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I’ve never been a big fan of Ed Sheeran, mostly due of the fact that I believed for the longest time that his songs were “radio songs,” however “Autumn Variations” has changed this for me. Four-time Grammy Winner, Ed Sheeran, recently released his seventh studio album on Friday, Sept. 29. Co-produced and co-written with Aaron Dessner, this album perfectly captures the start of an amazing fall day and captures Sheeran’s signature style as he goes back to his acoustic roots.
There are two sides of the album: the first side is the original song of the album while the second side is the songs played live at fan living room sessions. Honestly, after listening to the entire album, I can’t decide which side I like better. The original songs had the perfect mix of pop and acoustic; I would personally listen to this if I were driving to school, while the second side was more calm and relaxed, something I would listen to to wind down at night.
The opening track of the album is called “Magical,” and it sure made my day magical after listening to it. This song was my personal favorite. I felt like this song was the perfect opener for “Autumn Variations,” as it had a surreal melody. The flow of the song along with the acoustic guitar and Sheeran’s voice evokes a romantic tone. As it makes its way onto my favorites playlist, I really do think I get a burst of serotonin every time I listen to this song.
The second track “England” also has a very upbeat rhythm, a pattern I’ve noticed a lot while listening to his songs. Sheeran vividly illustrates a beautiful fall day in England, his home country. The song perfectly captures the essence of Sheeran’s songwriting: finding meaning in his words. I felt like I was there on a bike ride with him as he was describing the scenery of the country.
My least favorite song on the album would have to be “Amazing.” It just sounds like every other generic pop song, something that would become replayed on TikTok or the radio. The song itself wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t amazing. This was one of the few songs on this album that sounds like every “Ed Sheeran” songs.
The album ends with the 14th track, “Heads > Heels.” The song begins with a lively drum beat which slowly fades into the sound of a piano. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the song and I believe that he could have ended the album with another song that’s not a love song. Now I did notice that as I finished to the album, that most of the songs sound identical. However, the lyrics definitely made them stand out from one another, as they all have separate meanings, to creates one big unifying metaphor: to be true to yourself.
If you are a fan of Taylor Swift’s albums “folklore” and “evermore,” you’ll definitely enjoy this album. I believe that Sheeran has transitioned into another era of his life. “Autumn Variations” highlights a shift for Sheeran, to a style that’s more relaxed and mellow, a departure from his previous pop works. It will be a perfect addition to your ‘cool fall day’ playlist.
