Equals
by Ed Sheeran
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Oct 29, 2021
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 273 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 136 out of 273
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 273
  3. Negative: 103 out of 273
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  1. Pioter510
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    It is good album, my early favourites are first times and Tides. It is different from other albums
  2. downjeth
    Oct 30, 2021
    2
    his music doesn't feel authentic anymore, to be fair there are 1 or 2 tracks that stands out, but overall, i tried my best to enjoy the album but sadly i cant, chart driven album, it doesnt have any appeal, instead of evolving in every era, he devolves tragically.
  3. Leo748
    Oct 30, 2021
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Only Songs that really catched me were First Times and The Joker And The Queen. The rest kind of is what we always here from Ed. It's simple as always. It's like Divide. At most times I knew were the song was going just from listening the beginning. I really recommend "First Times" and "The Joker And The Queen" but that's it. 2 from 14 tracks. That's not much. And i would't even say these song were superior good. The second half was way more boring than the first. We have songs like "Collide", "2step", "Stop The Rain" and "Love In Slow Motion" which feel the same. The Opener "Tides" didn't got me at all. It had a loud start, had a quiet drop and than it got loud again. Hasn't there been an opening song with a similar concept this year? I think so... The closing track was a real missfit. Didn't really felt like it was over. I didn't really expect something new from Ed because since Bad Habits was the first single I was like, here we go again. Sorry Mr. Sheeran but you have to change your concepts a bit. Like all these female artists, doing it almost every album. Thank U… Expand
  4. RezaDonna
    Oct 30, 2021
    0
    this album have very generic lyric with basic production and very boring!!! he dont know how to make music
  5. Xear
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. it’s amazing album !! And I wanna say that to the people who still miss his old songs ,and old Ed who writes about break up, alcohol and just how sad he is. U will never find such person is not exists anymore! He is happy and has a family right!… Expand
  6. Segundoleo26
    Oct 30, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ed cayó en lo mismo de siempre creo que necesita despertar y renovarse urgentemente… Expand
  7. Chalupitas
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Cada una de sus canciones fue escrita con mucho esfuerzo, no desmeritemos el trabajo de este gran artista solo porque no es de su agrado.
  8. JamesWilly
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Awesome ! This album is so **** amazing. Ed Sheeran fell in love
  9. Guingster
    Oct 29, 2021
    0
    Ele nunca vai se reinventar????? Ele faz a mesma música desde o início da carreira medilcre dele haha
  10. biarezende28
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Amazing album! Ed is a great singer and songwriter and this album shows that. You can travel trough his life when you listen to this se songs
  11. jeremycastillo
    Oct 29, 2021
    3
    Acabo de escuchar el Álbum, se Siente la Misma Vibra que Sus Trabajos Anteriores, Lo único rescatable del Álbum Sería Su "Reinvención" en Bad Habits
  12. plw_
    Oct 29, 2021
    1
    Two or three good/okay songs, the rest is uninteresting. Ed comes back after such a long time and still does the same old thing. Boring and unoriginal. Dude even tried to ride The Weeknd's 80s wave with two or three songs and proved why Abel is superior. There are artists that do what he does but 10x better.
  13. ravenvenom
    Oct 29, 2021
    2
    I had high hopes for the album after Bad Habits. Nope. Another lazy, boring album from Ed and one decent song (being Bad Habits). Next.
  14. tiagooo19
    Oct 29, 2021
    0
    es tan malo... no entiendo como le puede gustar a la gente de verdad ed tiene tan poca creativad, flop
  15. IvanSCCP
    Oct 29, 2021
    9
    Álbum de extrema qualidade. Esse hate gratuito no Ed é cruel. Saibam disso.
  16. Devendra
    Oct 29, 2021
    1
    So +(plus ) is his best that's all i can say this is just ok! Nothing exciting
  17. Thiago20
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    This album is amaziing!! Ed's phenomenal!! He is a great artist that give very emotional musics!
  18. JEMR
    Oct 29, 2021
    4
    Good effort but it still feels lazy from Sheeran, doesn't he want to do better? Maybe he is not able to - after so many bland albums...
  19. Sophs05
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    = is some of his best work. The lyricism is insanely good. The melodies and production are incredible. It is very emotional and personal in the best way.
  20. ludenwknd
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. te aml te amo te amo te aml te amo muito te Mo nssjsjsjhssh7fugjgivig serioe eu ge aml… Expand
  21. FFS98
    Oct 29, 2021
    6
