Divide
by Ed Sheeran
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Mar 3, 2017
User Score
4.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 780 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 312 out of 780
  2. Mixed: 132 out of 780
  3. Negative: 336 out of 780
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  1. mrslowe1
    Mar 6, 2017
    3
    I am a genuine fan of Ed Sheeran and going to see his concert in April. His second album was simply stunning. I was really looking forward to this album, I even got up a few hours early on Friday 3rd March to listen to it.... such a disappointment. I love the song Castle on the Hill and love how honest Eraser is but I think most of the album is so average. Some of the songs sound like wereI am a genuine fan of Ed Sheeran and going to see his concert in April. His second album was simply stunning. I was really looking forward to this album, I even got up a few hours early on Friday 3rd March to listen to it.... such a disappointment. I love the song Castle on the Hill and love how honest Eraser is but I think most of the album is so average. Some of the songs sound like were written for a kids movie and others for a boy band.… Expand
  2. foryouidid
    Mar 15, 2017
    0
    First of all this albums is garbage. No redeeming factor whatsoever. Same old cheesy horrendous ballads and a couple of catchy but tragic songs. Why this album is so populat is BEYOND ME. I don't get the appeal. It's full of overdone cliche songs. Someone delete this from the history of music
  3. ragingprimerWL
    Mar 5, 2017
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Relying on being catchy and his appeal to fans, Ed Sheeran keeps his everyman nice guy image to create a record of tacky and shallow love ballads like "Happier" that could be done with a little more depth, folk inspired songs to target his demographic like in "Galway Girl", a failed attempt to make a doo wop song like in "Perfect", tawdry world music mixing in "Bibia Be Ye Ye" and a cheap dancehall song like "Shape Of You'" to complete his generic and basic project. Having different styles in an album doesn't make it good. It must be executed properly. Making music for fans doesn't immediately make an album good either.

    Sure, it will be a commercial success, hell it may even take some popularity awards like the GRAMMYs, but this is a huge disappointment after + and X.    … Expand
  4. chidime
    Mar 3, 2017
    4
    With the initial singles released (Castle on the Hill, Shape of You), I had high expectations for this album. I wasn't expecting to love every song, bu I was expecting Album of the Year kind of quality. I was wrong. This album is really flawed. I don't want to say it's bad, but it's bad. It's not bad in the sense that the songs are just terrible, but in the sense that Ed failed to executeWith the initial singles released (Castle on the Hill, Shape of You), I had high expectations for this album. I wasn't expecting to love every song, bu I was expecting Album of the Year kind of quality. I was wrong. This album is really flawed. I don't want to say it's bad, but it's bad. It's not bad in the sense that the songs are just terrible, but in the sense that Ed failed to execute properly on the vision he had for this album. Listening to the entire thing, I could grasp the kind of overall sound he was aiming for, but he failed to both create compelling songs to achieve that vision, and/or to create songs that are sonically cohesive. You might hear glimpses of genius (in Eraser or Bibia Be Ye Ye or Barcelona for instance) but that feeling is drowned by the realisation that the song doesn't fit or that it's potential was not fully explored.

    Overall, a very lacklustre album that has spots of potential that sadly never gets realised, and also sorely lacks focus.
    4.5/10    … Expand
  5. guiseppelucas
    Mar 3, 2017
    0
    Sheeran's cheesiest album to date. The ballads have a lot of potential but failed lyrically. The pop sounds felt cluttered and all over the place. All songs sound familiar.
  6. Haletsvillegas
    Mar 4, 2017
    0
    The worst album from Ed Sheeran, + and × are better than this **** all songs sound similar, a cheap thrills copy on the album, the album needs attention that's why he talked about Gaga, Katy, and try to put Adele and Taylor to the top of everything
    Nothing iconic in the album
  7. xosahani
    Mar 4, 2017
    3
    Too Generic. Except ''Shape of You'' whole album kind of sounds the same. Lacks vastness. Stands no where near ''STARBOY'' by The Weeknd or ''Sweet.Sexy.Savage.'' by Kehlani.
  8. IBlackout
    Mar 3, 2017
    0
    Tragic. Generic. Boring. That's all I can say about this awful album. I can't actually believe I wasted my time listening to this. I was expecting more of Ed Sheeran.
