"As he points out on the opening track of Play, Ed Sheeran has now been around a long time. It's 20 years since he self-released his debut album and 14 since he signed to a major label and set about becoming the most commercially successful British artist of his age: long enough that we're now seeing the appearance of pop stars who claim him as a formative influence."
"Sheeran's success is based on a certain dependability: it doesn't seem to matter who he works with Pharrell Williams, Eric Clapton, Eminem, the National's Aaron Dessner the results always somehow sound exactly like Ed Sheeran. Whether you see that as evidence of a melodic signature so strong it rings out regardless of the musical setting or a failure of artistic imagination depends on whether you're among those who contributed to his cumulative sales figures of 200m,"
Ed Sheeran has been active for two decades, with 20 years since his self-released debut and 14 years since signing to a major label. He has become one of the most commercially successful British artists of his generation, with cumulative sales around 200 million and younger artists citing him as an influence. His music is characterized by a consistent, recognizable sound that persists regardless of collaborators, producing reliable, familiar records. Opinions divide between those who celebrate his melodic consistency and those who view it as a lack of imagination. Recent albums made with Aaron Dessner drew critical praise but mixed public response, and Play leans into reassurance and dependability.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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