Ed Sheeran
X
Atlantic Records
There aren’t too many musical styles that can elicit the feeling of being tortured, but Ed Sheeran’s X proved a downright painful experience. The homely ginger is known for his annoying-yet-ubiquitous hit “The A Team,” and if it were 100 years before we heard that song again, it would be too soon. Rife with overwrought and disingenuous emotional turmoil, Sheeran’s second studio album at least features pretty vocals and sparkling production. “Runaway” is particularly embarrassing, while “Bloodstream” is only slightly unbearable. “I’m a Mess” is aptly titled, yet provides no respite for the horrors that lie ahead.
