• From: Salem, Oregon
  • Registered: 2010-01-07
  • Posts: 844

Topic: Ed Sheeran - Divide

So, even though my main musical taste tends toward Blues and Rock, I have always likes many types of popular music as well. I don't buy a lot of top 40 stuff, but I listen to a lot of it. So, figured I'd take a chance on the new Ed Sheeran disc.  I have to say that I'm more than pleasantly surprised with this recording. Full of really well written tunes, a lot of jaunty kind of pop and "a bunch of pretty great ballads"....never thought I'd ever say those last 6 words ! At any rate, I have always found the value in a well written song and this album is filled with them. This is probably not for everyone, but if you like well crafted well written acoustic pop rock songwriter type vibe , this is exceptional !! I mean really exceptional !!!!

Murfdog
  • From: stockton, ca.
  • Registered: 2015-06-04
  • Posts: 275

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

I think I'll take your word for it Murfdog....

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2006-05-31
  • Posts: 489

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

Oftentimes the whole acoustic thing gets too one dimensional to me after 2-3 songs.

Ed is a very talented artist though, as is James Bay. Once you've heard them break out into more bluesier stuff, you know that one day they will hopefully record some of their other facettes;-)

Jimi75's Website

  • From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,615

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

Ed has certainly become something of a zeitgeist in the UK at the moment; his album Divide just about crashed Spotify last week and according to one chart, it has sold more copies to be at #1 than #2 - #500 combined. Good luck to the guy; there are a couple of tracks that are ubiquitous on the radio, but (so far) they're not annoying..... Thing is, he's got his work cut come the time for the follow-up.

Ed's got a sold out arena tour coming up in the UK, including 2 nights in my area, Newcastle Metro Arena, but here's a vid from a few years back, from a more modest Newcastle venue, The Cluny2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFRCKWAe96s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxSfqWis2jA

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

I do not understand how any real music fan could criticise somebody who can write his own songs and play his own instrument and at the same time engage a massive audience of youngsters into REAL music. Sadly too many blinkered old baby boomers see it differently, bet hey, they don’t require much of an excuse to have a moan at something that they do not understand. wink

Ed Sheehan, Adele and now Rag ’n’ Bone Man are right now the best hope for music against the manufactured rubbish that up until recently has all of the power in the music industry. Sorry to break this to you guys, but playing very expensive cruise ships is doing nothing for the future of music. sad Keeping the Blues Elite....

- chew on that guys, ‘ thought I would give you something to bite on.

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

6 Reply by NickelWound (edited by NickelWound 2017-03-14 15:14:50)

  • Registered: 2007-11-22
  • Posts: 358

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

Ian916 wrote:

I do not understand how any real music fan could criticise somebody who can write his own songs and play his own instrument and at the same time engage a massive audience of youngsters into REAL music. Sadly too many blinkered old baby boomers see it differently, bet hey, they don’t require much of an excuse to have a moan at something that they do not understand. wink

Ed Sheehan, Adele and now Rag ’n’ Bone Man are right now the best hope for music against the manufactured rubbish that up until recently has all of the power in the music industry. Sorry to break this to you guys, but playing very expensive cruise ships is doing nothing for the future of music. sad Keeping the Blues Elite....

- chew on that guys, ‘ thought I would give you something to bite on.


I'm not entire in agreement with your assessment of 'keeping the blues elite' but with an avatar that has Ducati on it well... how cool is that....

Ed Sheeran is cool to the bone (less cool since I saw him in the embrace of the repugnant Taylor Swift but I digress) but on the blues thing, I think there are also many seriously down to earth blues players that are doing anything but keeping the blues elite nor 'manufactured'. I don't think people like Kirk Fletcher, Guy King, Henrik Freischlader, Eric Steckel, Chris Duarte, Walter Trout, Matt Schofield, Philip Sayce, Gary Clark Jr. just to name a few are in any way elite nor 'manufactured.'

It's true Joe has been somewhat 'cultivated' and, as unpopular as this may be, I can't wait until he bounces Kevin Shirley for a new producer and gets in a new direction rather than the Joe we have now. But he has attained the status of superstar and people at the top of their game are not cheap to see no matter what genre music they produce and there is no doubt they enjoy a freedom others may not. But if people with a few bucks can afford a luxurious cruise why not. Particularly Natasha and her hubby. We get to see things we never would have had the chance to see and artists I would never have known about.

  • From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,615

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

NickelWound wrote:

"It's true Joe has been somewhat 'cultivated' and, as unpopular as this may be, I can't wait until he bounces Kevin Shirley for a new producer and gets in a new direction".

Drifting off thread, but can't help but agree..

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2006-05-31
  • Posts: 489

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

BansheeUK wrote:
NickelWound wrote:

"It's true Joe has been somewhat 'cultivated' and, as unpopular as this may be, I can't wait until he bounces Kevin Shirley for a new producer and gets in a new direction".

Drifting off thread, but can't help but agree..

+1

Jimi75's Website

9 Reply by Ian916 (edited by Ian916 2017-03-15 12:58:58)

  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

NickelWound wrote:

I'm not entire in agreement with your assessment of 'keeping the blues elite' but with an avatar that has Ducati on it well... how cool is that....

you might be pleased to know that I ride a Harley now... smile

I am poking a stick at people on this message board, trying to get a reaction as it has become somewhat dull these days.

I would agree with the comments about a new production direction, and whilst there I would change his manager as well, - SHOCK! Sorry to say that, but I do think that he has had some bum advice on pricing of tickets, - didi I say that before? wink

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

  • reo l
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Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

Wow! Heresy thread smile

Little pebble from me too - don't like "Hummingbird" the song.

  • From: Maryland
  • Registered: 2013-03-29
  • Posts: 177

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

reo l wrote:

Little pebble from me too - don't like "Hummingbird" the song.

