I doubt that there is a teenager in America, the United Kingdom, or the whole world over who hasn’t heard Ed Sheeran’s name. Growing up with humble beginnings in Suffolk before moving to London to pursue his music career, Sheeran has made quite a splash in the music world since the release of his debut album + (read as “plus”) in 2011. The album contains music of all types from fast-paced, rebellious rap to gentle, warm lyrics layered over an acoustic guitar. Despite the myriad of genres, however, there is a bright, poppy vibe laced throughout every song, which has captured millions of adolescent hearts at the time of its release.

Uniquely, that vibe is lost in Sheeran’s second album, x (read as “multiply”). x, which was released late this past June, takes a more mature, stripped-back look at romance as well as life as a touring singer-songwriter. Sheeran’s latest album showcases his genius lyrics and his incredible talent with an acoustic guitar as well as his first did, while also showing his fans how much he’s grown and changed over the past three years.

1. One

Just promise me, you’ll always be a friend,

‘Cause you are the only one…

This is one of Ed’s soft, sad songs, the kind which make his fans tear up a little every time. It’s just his falsetto and a guitar at first, but a soft, barely-noticeable beat comes in a little later. As the song builds in emotion, strings kick in at the chorus, bringing everything to a soul-wrenching crescendo of feeling. I must admit that I was slightly bored with this song at first, because “Don’t” and “Sing” were such energetic, kicky singles, and “One” was a much quieter third release. However, it’s impossible not to fall in love eventually with Ed’s harmonies and the genuine feel he gives to each line.

2. I’m a Mess

See the flames inside my eyes,

It burns so bright I wanna fall in love, no…

This is one of my favorite songs, if only because of the chorus. It’s Ed and his guitar once again, but instead of tears we get quietly-building suspense at the beginning, brought to a powerful chorus where Ed is practically yelling. There’s a feeling of frustration and hopeless love throughout the whole song, supported by the occasional deep piano chord and the vigorous strumming of his guitar. Ed is clearly deeply in love, but something in the relationship has gone desperately wrong, and he’ll do anything he can to fix it. This is the kind of song where you really want to know the full story because it doesn’t give you every detail, but you still feel as though you can relate.

3. Sing

I need you, darling,

Come on, set the tone…

I hate saying this, but this is actually my least-favorite song on the record. That could be due to that fact that it has been overplayed on almost every radio station and that is the oldest song, so I’ve heard it the most and gotten sick of it. I did love it at first, though, and I still appreciate it for the same reason: it’s so different from +. The first time I heard the song, I was pleasantly surprised by the way that it was obviously aimed at a slightly older audience. From the very first chord, punctuated by heavy breathing, it’s clear that this is not a song for Ed’s younger fans. It’s definitely one of his raciest songs, but it’s also one of the poppiest. The song’s lyrics are playful, catchy and suggestive, but not groundbreaking. The beat and the guitar in the background are infectious, as well, and I can guarantee you they will be stuck in your head long after you want them gone.

4. Don’t

And I wasn’t looking for a promise or commitment,

But it was never just fun and I thought you were different…

This song is my second or third favorite off x. This is Ed’s “Taylor Swift” moment — he seems to be throwing shade in every note, and he’s definitely not trying to hide it. Rumor has it that this song is about Ellie Goulding’s love affair with Niall Horan after Ed got a little too attached. This is the kind of song which makes you want to fall in love and get your heart crushed just so you can jump on stage and shade your ex in front of thousands of people. Revenge must definitely feel sweet when it comes to singing something as raw as this. Every line is both a punch in the gut and a reminder that Ed is a lyrical genius. “Don’t” is wry, bitter, and heavy enough for you to have on repeat whenever you’re a little ticked off at your significant other or anyone else.

5. Nina

You should go, Nina,

‘Cause I ain’t never coming home, Nina…

The first word which comes to mind when I hear “Nina” is “sobering.” Ed has a lot of songs about how fun and carefree young love can be, but he has even more songs about how difficult love can make things, particularly when you’re constantly away from home and on tour. This song is one of the latter, and it’s so bittersweet, it’s honestly painful to listen to. In this song, Ed’s telling his girl that she should leave him because he’s not at home enough and being in love while being so far apart is too much for both of them. He’s trying to be selfless, but his tone shows us how much he wants to be with her. The light piano chords make the song all the sadder, as does Ed’s quiet guitar.  Ed almost spits the rap, as though it’s something he wants to get over with because it upsets him so much. All in all, the song is nearly four minutes of heartache and longing, enough to make you physically hurt.

6. Photograph

We keep this love in a photograph,

We made these memories for ourselves…

If you only heard the instrumental to “Photograph,” you would almost definitely think it a sad song. The wandering piano and acoustic guitar, as well as the soft sounds of occasional strings, are definitely blue and moody. Ed’s lyrics, however, make it into a song of hope. He reminds us that even if love ends in heartbreak, the memories are always there, and those happy memories are what matters in the end. It’s also one of the few of his songs which show a long-distance relationship working out, which is refreshing. The song’s tender, forgiving lyrics have made me tear up before, and I actually can’t listen to it very much because it has such an effect on me. I hope you find as much in it as I do.