  9. michellephillip
    Mar 4, 2017
    0
    Awful album. It seems fame has gone to his head and I have already returned the album and got a refund. Never again will I buy another record of his. Ever. The problem with him, is that he is too arrogant and arrogance is the worst human trait. Secondly the album itself is nothing original. He's just catering to the popular audience now. Avoid this album unless you want to hassle for aAwful album. It seems fame has gone to his head and I have already returned the album and got a refund. Never again will I buy another record of his. Ever. The problem with him, is that he is too arrogant and arrogance is the worst human trait. Secondly the album itself is nothing original. He's just catering to the popular audience now. Avoid this album unless you want to hassle for a refund. The. End.… Expand
  10. eagleeyeviking
    Apr 1, 2017
    6
    Middling with a few great exceptions, Ed Sheeran's downbeat 'Divide' is a collection of generic ballads with each song having one nuance to stand out. The best songs are when he experiments with different genres, or delves deep into the lyrics. Unfortunately, most of his songs are simply bland love songs.
  11. Stefffan
    Aug 8, 2017
    10
    This years best album so far, that's for sure. Don't get these hateful comments on album, but whatever. "Shape Of You", "Perfect", "Galway Girl", "Castle On The Hill", "Eraser", "Dive" and "Happier" are golden songs.
  12. JoeWilliams
    Apr 21, 2017
    6
    Castle on the hill is kind a catchy and a bit honest, Perfect is far from a perfect song but it shows confidence, Supermarket Flower,Eraser, Gallaway Gir shows some okay-ish vibe of the album. Songs like What Do I know, Barcelona & Shape of you are just generic and average most of all cheesy. the rest of the songs on the album that I didn't mention are too dull, Uninteresting or bland toCastle on the hill is kind a catchy and a bit honest, Perfect is far from a perfect song but it shows confidence, Supermarket Flower,Eraser, Gallaway Gir shows some okay-ish vibe of the album. Songs like What Do I know, Barcelona & Shape of you are just generic and average most of all cheesy. the rest of the songs on the album that I didn't mention are too dull, Uninteresting or bland to talk about.… Expand
  13. Music_Observer
    May 14, 2017
    5
    This is the epitome of modern musical plainness, with nothing but short market-approved tunes that overshadow any attempt from Sheeran to show ambition and leave behind a bitter taste to listeners who truly care about music. My Score: 94/180 (Deficient) = 5.2/10
  14. danjenkins32
    Mar 20, 2017
    6
    I'm a genuine fan of Ed Sheeran, but this album is far too tropey and clichéd for my liking. Eraser, Castle on the Hill, Dive, and Supermarket Flowers are the strongest songs here and the only real moments where he seems to emote. I was hoping he'd incorporate more of the influences of the countries he traveled to on his year off here, and he did that more so with the songs from theI'm a genuine fan of Ed Sheeran, but this album is far too tropey and clichéd for my liking. Eraser, Castle on the Hill, Dive, and Supermarket Flowers are the strongest songs here and the only real moments where he seems to emote. I was hoping he'd incorporate more of the influences of the countries he traveled to on his year off here, and he did that more so with the songs from the deluxe edition. Barcelona I could do without, but Bibia Be Ye Ye and Nancy Mulligan are honest, upbeat songs that would have lent themselves to a standard album that followed the aforementioned concept of focusing on his travels and reconnecting with himself. Save Myself is compelling as well since, for once, he takes a hard look at himself and knows he has to fix his own flaws before entering into a relationship with someone. Everything else here is either "poor me, this girl left me and her life is better and mine is still **** or "I've found someone new and my life is glorious now!" Ed should have picked a lane and stuck with it, and written better lyrics for the "someone new" songs. How Would You Feel is the only quality ballad here, all the others just sound the same. Ed can do better and has done better, and I'm hoping he'll do better again on his fourth album. But given the undeserved amount of cockiness he's displaying in his interviews for this album, I'm not sure that he will.… Expand
  15. poetsofswift
    Jun 25, 2017
    0
    I don't know how anyone could call him a good song-writer. Divide is by far his worst album: he is trying too hard to be catchy, all the singles that have been released are boring, generic, pop songs with awful lyrics.
  16. vinnynguyen
    Jun 17, 2017
    8
    Very similar lyrically and production wise to his previous albums. Most songs are memorable, catchy, however, the ballads on this album truly lack substance, as his limited voice range does not do him any favours. The ballads (with the exception of Supermarket Flowers) fail to evoke emotion, and the sharp shifts between energetic and ballads are quite questionable. Yet, there is no denyingVery similar lyrically and production wise to his previous albums. Most songs are memorable, catchy, however, the ballads on this album truly lack substance, as his limited voice range does not do him any favours. The ballads (with the exception of Supermarket Flowers) fail to evoke emotion, and the sharp shifts between energetic and ballads are quite questionable. Yet, there is no denying that this is an overall solid album.… Expand
  17. Wonderland28
    Nov 9, 2017
    0
    Reductive, uninspired and nothing that we haven't seen before on his previous efforts. "Divide" is a boring and plain album that offers nothing new or exciting to the pop music sphere in 2017.