Glad to hear I'm not alone in this opinion, and that someone had the courage to say it smile.  Hummingbird doesn't do much for me either.  I like most all of Joe's originals a whole lot better.

  • RickB
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Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

Ian916 wrote:
NickelWound wrote:

I'm not entire in agreement with your assessment of 'keeping the blues elite' but with an avatar that has Ducati on it well... how cool is that....

you might be pleased to know that I ride a Harley now... smile

I am poking a stick at people on this message board, trying to get a reaction as it has become somewhat dull these days.

I would agree with the comments about a new production direction, and whilst there I would change his manager as well, - SHOCK! Sorry to say that, but I do think that he has had some bum advice on pricing of tickets, - didi I say that before? wink

Priced at the point that sells. The Euro tour is basically sold out 6 months in advance. Some are unable to pay but many others are not. So it goes.

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

RickB's Website

13 Reply by DougH (edited by DougH 2017-03-16 08:54:08)

  • DougH
  • DougH
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  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
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Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

I'm still baffled as to how Ed or Taylor or et'l can pack 27,000 into see them 2 days in a row in the same city.
And Joe barely fills 4500 (or Red Rock's 10,000).
(Not that I'd want to be that far back in a Joe show with 27,000)

Fact remains,, many acts "not as good as Joe" (my opinion) can attract so many.
Guess auto tune,auto pitch correct and pre-recorded tracks rule

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)

14 Reply by Ian916 (edited by Ian916 2017-03-16 16:51:26)

  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

Priced at the point that sells. The Euro tour is basically sold out 6 months in advance. Some are unable to pay but many others are not. So it goes.

Fake News Rick, wink Tickets did not all sell out 6 months prior and even if they would have other artists sell out within minutes of going on sales. I can still buy a ticket today to see Joe at RAH next month!

For the last few years Joe’s shows have taken time to sell out and a lot has had to be spent on national newspaper advertising so audiences are now made up with people who do not know what they are listening to, so you get walking around and a lot of talking through the songs. I am relatively new to seeing Joe live as 2009 was my first show but over that time I have seen a considerable change in the make-up of the crowds.

- David Gilmour sold out within minutes but if I recall correctly his prices was less than half of Joe’s.... Big artists sell out an entire tour a soon as the shows are announced, that is the reality here.

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

  • reo l
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Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

Hmm...checked this Ed guy. Do not agree with Jane H. That "Body" song is not bad, made me want to dance right away. It's a party song. Can picture a boy lip syncing it to his girlfriend ( love your body ) or a car full of drunk teenage girls yelling Bibia Ye ye. Listened to several other his songs. Nice. But did it make me want to go to his concert - no, keep listening to his other stuff - no. Filler music for me. But I can understand why others like it.

  • From: Maryland
  • Registered: 2012-05-13
  • Posts: 2,790

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

I liked that first video that Banshee posted. Quite a powerful song and really cool the way he does all those loops to fill in parts. Might be heresy to say this, but he kind of reminded me of James Blunt with his voice and maybe that particular song. At least Blunt from his first album. Yes I admit I did kind of have a thing for Blunt for a little bit, but never was very fond of the "Oh Beautiful" song. His others were much better. But back to Ed, I will have to watch a few more of his. Like that he does original stuff and I've always loved acoustic, so..

  • RickB
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Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

Ian916 wrote:

Priced at the point that sells. The Euro tour is basically sold out 6 months in advance. Some are unable to pay but many others are not. So it goes.

Fake News Rick, wink Tickets did not all sell out 6 months prior and even if they would have other artists sell out within minutes of going on sales. I can still buy a ticket today to see Joe at RAH next month!

For the last few years Joe’s shows have taken time to sell out and a lot has had to be spent on national newspaper advertising so audiences are now made up with people who do not know what they are listening to, so you get walking around and a lot of talking through the songs. I am relatively new to seeing Joe live as 2009 was my first show but over that time I have seen a considerable change in the make-up of the crowds.

- David Gilmour sold out within minutes but if I recall correctly his prices was less than half of Joe’s.... Big artists sell out an entire tour a soon as the shows are announced, that is the reality here.

Going by the Munich show, a month ago there were only a few scattered singles in the cheap seats. I got one for my son today and there were only about 20 singles in the cheap seats (79 Eu.) left in the Olympiahalle. Maybe the Germans have more cash to spend.

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

RickB's Website

18 Reply by BansheeUK (edited by BansheeUK 2017-03-17 09:16:11)

  • From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,615

Re: Ed Sheeran - Divide

reo l wrote:

Hmm...checked this Ed guy. Do not agree with Jane H. That "Body" song is not bad, made me want to dance right away. It's a party song. Can picture a boy lip syncing it to his girlfriend ( love your body ) or a car full of drunk teenage girls yelling Bibia Ye ye. Listened to several other his songs. Nice. But did it make me want to go to his concert - no, keep listening to his other stuff - no. Filler music for me. But I can understand why others like it.

Think Ed's "Body" song, he wrote for Rhianna, but she turned it down (a "Doh!" moment....). Today though, the radio in the bus played a different song of Ed's, from the new album - the heavily Irish flavoured Galway Girl; and not bad at all......

nmagcorn - glad you liked the early days Ed vid - looking at the rest from that show, kinda wished I had dropped in myself as I'm also not averse to an acoustic show (Josh Doyle next month...), so maybe a "Doh!" moment for me there..... (probably would have cost less than £10, and not the £60+ or so for the arena show - same price as Joe at N/castle...?)

As for "trending" of modern artists, who'd have thought the little town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire could one generation produce David Coverdale and in another (X-Factor protégé) James Arthur - and if you haven't heard of him, don't bother....

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...