    The beginning of this album got me really excited for a second but it just lacks so much of everything… I like Ed’s music and I really enjoyed the rest of his albums but this is just not it. Personally I only enjoyed “First Times” and “2step” but that’s only two songs out of fourteen. It’s just not interesting and it bores you very easily. “Divide” also had a lot of upbeat songs andThe beginning of this album got me really excited for a second but it just lacks so much of everything… I like Ed’s music and I really enjoyed the rest of his albums but this is just not it. Personally I only enjoyed “First Times” and “2step” but that’s only two songs out of fourteen. It’s just not interesting and it bores you very easily. “Divide” also had a lot of upbeat songs and ballads but they were enjoyable and easy to listen to, and they were different.
    Even songs like “Visiting Hours” that are heartbreaking didn’t make me feel emotional at all. The songs about his daughter are beautiful but could have been left in the drafts cause no one really cares about them… Who wants a song with kids instruments? I’m just being nice and rate it with a 6 but man this was VERY disappointing. I hope he does better next time.    … Expand
  22. GhostKing
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Album is near perfect. A mix of fast paced songs and slow songs. Each one special in their own way. 10/10
  23. mcgowantrevor
    Oct 29, 2021
    4
    Ed Sheeran takes a step away from the soft, acoustic, heart-wrenching and organic-sounding tones that he had previously been known for in his earlier releases.
    The album in many moments, sounds to have very non-creative lyrics;
    “When it was all over, I cleared out the room Grabbed a couple beers, just me and you Then we started talking the way that we do” -Track 3, First Times It sounds    Ed Sheeran takes a step away from the soft, acoustic, heart-wrenching and organic-sounding tones that he had previously been known for in his earlier releases.
    The album in many moments, sounds to have very non-creative lyrics;
    “When it was all over, I cleared out the room
    Grabbed a couple beers, just me and you
    Then we started talking the way that we do”
    -Track 3, First Times
    It sounds almost lazy, but not quite.
    while there were more emotional pieces like The Joker and the Queen, and Visiting Hours- the rest of the album nearly failed to capture much of any feelings.
    = (Equals) seems to be the leftovers of his previous studio album, ÷ (Divide), which was decent at best.
    4/10    … Expand
  24. theserenekiller
    Oct 29, 2021
    1
    Still the same. Still boring. I couldn't get through the whole record although I tried. Endless clichè
  25. RomiIsaiah
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Album so good.... Great emotion and lotta story telling... Just a vibe on vibes... Maybe better than Divide… Expand
  26. josebutera1989
    Oct 29, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ed Sheeran es exitoso, pero no por música que valga la pena gastar dinero o darle stream. Este es uno de los peores álbumes de la ERA mainstream. No transmite nada, letras básicas y más de lo mismo. X y Divide son lo único bueno que tienen aunque ambos también tienen relleno. Simplemente un cantante sobrevalorado y sin chiste. Que te hace pensar menospreciar las actuaciones de los MTV del 2020 para que luego estés con una guitarra y una vestimenta de persona corriente. mejor que se reinvente o cambie de genero y experimente otros temas de que hablar en sus canciones.… Expand
  27. Arenshi
    Oct 29, 2021
    0
    This is Ed Sheeran on cruise control. He has become the Jimmy Fallon of pop music. Sheeran's shtick is now a well-practiced formula with almost no risk or interesting new ideas. It's just rinse and repeat.
  28. Rault
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Cada álbum que Ed hace es mejor que el anterior realmente disfrute cada canción del álbum
  29. Cielolili
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    it´s no talking about hearts broken anymore, Ed is happy now so the album is higher than multiply or divide
  30. Coppeddem
    Oct 29, 2021
    2
    This has to be one of the blandest albums ever. There is absolutely nothing special about this album. Vocals? Bland as anything (but listenable). Lyrics? Boring and lacking depth. Production? Mediocre at best. It's just so boring.
  31. FallOutTheDisco
    Oct 29, 2021
    1
    Ed Sheeran seems to get progressively less interesting and more dumbed down with every album he releases. Feels like an album made for people that don't like music.
  32. emcritic29
    Oct 29, 2021
    7
    sheeran is really trying to experiment with new sounds, with some interesting results; however the ballads are where he shines most, and the near absence of them on this record isn’t only disappointing but deeply surprising, given the lukewarm reception of his predecessor.
    all that considered, when equals works, it’s a brilliantly produced piece of music.
  33. LineOfDuty
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    An excellent album that takes you through almost everything, may not be the best album for people who prefer acoustic ed and his album + but normally this album has everything. Sadness, Love, Funky vibe, Dancy catchy music, Lust, Romance, Parenthood and even has a lullaby.
    Songs are a bit over produced but the idea has def worked for me. It feels like a whole new Ed Sheeran but has    An excellent album that takes you through almost everything, may not be the best album for people who prefer acoustic ed and his album + but normally this album has everything. Sadness, Love, Funky vibe, Dancy catchy music, Lust, Romance, Parenthood and even has a lullaby.
    Songs are a bit over produced but the idea has def worked for me. It feels like a whole new Ed Sheeran but has components of all his previous album. Songs like Tides, The Joker and the Queen and Leave your life gives album a very advance touch sonically.

