• Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Oct 29, 2021
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 273 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. Jun 8, 2023
    10
    Nice music with deep meaning.This album contain manu lessons and one of new creation from Ed Sheeran.
  2. May 22, 2023
    0
    grotesco, achei triste esse álbum não tem nenhum tipo de tempero, completamente insosso
  3. May 21, 2023
    3
    Sabemos que esse é o estilo do Ed mas convenhamos, já saturou. A essa altura toda música dele soa com alguma já feita antes. Está precisando se arriscar e se reinventar
  4. May 8, 2023
    0
    This is Ed Sheeran at the most uninspired or most dissatisfying point of his career. He hit his peak long ago, and now all his music is as personal as if a toddler wrote ballads about toys. 'Equals' stands out for all the wrong reasons as the bargain bin album of 2021.
  5. Mar 30, 2023
    0
    how is this possible that his music is getting worse and worse, like it’s soo bad!
  6. Oct 8, 2022
    10
    Say all you want by this guy made a beautiful in a way that you can only see with a pure and clear mind :)
    Ed’s Equals has to be the best POP album of 2021
  7. Aug 7, 2022
    0
    Una porquería, musica pop basica hecha para ser escuchada en la radio y nada mas
  8. May 10, 2022
    0
    It's AOTY: Abortion Of The Year and I don't even need to hear it in full to come to this conclusion
  9. Apr 13, 2022
    6
    Equals is not quite the same as Sheeran's other great albums but it manages to be enjoyable
  10. Mar 30, 2022
    6
    admirable
    [ ad-mer-uh-buhl ]

    adjective
    worthy of admiration; inspiring approval, reverence, or affection.
  11. Mar 18, 2022
    7
    Not Ed Sheeran's best work, all his previous albums have a different vibe and probably a different point to make or prove but this album focuses more on the transitions in his life and how important the new people in his life are. Ed doesn't really share much of his private life but in this album he has gone all out, he has shown his vulnerable side here. The lyricism as always isNot Ed Sheeran's best work, all his previous albums have a different vibe and probably a different point to make or prove but this album focuses more on the transitions in his life and how important the new people in his life are. Ed doesn't really share much of his private life but in this album he has gone all out, he has shown his vulnerable side here. The lyricism as always is excellent, the songs are meaningful and heartwarming. The song Tides has an interesting vibe to it, the tempo and beat transition is really unexpected and really good, one of the best tracks on this album without a doubt. He had released Bad Habits and Shivers as singles, loved both of them but Shivers doesn't have much to offer, gets boring and bland after many listens. Bad Habits is something new Ed tried which i appreciate but i am not really a fan. A 5/10 song in my opinion. First Times is just so Ed, simple but calming, i like it. Overpass Graffiti is kinda overrated, the publicity done for this song was unreal and it wasn't that good, chill vibes but lacks that "ed element" to it. Leave your Life is the best song on this album, most people wont like it but it's really good, i loved the tempo, his way of singing and the overall vibe. Sandman is quite underrated honestly, many people will call it "childish" but it's what he is trying to portray, the new learnings of fatherhood. 2step and Stop the Rain are pretty decent songs but not memorable, doesn't stick with me but it's good. Visiting Hours, another single, pretty good but doesn't stand out in my opinion. The Joker and the Queen is an underwhelming song and holds no importance in this album, it has nothing to do with what this album stands for. This album needed more features or atleast cameos to spice things up but overall it's pretty good. Favorite track: Leave Your life. Expand
  12. Jan 6, 2022
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Welll album is incomplete coming next year So i wanting that why 7 /10 tides , visiting hours are best Expand
  13. Jan 6, 2022
    1
    Instrumentally, it sounds not only outdated and awfully outside of Ed’s brand, but it’s also embarrassingly empty and kitsch. On =, Ed tries to open up about his recent experiences, mainly about his family life and big ego. Sadly, it doesn’t work out for him at the end. Before, it used to be cute and magical, but now it’s just tragical.
  14. Dec 28, 2021
    10
    I really liked the album tbh. Honest though first time I listened to it was not super impressed but having listened to to tracks a few times it began to grow on me and I'm not disappointed. Yes it's similar to some of his old music however he writes about new things in his life. Visiting hours is probably my favourite and it must relate to older people who have lost loved ones. All in AllI really liked the album tbh. Honest though first time I listened to it was not super impressed but having listened to to tracks a few times it began to grow on me and I'm not disappointed. Yes it's similar to some of his old music however he writes about new things in his life. Visiting hours is probably my favourite and it must relate to older people who have lost loved ones. All in All a solid contribution and thank as I appreciate it Mr Ed Sheeran.