7. Bloodstream

I feel the chemicals burn in my bloodstream,

So, tell me when it kicks in…

This is possibly the most serious song on the album. It’s about Ed’s struggles with alcoholism, which have been a prominent part of his life ever since he was much younger. He’s sung about his alcoholism many times before, and even passes it off in a joking manner in a few of his lyrics. However, “Bloodstream” is not a lighthearted song. The lyrics, supported strongly by his guitar thrumming in the background and some piano chords, describe how alcohol affects his judgment and he talks about it burning in his veins. He says that drinking makes him feel less lonely, even compares it to finding a lover. His disappointment with himself every time he drinks is clear in this song, and shows a desperate side to his struggles which we’ve never seen before. It’s an extremely raw, emotional track, and my respect for Ed as a musical artist and a person heightened after hearing this song. It made him a lot more human, because it shows that even someone as famous as he is can have problems with addiction.

8. Tenerife Sea

Should this be the last thing I see,

I want you to know it’s enough for me…

I fell in love with this song the second I heard it. It’s gentle, loving, and quite plainly, beautiful. I’m jealous of the girl this is about, because I’d love it if someone sang this to me. Ed has said that “Tenerife Sea” is about a day when he and his girlfriend were on the beach, getting away from the crowd at the Grammy’s because they were nothing like him or her. He noticed the beautiful blue of her eyes — “like as blue as if you see the holiday brochures of the Tenerife, as blue as that sea,” he said in an interview. He wrote the song while sitting with Foy Vance and Johnny McDaid by a lake and singing. The result is a song which incorporates both soft, bright chords from his acoustic guitar as well as notes from a piano blending into the background. The doting lyrics are enough to make you smile any day of the week.

9. Runaway

How long you leaving?

Well, Dad, just don’t expect me back this evening…

It took me a while to get into this song, but once you listen to it a few times, it really starts to get stuck in your head. The song isn’t exactly upbeat, but it’s rather bouncy and catchy despite the rather dark lyrics.The song is about getting away from an alcoholic family member — running away, in fact. The guitar will have you bouncing your head even as the lyrics are making you think. It does a great job of describing Ed’s feelings towards alcoholism and how he wants to escape from it while also adding another clever, catchy tune to the album.

10. The Man

Now, I don’t wanna hate you,

Just wish you’d never gone for the man… 

“The Man” is the most experimental track off of x. Besides the chorus, it’s basically just Ed speaking in rhyme to an occasional piano chord or a thumping beat. The stripped-back, serious nature of the song draws all of the listener’s attention to the lyrics being spoken, which tell a bitter story of Ed’s wasted time on a girl who left him for someone who wasn’t right for her. The emotion in his voice shows the trouble that Ed’s having in getting over this relationship, and it makes the song all the more special because he’s simply speaking rather than reaching for intense, angry high notes or letting his voice drop an octave to show how he feels. The one time I saw it performed at the Paramount during Ed’s surprise show in Huntington is likely the first and last time that Ed’s fans will ever hear “The Man” live, because it’s been said that the song won’t make the cut for this tour. It’s a shame — this is one of Ed’s most striking songs, and he definitely veers away from his usual style during it. I suppose it doesn’t really have the flare needed for a live show, though.

11. Thinking Out Loud

People fall in love in mysterious ways,

Maybe it’s all part of a plan…

This song is right up there with “Tenerife Sea” in the adorableness category. It’s the kind of song which is so romantic, it makes you grin and shake your head just to hear it. For once, Ed is talking about love which lasts forever and saying he wants to grow old with this person. He totally has his head in the clouds, and he’s head-over-heels as he sings about kissing beneath the stars and loving this person till they’re seventy. It’s a wonderful, lighthearted song, and it’s good for those moments when you need your faith in true love to be reaffirmed. Ed doesn’t often do songs as cheerful and carefree as this one, but this shows that he knows he’ll find the right person in the end and he’s looking forward to that day as much as anyone else.

12. Afire Love

I could look into your eyes till the sun comes up,

And we’re wrapped in light, in life, in love…

“Afire Love” is a truly touching song about Ed’s grandfather. The song starts off on a serious note, describing his grandfather’s descent into sickness and finally death, but it goes on to highlight the deceased man’s beautiful relationship with Ed’s grandmother. It describes how much he loved her and their days simply lying in bed together and being in love. The sentimentality of the song shows through in the few piano notes tinkling in the background and the slow strings in the background. This track balances perfectly between Ed’s sadness at his grandfather’s death and his celebration of an amazing, long-lasting relationship between his grandparents. The song ends on a touching note with Ed singing hallelujah over and over again, saying that his family does the same alongside him.

All in all, I would give x a solid 11/12. This is definitely an improvement on +, and it shows how Ed’s matured as a singer-songwriter. We see a deeper, rawer part of him in this album, and it’s done as gracefully as you please. I’d recommend this to any Sheeran fans looking for a good listen and something a little different from Ed’s debut. I can’t wait to see what he comes out with next.