Ed Sheeran – No.6 Collaborations Project Review

Famed pop singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran is back, with his fourth studio album, No.6 Collaborations Project. The follow-up to his 2017 album ÷, this album is, as implied by the title, a collection of collaborative efforts between Sheeran and various artists, from the worlds of pop, hip-hop, and even country. With names as diverse as Travis Scott, Chris Stapleton, Bruno Mars, Eminem, and Camila Cabello, among others, one could imagine this project going in many different directions. So which direction do Sheeran and friends take this album in?

                  Well…all of them. While this album features an extremely diverse collection of sounds and styles, these elements are mashed together and slapped onto this album in a way that is extremely jarring, especially from an artist whose previous three studio albums have excelled in focus and cohesion. The flow between these tracks is virtually nonexistent, making it play more like a compilation than a single unified piece of art. Though in Sheeran’s defense, this could very well be what he had in mind for this project.

                  So, what about the songs themselves? Well…it’s a mixed bag. Very mixed. And with Sheeran’s performances on these songs being consistently solid (though usually nothing special), the quality of any given track from this album rests on the shoulders of the featured artist(s), more often than not. And when I first saw the list of artists who would appear on this album, let’s just say I was less than enthusiastic about it. Don’t get me wrong, I understand Sheeran’s choice to include so many new hip-hop artists on this project. These artists virtually control the charts and the streaming services, and having an artist such as Travis Scott or Young Thug appear on a track is the best way to secure yourself a hit in 2019. But this style of music meshes with Sheeran’s folk-pop sensibilities about as well as chocolate pudding with pickle relish. That aside, I actually like this album more than I initially expected I would, based on the list of guests (like I said, mixed bag). So before I rip it apart too much more, let’s talk about what I like about this project.

                  While their respective songs were largely forgettable, Khalid and Justin Bieber both display vocal chemistry with Sheeran that works decentlyl. “Best Part of Me (feat. YEBBA)” and “Put It All on Me (feat. Ella Mai)” both show Sheeran at his most emotionally vulnerable, and display his knack for writing ballads. Teamed up with Eminem and 50 Cent, Sheeran throws it back to old school hip-hop on “Remember the Name,” a track filled to the brim with classic rap bravado, references to popular Eminem and 50 Cent tunes, and the most infectious hook on this entire album. “BLOW (feat. Chris Stapleton & Bruno Mars)” is a high-energy hard rock track, featuring roaring vocals from Sheeran, Stapleton, and Mars, and a blistering guitar solo from Mars. “South of the Border” is a fun, sexy Latin pop duet between Sheeran and Camila Cabello. While I was afraid the Cardi B feature would ruin this track, it’s actually surprisingly tolerable. Not good by any means, but Cardi’s vocal inflections aren’t nearly as obnoxious as they can sometimes be, and neither are her lyrics. Plus, at no point does she yell “Cardi Cardi Cardi” and try to pass that off as a line, so I’ll call that a step in the right direction for Miss B.

Unfortunately, when appearances by Justin Bieber and Cardi B aren’t the biggest issues with an album, that can be cause for concern. Tracks such as “Feels (feat. Young Thug & J Hus)” and “1000 Nights (feat. Meek Mill & A Boogie Wit da Hoodie)” subject the listener to incoherent and unlistenable noises, and pass them off as rapping. Virtually every track featuring a hip-hop artist sees Sheeran trading his often personal and introspective lyrics for gutless, generic pop/hip-hop lyrics about sex, partying, and being full of oneself. We are treated to generic trap production, and bass that is undoubtedly meant to rattle car speakers across the world for the remainder of Summer 2019. While this is fine for hip-hop music, it makes the style and personality of this generation’s favorite guitar-wielding songwriter almost unrecognizable. And don’t get me started on Sheeran’s cringeworthy rapping.

                  And that really sums up the major pitfalls of this record. As I said, Sheeran’s performances are generally solid, but just don’t live up to the majority of his past work. Even the best songs on this album are largely dependent on guests to be memorable. While Sheeran seems to be the most in his element on the ballads and duets with female pop vocalists, on their own merit, these songs pale in comparison to the likes of “Thinking Out Loud” and “Perfect.” Apart from the aforementioned “Remember the Name” hook, Sheeran’s impeccable sense of melody is virtually absent from this project. Expect to see this album invade the charts for the next several weeks, but I don’t predict it having much longevity among Sheeran’s fans overall, as most of these songs just don’t hold up without the A-list guests attached to them. There are definitely solid cuts on here, but collaborations that just don’t work, sloppy production and presentation, and an overall lack of truly memorable moments make this easily Sheeran’s weakest studio album to date.

Score: 5/10

Favorite Song(s): BLOW, Remember the Name, Best Part of Me

Least Favorite Song(s): Feels, 1000 Nights, Take Me Back to London