  18. DramaticFighter
    Jun 24, 2017
    5
    unfortunately, Ed Sheeran disappointed everyone with a generic and bland Cd, It was way too boring and there was no essence of him, I can ensure you that this album have been released by anyone. I still like him,anyway.
  19. sosa1799
    Oct 9, 2017
    9
    This album is being massively underrated. While it’s not as consistently good as x, this album contains some of Sheeran’s best work. What Do I Know is the only song that I cannot honestly say I don’t like. If anyone is turned off because of Shape of You, rest assured, that is only one song, and it doesn't sound like it. Having said that, I do like that song, in part because it representsThis album is being massively underrated. While it’s not as consistently good as x, this album contains some of Sheeran’s best work. What Do I Know is the only song that I cannot honestly say I don’t like. If anyone is turned off because of Shape of You, rest assured, that is only one song, and it doesn't sound like it. Having said that, I do like that song, in part because it represents Sheeran’s continued expansion of his sound. He continues some hip-hop, as well as experimenting with U2-esque anthem rock, acoustic and piano ballads, tropical house pop, and Irish folk (if you get the deluxe version, it includes even more sounds). His voice continues to be a huge selling point, none more evident than on songs like Dive and Castle on the Hill. Arguably his best love ballad (Sheeran’s bread and butter) is Perfect, which is one of the highlights of this album. The others are Castle on the Hill, Supermarket Flowers, and my personal favorite song of all time, Galway Girl.… Expand
  20. Clint_Eastwood1
    Nov 9, 2017
    3
    Даже не знаю,что сказать про этот альбом.Ну чисто альбом сделанный для маленьких девочек лет 10-17 которые ждут принца на белом коне.Короче-альбом полное говно .
  21. TheCriticReview
    Nov 17, 2017
    9
    This year's best album so far, that's for sure. Don't get these hateful comments on an album, but whatever. "Shape Of You", "Perfect", "Galway Girl", "Castle On The Hill", "Eraser", "Dive" and "Happier" are golden songs.
  22. BastianCritic
    Jan 9, 2018
    9
    el album cuenta con canciones sentimentales y felices pasando de una a otra emocion desde eraser a save myself el album narra felicidad o como lograrla
  23. EgorRussia
    Jan 19, 2019
    8
    First of all, I'm so surprised to see THAT low score for Divide. I mean, maybe, excluding 3 huge hits, Shape Of You, Perfect and Castle On the Hill, this album is not radio-friendly, but Ed deserves more with this release. I find Divide very suitable for atmospheric winter evenings on the kitchen with your lover under the lights - and the sound of this album will bring you to the magicalFirst of all, I'm so surprised to see THAT low score for Divide. I mean, maybe, excluding 3 huge hits, Shape Of You, Perfect and Castle On the Hill, this album is not radio-friendly, but Ed deserves more with this release. I find Divide very suitable for atmospheric winter evenings on the kitchen with your lover under the lights - and the sound of this album will bring you to the magical place (in the best Sheeran's traditions). You will not dance all the time listening to the Divide, but this album is not about dancing at all. One thing that disappointed me - that Spanish melodies in the middle of the album. I mean, come on! It's not necessary to follow the trends of 2017 to create a commercially successful album.… Expand
  24. cyclone100
    Jan 6, 2018
    10
    An excellent album, and every song is fantastic. It deserves a better score.
  25. emiliosenn
    Jan 22, 2018
    8
    Smart album, presumptuos lyrics, beautiful sound, but still falls short compared to Ed's previous efforts. Formulaic and comfortable.
    'Castle on the hill', 'Galway Girl' and 'Supermarket flowers' save most of the album.
  26. NolanLundgaard
    Apr 6, 2020
    9
    ÷ by Ed Sheeran: 8.50

    Eraser: 1 :) Castle on the Hill: 1 :) Dive: 1 :) Shape of You: 0.25 Perfect: 1 :) Galway Girl: 1 :) Happier: 1 New Man: 0.75 Hearts Don’t Break Around Here: 1 What Do I Know?: 1 :) How Would You Feel (Paean): 0.75 Supermarket Flowers: 1! Barcelona: 1 :) Bibia Be Ye Ye: 1 :) Nancy Mulligan: 1 :) Save Myself: 1 14.75/16 ~ .922 -> 8.50 Everyone    ÷ by Ed Sheeran: 8.50

    Eraser: 1 :)
    Castle on the Hill: 1 :)
    Dive: 1 :)
    Shape of You: 0.25
    Perfect: 1 :)
    Galway Girl: 1 :)
    Happier: 1
    New Man: 0.75
    Hearts Don’t Break Around Here: 1
    What Do I Know?: 1 :)
    How Would You Feel (Paean): 0.75
    Supermarket Flowers: 1!
