I liked the singles from his first album, I thought in particular "The A Team" was a great song.

His current stuff boils my pee though, because it's played to death. If I hear "SING! WHOA-OA-OA-OA-OA-OA-OA-OH!" on the radio or whatever one more time, I'll SCREAM.

This. I don't even like his songs but I wish him all the success over plastic, manufactured, commercial ridden pop shit.

he is fantastic!!! thinking out loud is the song of the decade.


maybe you guys dont like his type of genre, and OTHERS, I MEAN MILLIONS love what he is doing that's why. It's a matter of acceptance, same with adele during 21 peak days.

Photograph was my instant favourite of the album but it is too similar to his older stuff. I didn't like TOL at first but it started to grow on me and I can understand why the radios love it.

I feel like that's half his appeal though. He's bland enough to appeal to a large swathe of people, and has enough musical skill to trick people into thinking he's doing something new or interesting. His first album was a much more interesting listen whereas with XX he was chasing hits, and he got them by sounding like a bit of a knockoff JT. I'll give it to him that he did work his butt off to get there - moving to the States, getting in with the right people, collaborating with power players - all of that has put him where he is today.

But I wonder if anyone will care about XX or his music in about five years? Doubtful.

Except they don't all sound the same. Don't and The A Team do not sound the same, nor do Thinking Out Loud and YNMIDNY. And, imo, you can say Ed is a great songwriter; if he wasn't why would he be as critically acclaimed as he is?

Exactly how I feel, regarding Sing. It was played 24/7 upon its release, and ages afterwards, and I think the same is happening with Thinking Out Loud now. I cannot stand when radio stations do that; for example they were still playing Pharrell's Happy 24/7 even when he had a new single out, which no doubt ensured it to perform badly.

He is very very good live. He is like a one man band. Also, he mixes genres well and he writes really good songs. So, what's not to like?

Fine he's ok, but if you can try and get to hear the real thing sometime...Van the Man.

I like Ed Sheeran, his music is ok & he writes it himself which is good. And he seems a nice guy.

But HYSTERICALLY over hyped!! He's bloody everywhere!
You know what they say "familiarity breeds contempt" he will turn up to the opening of a door. I suspect the public will get bored with him being shoved in our faces soon.

On the subject of his music-I guess bland is king right now. At least Ed's music isn't as boring as Tom Odell- now that really is like watching paint dry!

I like him but think he's abit overrated.

I heard one of his songs on the radio today and to be fair he does have quite a good voice, from what I heard. I think most of the modern day artists are indeed overhyped. i do think there is an overall dirth of talent.

His songs bore me personally but there is a large commercial audience for sentimental acoustic pop/rock. The James Blunt comparison is well made because I think it's the same sort of audience and tone that he's going for.

It's not the sort of music I like as I find it all a bit bland and too much about going for the same emotion again and again but I can still recognise that he's the premier UK male export at it right now. And whether I appreciate it or not - that is talent. His songs don't connect to me but they must be connecting to lots of others.

His first album I really liked but his second one I dislike from the start and felt he had kind of sold out a bit (working with Pharrell and big producers) but after listening to his 2nd album constantly for weeks as the wife loves him I decided it's quite good.
Merry Christmas everyone.

best wishes to you all from everyone at BB9 towers (peter, wife and girls)