Ed Sheeran’s mathematical era may be over, but he’s ready to explore some new horizons. His second studio album this year, Autumn Variations, is his love better to both his friends and fans, but it’s likely we’ll forget it long before this season is over.
Sheeran never seemed too interested in breaking new grounds with his music, but that didn’t stop him from scoring chart-topping hits and filling stadiums all around the globe. He got out of his comfort zone after joining forces with Aaron Dessner for his last album Subtract, and they kept collaborating on Autumn Variations.
Dessner’s work with Taylor Swift on her 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore gave us some great songs, but results have been more uneven in Sheeran’s case. Autumn Variations suffers from the same mistakes he made with Subtract, and it’s too mellow and forgettable to make any real impact, but we can’t help but appreciate his effort to try something different.
Autumn Variations draws inspiration from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and its 14 songs are dedicated to Sheeran’s friends who inspired them. The singer released this album through his own label Gingerbread Man Records and said he’s not planning to release any singles or music videos, making it clear he just wants to march to the beat of his own drum and do something nice for his fans.
It’s tough to single out any standout songs on this record because they eventually all blend into one. “American Town” and “England” emerged as fan favorites so far due to Sheeran’s ability to effortlessly draw us into his world with his immersive lyrics.
Autumn Variations may not be a groundbreaking or revolutionary record, but it serves its purpose. Sheeran’s fans will welcome it like a warm hug on a cold November day, while everyone else will probably want to skip to the next season.
