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#51

[THE WILDERNESS - ALBUM 19]

Before we make it to the end of the wilderness, first we must make a short visit back to the beginning.

This is officially the first album I ever asked for. I was 11? Or 12. Or something, whatever, young enough to not understand the significance of what albums have on how you're perceived. I knew a lot of the songs - everyone did: they were bloody everywhere. Now, do I agree that it was completely over loved upon its release? Of course. But I also don't agree with the major scale tip that led to this collective hatred of Sheeran and his music.

Divide is the quintessential hipster album. And I think it should be respected as the figure head for the entire genre (and in some ways the entire movement as a whole). Because hipster was a thing, I remember it. Was I fan? Nah, but there definitely were fans.

So I don't know, for me, this album is a pretty decent collection of pretty decent songs. Nothing ground breaking that deserved the hype it got on release, but nothing so bad to fairly label Sheeran as the scourge of all music that many people seem to want to do.

Track list breakdown:

Eraser - An explosive opening that I can't help enjoying despite the cringe (7/10)

Castle on the Hill - It's a funny thing, to be nostalgic about a song about nostalgia. Granted, my opinion of this track has dropped slowly over tiem, but I do still regard it as his best. (8/10)

Dive - Mid. (5/10)

Shape of You - The infamous. Yeah I don't know why this was SUCH a hit. But I don't dislike it icl. I do think one of Sheeran's greatest qualities is his vocal runs - it's fun to sing these songs. The bouncing around and the circling around notes is just quite pleasant to hear. (6/10)

Perfect - However, one of his biggest downsides is his general inability to develop a song as it progresses. They mostly consist of good musical ideas, repeated without much differentiation. Perfect is a nice exception to this rule. (7/10)

Galway Girl - However, 'Galway Girl' is the epitome of the above problem. BUT, it has my favourite musical idea: the Irish instrumentation married with the bouncing vocal line works incredibly. Unfortunately, we never go anywhere with it. An extended remix could be insane. (7/10)

Happier - A weird trend of pop musicians writing songs about how their exes seem to get on better without them. Weird flex but okay? (5/10)

New Man - Right, let me say something real controversial: if Lily Allen made this song you lot would be ALL OVER IT. Granted, she would have actually had the balls to say "fuck" (7/10)

Hearts Don't Break Around Here - Don't hate. (5/10)

What Do I Know? - (6/10)

How Would You Feel (Paean) - (5/10)

Supermarket Flowers - (7/10)

Yeah I'm not proud that this was my first, but honestly, I'm a lot less ashamed than I thought I would be. (5/10)

EDIT: Actually, you know what? Fuck you, I actually like this album. (6/10)