=＜限定盤/White Vinyl＞

I have grown up, I am a father now. These are the first words Ed Sheeran sings on =, his fourth official solo album, the one that arrives four years after /. Between these two records, he got married to his old sweetheart and had a baby -- he also released the stopgap No. 6 Collaborations Project, a star-studded affair that kept him on the charts -- major life events that provide the fuel for the 14 songs on =. Supported by a bed of supple R&B rhythms, retro keyboards, and a vague hint of his signature acoustic guitar, Sheeran tackles new fatherhood and love everlasting, taking time to offer such complementary accents as Visiting Hours, a nod to a departed friend. Despite his feint at late-night debauchery on Bad Habits, the album teems with mature aspirations: hes grappling with growth, sensing the passage of time, and wishing he could relive first times once again. These themes are simultaneously profound and banal, an emotional territory that suits Sheerans knack for crafting candied corn. Sheeran never chooses a winding path; whether its his melody or lyrics, he always opts for the straightest course. By favoring simplicity, he veers toward cliches and homilies -- this is particularly true when hes writing for and about his newborn child, such as the singsong lullaby Sandman -- yet he knows how to turn his highly personal observations into adult contemporary pop: music where the vibe matters as much as the hooks. Here, Sheerans melodies are soft yet insistent, and the production glistens with flair borrowed from younger, hipper artists who mine a similar blend of retro new wave and modern R&B, but he knows how to turn this stylish sound into something cozy and reassuring. That comforting gloss is the surest sign that Ed Sheeran has indeed grown up: hes not chasing trends, hes making music for people who have aged out of the clubs but have yet to wallow in nostalgia. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

4年ぶりとなる待望のオリジナル新作。近年の作業を共にするフレッド・アゲインとジョニー・マクデイドが引き続き多くの曲で共同プロデュース/ソングライティングを手掛けつつ、兄のマシュー・シーランもストリングス・アレンジを手掛けるなど多くの音楽家が参加。自身の結婚、父親になったこと、友人の死など、書かれたテーマはパーソナルながら、それらを表現する情熱と昂揚感は聴き手にダイレクトに伝わってくる。サウンド面では前作に比べてさらにポップで壮大に進化しており、さまざまなタイプの楽曲が収録されている。なかでも得意のバラード曲はいままで以上に感傷的で美しく鳥肌もので、主役の歌声の素晴らしさを再認識できますね。一人の男が成長する様を描いた感動的な傑作。
bounce (C)赤瀧洋二