropped a little over a month later, and the album in its entirety titled “Divide,” along with the deluxe edition, was released on March 3.

Sheeran had no trouble sticking to his original sound on his third full-length album. The album is oozing with the soulful melodies fans have become accustomed to. The opening tracks project a more unique sound and sense of lyricism.

Instead of his usual romantic views, “Eraser” celebrates the individualism Sheeran has found in his time away from the spotlight. He returns to his flowing style of speaking, rather than melodic singing, in the track as he chants about leaving behind the small town and jealousy he was once surrounded with and coming into his own. “Castle on the Hill” relishes the nostalgic feelings of the singer’s childhood, before he submerges into his signature sound.
Yearning for a mysterious girl he could lose himself in, “Dive” exhibits soulful bellows and desperate lyricism. Catchy beats that have already found a home on radio stations make an appearance in “Shape of You,” and the romantic ballads continue throughout the album on tracks like “Perfect” and “Hearts Don’t Break around Here.”

Although true to his sound, the album is anything but boring. Sheeran experiments with new sounds as he digs back to his Irish roots and even plays with African elements. “Galway Girl” displays Celtic undertones, while “Nancy Mulligan” dives fully into the sound of his heritage.
Surprising his grandparents with songs inspired by them, “Nancy Mulligan” and “Supermarket Flowers” were both included on the deluxe version of “Divide.” Sheeran transcends genres and shows off his growth on the album, even going as far as including African vibes on “Bibia Be Ye Ye,” meaning “all will be well,” from his time spent in Ghana. Hip-hop, Celtic sounds and soulful melodies are all incorporated as Sheeran explores different genres.
The album is contradictory of itself in a way that feels right as he bounces between upbeat dance tracks, like “Barcelona”, and solemn, melodic tunes, like “Happier.” Branching away from strictly writing about loving others, he even explores finding a love for himself after learning how to love and save himself. “Life can get you down, so I just numb the way it feels,” stands out on the closing track, “Save Myself,” as the singer shows a rare moment of depressing vulnerability.

If listeners were worried about the artist taking on a different sound in his new album, their concerns can be abandoned. The time away did wonders for his sound as “Divide” celebrates what the artist is known for, while tying in unique elements that only Sheeran can pull off.