    Barcelona: 1 :)
    Bibia Be Ye Ye: 1 :)
    Nancy Mulligan: 1 :)
    Save Myself: 1

    14.75/16 ~ .922 -> 8.50

    Everyone should LOVE this album, since it is Ed Sheeran’s best work. I’m still blown away by it. Sheeran retained his lyrical creativity, as can be seen in more tracks than not, while still coming out with an evolved style of music. Divide is a little more poppy, and that part of it is fun. That being said, ÷ isn’t all pop. He continues his rappy style with Eraser and Galway Girl, and I’m not even sure how to classify Supermarket Flowers, besides that it nearly brought tears to my eyes, it was so beautiful. If you’re reading this review, you are probably thinking of something that I’m overlooking. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about it: Shape of You. Absolutely awful. This song lowered ÷'s score enough so that it didn’t get a Perfect (haha) score. It’s a fun poppy song on the surface, but once you reach the chorus it becomes repetitive, annoying, and kind of a nasty song. Where was Sheeran’s creativity when writing this? I hope he doesn’t become primarily known for this song, especially when 94% of this album is fantastic. Sheeran’s album score keeps improving with each one he releases, so I’m really excited for Subtract when it comes out. Highlights: Eraser, Castle on the Hill, Dive, Perfect, Galway Girl, Happier, Hearts Don’t Break Around Here, What Do I Know, Supermarket Flowers, Barcelona, Bibia Be Ye Ye, Nancy Mulligan, and Save Myself.    … Expand
  27. DJBigBoy
    Sep 17, 2018
    10
    Isang album na tunay na klasiko. Ang album na ito ay naglalaman ng mga kanta mula sa magkakaibang halaga ng mga genre, kaya hindi lahat ng mga tunog ay tunog ang parehong. Si Ed Sheeran ay isang pambihirang tagasulat ng kanta, at nagpapakita ito sa rekord na ito. Ballad, disco, folk, at ballroom. Mga kumplikadong kanta, nang walang filler hindi katulad ng iba pang mga album. At ito ayIsang album na tunay na klasiko. Ang album na ito ay naglalaman ng mga kanta mula sa magkakaibang halaga ng mga genre, kaya hindi lahat ng mga tunog ay tunog ang parehong. Si Ed Sheeran ay isang pambihirang tagasulat ng kanta, at nagpapakita ito sa rekord na ito. Ballad, disco, folk, at ballroom. Mga kumplikadong kanta, nang walang filler hindi katulad ng iba pang mga album. At ito ay hindi lamang tunog mabuti, ngunit ang mga salita ay mahusay na nakasulat. Naaabot lamang nito ang kaluluwa, na pambihira para sa isang artist ngayon. May isang magandang dahilan kung bakit ang talaang ito ay nagbenta ng milyun-milyong kopya sa buong mundo. Ito ay dahil alam ni Ed Sheeran kung paano kumonekta sa madla, kahit anong wika, tulad ng Elvis Presley at The Beatles. Talagang natagpuan namin ang isang alamat.… Expand
  28. DCMusicFan
    Oct 3, 2018
    9
    May not be the most original artist, but Ed Sheeran is one friendly, talented chap. And the songs here just JAM.
  29. AngieB019
    Oct 11, 2019
    10
    El mejor trabajo de Ed hasta ahora, buenas letras, ritmos variados e himnos como Shape of you y Perfect
  30. gii
    Dec 6, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. as músicas são extremamente PERFEITAS, só tem hits e esse álbum é tudo pra mim.
    Ed Sheeran lançando perfeições sempre e não choca.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Most Discussed Album of 2017
10
#10 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 17
  3. Negative: 2 out of 17
  1. PopMatters
    Mar 16, 2017
    50
    At best, we have a middling collection of songs that are going to sound great in a packed arena. At worst, it’s a pretty significant step back from X, and once the initial novelty of its release wears off, it’s unlikely to enjoy the popular acclaim or the longevity of its predecessor.
    Read full review
  2. Q Magazine
    Mar 14, 2017
    60
    Listening to this third LP, you wonder if some of the good ones slipped through the cracks. [May 2017, p.102]
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Mar 10, 2017
    70
    As calculating as Sheeran can seem here, he understands there’s a fine line between universal and generic, which is why he gives his songs the idiosyncratic touches they need to stand out.
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