Ed Sheeran’s new album Play has been met with mixed reviews from critics, who generally see it as a step up from his previous release but fault its lyrics and limited musical growth.
Several outlets described Play as brisk and buoyant compared with Autumn Variations, which underperformed commercially last year. Reviewers pointed to personal turmoil in Sheeran’s life — his wife Cherry Seaborn’s cancer diagnosis while pregnant, the sudden death of his friend and mentor Jamal Edwards MBE, and two recent court battles over alleged plagiarism — as context for the record, which the singer has called "a direct response to the darkest period of my life."
Critical reaction was varied. The Daily Mail’s Tim de Lisle awarded the album two stars, calling some lyrics “cheesy” and suggesting Sheeran’s wordplay can be clumsy; de Lisle questioned whether generative tools might be behind some lines while praising the record’s energy and a widening of influences, noting that Sheeran sings in Hindi and Punjabi on parts of the album. Rolling Stone said Play largely returns to the radio-friendly singer-songwriter template that has defined Sheeran’s career and argued the album struggles to move his music forward despite nods to a more global sound.
Other reviews struck a similar balance of acknowledgement and reservation. NME highlighted moments of genuine feeling, such as "Old Phone," inspired by a text from Edwards, but judged that Sheeran did not commit as fully to genre-hopping as on earlier records. The Guardian called the album "solid, dependable," while noting its commercial prospects remained strong given the streaming figures of its singles. The Independent said the record contains evident ambition but that the non-Western influences are often diluted by Sheeran’s established sound. The Times described Play as continuing a populist approach, with songs likely to become wedding staples and an overall lack of cynicism.
Reviewers identified particular tracks as illustrative of the album’s strengths and weaknesses. "For Always," a father’s ode to his daughters, drew praise for its warmth. "Sapphire" was described as anthemic but reminiscent of Sheeran’s earlier material, and ‘‘Old Phone’’ was singled out for emotional resonance. Critics singled out "A Little More," about a friendship gone sour, and "Symmetry," whose lyric "We're alone, two silhouettes just touching skin" was mocked by one reviewer as an example of weak phrasing.
The album’s track list includes "Opening," "Sapphire," "Azizam," "Old Phone," "Symmetry," "Camera," "In Other Words," "A Little More," "Slowly," "Don't Look Down," "The Vow," "For Always," and two tracks listed as "Lyrics" and "Heaven Lyrics." Some reviews noted Sheeran’s occasional forays into rap but described those moments as unconvincing.
Beyond the music itself, Sheeran’s recent public life has shaped coverage of the release. He has said he plans to relocate to the United States for the foreseeable future, telling the 2 Johnnies podcast he expected to be "going and settling there" while on tour. The singer has previously spoken of a desire to move to Nashville and at least partially shift toward country music. Reports also noted his expanding property portfolio, including a reported purchase of a New York home, while pointing out that he still spends considerable time at his Suffolk estate with his wife and daughters, Lyra and Jupiter.
Sheeran’s comments about his cultural identity have also drawn attention this year. On The Louis Theroux Podcast he described himself as identifying "culturally as Irish," citing family ties in Belfast and musical roots in Ireland; the remark prompted discussion in some outlets about nationality and heritage.
Commercially, Play is likely to perform strongly. Critics and outlets acknowledged that Sheeran’s singles already show high streaming figures and that his established fan base and radio-friendly songwriting conventionally translate into chart success. Editorial assessments diverge on whether the record represents meaningful artistic development: some view it as a cautious consolidation of a proven formula, others as modest experimentation that ultimately remains tethered to familiar territory.
As with many releases by high-profile artists, response to Play blends admiration for Sheeran’s songwriting craft and commercial acuity with debate over ambition and originality. The album’s mix of personal subject matter, international touches and pop craftsmanship ensures it will remain a talking point as Sheeran moves ahead with touring and the announced transatlantic relocation.