    Def worth listening to, One of the best albums released this year xx    … Expand
  34. Animadoria
    Oct 29, 2021
    2
    Not very good, just very exhausting, boring, and old. It doesn’t intrigue me, its just like any other album of his.
  35. zainscult
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. perfeito sem erros como sempre veio ai pra hitar prometeu e entregou te amo edinho amor da minha vida… Expand
  36. Jaychafale
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Equals is undoubtedly the most mature and sophisticated work Sheeran has done in the last few years. The opening arena-pop track 'Tides' is a great intro to the album, setting the tone for the rest of the songs. Shivers is an excellent dance-pop track likely to be an earworm. Only Sheeran could brag about playing 80000 people at wembley and come off as not. First Time is an elaborate song,Equals is undoubtedly the most mature and sophisticated work Sheeran has done in the last few years. The opening arena-pop track 'Tides' is a great intro to the album, setting the tone for the rest of the songs. Shivers is an excellent dance-pop track likely to be an earworm. Only Sheeran could brag about playing 80000 people at wembley and come off as not. First Time is an elaborate song, one of the highlights on this album. Overpass Graffiti is another pop song with an insane hook likely to become Sheeran's next No.1. Still, the standout track on the album is 'the joker and the Queen', an exquisite piano ballad containing all of Sheeran's finesse, a ballad for the ages.
    All the songs fit well into a album filled with pop bangers, beautiful ballads, and basically making one album for the ages.    … Expand
  37. Menios
    Oct 29, 2021
    4
    The bar is already set too low. Even in this way, Ed Sheeran's new album cannot reach it.
  38. Tedddyy
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Ed really explored with this album more than he has ever done before, the beats, production and melodies on this album are insane, he stepped out of his confort zone with this one and I can't be more proud than I am right now.
  39. poptartlet
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    = is an amazing album. There’s a song for every mood, beautiful vocals with different stories to tell. Especially loved the song Visiting Hours
  40. Razeru
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    This album explored Ed's love on everything that matters to him. A lot of artists did this but with this album, it went superb on beats and lyricism at the same time. The production is fine and the lyrics are good enough to understand how passionate he is as a lover and a friend and as a songwriter. His voice is everything in each tracks. His voice filled with huskiness really matched theThis album explored Ed's love on everything that matters to him. A lot of artists did this but with this album, it went superb on beats and lyricism at the same time. The production is fine and the lyrics are good enough to understand how passionate he is as a lover and a friend and as a songwriter. His voice is everything in each tracks. His voice filled with huskiness really matched the cohesive sounds on this music. He has shown a big growth of artistry with this era. This is a recommended album. And despite the album being full of romance and contentment, Ed showed unexpectedly great tunes and lyrics that makes Equals a remarkable and memorable album, making the listeners listen again and again.… Expand
  41. Abhipsa0824
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    This album is a rollercoaster of emotion and more importantly Ed Sheeran's best album lyrically to date. What does this album does so well is that tells different stories, his worries, hopes and what is his perception of life at the age of 30. I love that Ed has experimented with different kind of sounds throughout the album and not doing what one would expect out of him. There has beenThis album is a rollercoaster of emotion and more importantly Ed Sheeran's best album lyrically to date. What does this album does so well is that tells different stories, his worries, hopes and what is his perception of life at the age of 30. I love that Ed has experimented with different kind of sounds throughout the album and not doing what one would expect out of him. There has been put great deal of detailing into the sound and production of this album but not like in your face, the subtlety of the production fits perfectly with his writing....Also you would have to real dumb if you thought Bad Habits was a weekend rip off coz bad habits has a 4/4 edm beat meaning its literally is pop edm and thats nowhere near what The Weekend did on After Hours and an actual music reviewer making this comparison is genuinely laughable and embarrassing.… Expand
  42. Clacol
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Excellent album. There’s a song for every mood. This is a new sound but he gives old fans throwbacks with rap but entertains with new musical arrangements. His lyrics prove he’s grown as a musician and has learnt to appreciate his success whilst not forgetting where comes from. He’s also become a father and it’s clear it has changed his perspective of the world.