    Keep on doing what you do. Respect!!
    Expand
  15. Nov 20, 2021
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Only album I fully listened from him. It was the product of incessant pleas of people for men in music to take risks with their artistry. They will vie this was a misstep but in the greater apex, it was never hard to take risk. It was great. Expand
  16. Nov 19, 2021
    3
    After this album I stop listening to Ed, it's okay to maintain his music style. But this one?

    like pitchfork said, He’s settled into the comfort zone of songs that will haunt weddings for years to come. Kinda disappointed.
  17. Nov 19, 2021
    7
    = (pronounced Equals) is a solid return to form for Ed Sheeran. Striking a perfect balance between new and nostalgia, Ed certainly attempts to reinvent himself with this latest entry, and only time will tell if he was successful in that endeavour. Good.
  18. Nov 19, 2021
    0
    This is horrible, amen doubts is ed's worst album From Ed. It's a mess, the singles are pretty generic and work, but the album itself, discards
  19. Nov 15, 2021
    3
    I honestly don't have much to say... only this: Ed Sheeran = Below average
    Why did i even bother??? It was not like i was expecting anything...
  20. Nov 13, 2021
    10
    I love this album, the best songs for me are Shivers, Tides, Stop the Rain and Visiting Hours, but all of them are really cool songs.
    I don't understand why people say that is similar to Divide, because it's not true, it's completely different in the lyrics, the structure of the song and the themes, please listen first and understand what the songs are about and then judge.
  21. Nov 12, 2021
    10
    Ed se reinventa, sem deixar as composições românticas de lado. Com uma batida muito mais pop, mas trazendo também o piano e o violão característico.
  22. Nov 12, 2021
    10
    Não sei porque está no amarelo sendo que o álbum ta muito bom. Esse povo é muito invejoso, impressionante isso.
  23. Nov 11, 2021
    2
    why is he still doing this? it's not that his old music is bad, it just that it was never something that needed to be replicated, and yet here it is. for the third time.
  24. Nov 9, 2021
    0
    One of the worst albums ever! Don't listen
  25. Nov 8, 2021
    1
    It's a wonder Sheeran has reached the heights he has when he puts out dull, pedestrian 'music' like this.

    As someone else remarked, he makes music for people that don't like {or at least appreciate} music.
  26. Nov 8, 2021
    10
    The best album in the world. Music is for everyone, not only for criticus who can't created popular music to everyone.
  27. Nov 7, 2021
    9
    = by Ed Sheeran: 8.63

    Tides: 1 :) Shivers: 1 :) First Times: 1! Bad Habits: 1 :) Overpass Graffiti: 1 :) The Joker And The Queen: 0.75 Leave Your Life: 0.75 Collide: 0.75 2step: 1 :) Stop The Rain: 1 :) Love In Slow Motion: 1 :) Visiting Hours: 1! :) Sandman: 0.75 Be Right Now: 1 :) 13/14 ~ .929 -> 8.63 Ed Sheeran’s Equals album (styled “=”) is in my opinion, his
    = by Ed Sheeran: 8.63

    Tides: 1 :)
    Shivers: 1 :)
    First Times: 1!
    Bad Habits: 1 :)
    Overpass Graffiti: 1 :)
    The Joker And The Queen: 0.75
    Leave Your Life: 0.75
    Collide: 0.75
    2step: 1 :)
    Stop The Rain: 1 :)
    Love In Slow Motion: 1 :)
    Visiting Hours: 1! :)
    Sandman: 0.75
    Be Right Now: 1 :)

    13/14 ~ .929 -> 8.63

    Ed Sheeran’s Equals album (styled “=”) is in my opinion, his best yet. Bouncing back from the disappointment of No. 6 Collaborations project, = features more music that, even amid new styling, retains the spirit of his original songs (from the era of + and x). We can see nods to his past releases everywhere in =, which I appreciated (such as 2step resembling some + stuff, First Times having a hint of x, and of course Overpass Graffiti and Tides containing quite a bit of ÷ DNA). While this is certainly a more-heavily produced album (which in some songs can be a bit distracting), I found = to be a lot easier to listen to than his previous 2019 release. Combining this with lyric quality consistent with his past hits make this album quite an accomplishment and I applaud him for making something this great.

    Due to the character limit, I am unable to provide my entire song-by-song commentary for =, which is a shame. I find that whenever I add it people tend to understand my point of view more, so I guess that I'll have to make due with just my intro and conclusion.

    In general, I would agree with Ed Sheeran in saying that this is his best work. Everything just fits so well together in =, and I’d say there aren’t really any moths in this collection of butterflies. Ed Sheeran fans will appreciate this new album if they can adapt to his new style of music (which I think rocks and works well). I really can’t wait until - comes out, but until then I have so many songs from = to listen to on repeat. Highlights: Tides, Shivers, First Times, Bad Habits, Overpass Graffiti, Stop The Rain, Love In Slow Motion, Visiting Hours, and Be Right Now.
    Expand
  28. Nov 6, 2021
    0
    Same old sound, nothing new. Skipped all songs and removed them from my playlist. Yuck sums this grabage up
  29. Nov 5, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This album is boring like ed personality nothing new he just repeats himself Expand
  30. Nov 4, 2021
    5
    The album is good but I don't feel the same essence that Ed gave us with his sounds and lyrics in previous musical works.
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 13
  2. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.