Harry
Zach
Having gradually lost almost all respect for Ed Sheeran over the years, I actually really rate the decision to do a collaboration project. At the height of his fame he’s got nothing short of the best of the best and the biggest names all over this album. Bringing artists together that no one could have predicted or expected.
However the singles left me dreading the project, as it seemed it would be an hour of the most haphazard collection of the most surface level songs potentially ever.
To paraphrase a classic Guardian review, No. 6 Collaboration Project is a great pop album with one fatal flaw: Ed Sheeran.
This album is jam packed with the highest level of pop production, which actually sounds really good for the most part. It’s also got the best songwriting you can expect from a pop album. Some of the catchiest hooks you’ll ever hear. Too bad Ed Sheeran ruins it.
Firstly, this album is all over the place, as is expected from a collaboration project with artists ranging from YEBBA to Cardi B. But that’s kind of the point.
Each song presents a new world, a new genre, a new idiom. Each song has endless possibility of being great, and pretty much every time, Ed Sheeran’s whiney, emotionless voice puts a low ceiling on how good the song can be. This album should be a celebration of the some of the greatest artists the industry has to offer, but instead feels like a corny experiment.
The concept of a collaboration project seems like a lose-lose scenario, as there are times on this albums where the features feel unnecessary and forced, for example Chance, Cardi B and Paulo Londra’s contributions were particularly disappointing. However, perhaps more embarrassing for Ed is that his collaborators often outperform him, as is expected when he is switching lanes faster than a fugitive in a highway car chase. Most notably, Stormzy, YEBBA and Travis Scott, whose performances were outstanding.
In his favour, this album does have some really nice moments and some really great songs. When Ed is at his most comfortable, particularly in Best Part Of Me, he demonstrates why he should stick to what he is good at and what he knows, as this is perhaps the most successful collaboration on the album. Beautiful People and Way To Break My Heart are other highlights (it’s not a coincidence these two songs are the most like his previous work). However, all of these nice moments are completely cancelled out by one single line “It’s that time, Big Mike and Teddy are on Grime”. Kill me now.
Ed, take some toys out your ridiculously crowded pram. They make lanes for a reason, please stay in yours.
Spazzy McGee 