    Ed is an excellent    Excellent album. There’s a song for every mood. This is a new sound but he gives old fans throwbacks with rap but entertains with new musical arrangements. His lyrics prove he’s grown as a musician and has learnt to appreciate his success whilst not forgetting where comes from. He’s also become a father and it’s clear it has changed his perspective of the world.

    Ed is an excellent musician and “=“ proves he has a lot to give.    … Expand
  43. Lily_K
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Great lyricism, a cohesive sound, solid production, beautiful vocals and a lot of interesting concepts explored across the whole album. Ed exceeded my expectations with this one.
  44. pappagalli
    Oct 29, 2021
    0
    Another bland album by Ed Sheeran, It's like If It was written by a 5 year old kid.
  45. All_ButTrU4
    Oct 29, 2021
    1
    If ed sheeran is anything he is consistent. From his lovable good guy persona that feels very real to the ballads that rule wedding soundtracks. At that he hasn't failed. His songs fall into place predictably and the songs are easily digestible with acoustic guitars sharing 90% of the presence. But with this return to form are the same faults of before .

    His songwriting although direct    If ed sheeran is anything he is consistent. From his lovable good guy persona that feels very real to the ballads that rule wedding soundtracks. At that he hasn't failed. His songs fall into place predictably and the songs are easily digestible with acoustic guitars sharing 90% of the presence. But with this return to form are the same faults of before .

    His songwriting although direct is terribly clichéd to a point of trolling. The nostalgic "first times" feels like a "+" outtake with better profuction and the unintentionally insincere "visiting hours" does so little with it's themes it might as well be a John Green book. And unfortunately those are the few highlights. The perfectly skippable "love in slow motion " is the "thinking out loud " sequel nobody (apart from his label) asked for.

    I will admit the record did disprove my fears of this being ed sheeran's poor man "After Hours" era after the historically disappointing "Bad Habit".

    "Shivers" is a higlight in a dark room. It has a gripping hook supported by a chorus only Ed could deliver. Also the conclusive "Be Right Now" ties the album together really well.

    This album is in no way a failure,it will definitely dominate charts and satisfy fans,but as one myself who also expects any form of growth in a musician's discography i remain disappointed. The ingenuity of "Don't " or experiments of "Gallway Girl" are forgotten answers to a test that i wish could just be filled in. The opening "Tides" doesn't try to be impressive but tells us as many other times on the record, "that im a father now". Even all his realisations and thoughts feel bored and dated. Is an intriguing moment possible? Not according to the cringefest that is " the joker &the queen" isn't worth describing. Just when you feel it couldn't get worse "sandman" tries to lull a baby to sleep but does so to the listener brave enough not to skip ,instead (based on the childlike xylophones alone ).

    This album arouses the same satisfaction "Lover" provided after the compelling "reputation ",leaving you wondering "umm...wtf ".

    I tried. I really did but you can add all the glitter and roses and gold to a wet pool of warm diahorreah and it will still be a **** . This is form four listens. The record could grow on me but currently i am disappointed. A 10/10 would not ~recommend~ touch with a 10ft pole.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Discussed Album of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. musicOMH.com
    Dec 16, 2021
    60
    If you’re a fan, you’ll still be a fan and if you’re not, you still won’t be.
    Read full review
  2. AllMusic
    Nov 4, 2021
    70
    Here, Sheeran's 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.
    Read full review
  3. Pitchfork
    Nov 2, 2021
    36
    He’s settled into the comfort zone of songs that will haunt weddings for years to come, like “2step,” in which he raps about “Two-steppin’ with the woman I love.” Even at his most passionate, Sheeran sounds as threatening as a meringue peak. ... Sheeran’s reliance on clichés is especially unfortunate during the album’s back half, which is where he placed a majority of the songs about death and fatherhood.
    Read full review
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