− ("Subtract") is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 5 May 2023 through Asylum and Atlantic Records. A mostly acoustic album, production was handled by Aaron Dessner on every track, alongside Fred Again, Max Martin and Shellback, who all joined him to help produce lead single "Eyes Closed"; while "Boat" and "Life Goes On" served as the respective second and third singles of the album. It was also released as a visual album, with videos for twelve of the album's fourteen tracks ("Eyes Closed" and "Boat"'s videos were already released prior to −) premiering on the album's release date. The album serves as the follow-up to Sheeran's previous album, = (2021), and is his final mathematical-themed album.
−
Studio album by
Ed Sheeran
Released
5 May 2023 (2023-05-05)
Recorded
2022
Genre
Folk-pop
Length
48:02
Label
Asylum
Atlantic
Producer
Aaron Dessner
Fred Again
Max Martin
Shellback
Ed Sheeran chronology
= (2021)
− (2023)
Autumn Variations (2023)
Singles from −
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. It debuted at number one in Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It also reached the top ten in eleven other countries including United States, Canada, Italy and Spain.
Contents
1Background
2Critical reception
3Commercial performance
4Awards and nominations
5Track listing
6Personnel
7Charts
7.1Weekly charts
7.2Year-end charts
8Certifications
9Release history
10References
Background
edit
Ed Sheeran announced the album title, tracklist and release date on 1 March 2023 through all social media platforms. He also announced a mini-European tour from 23 March to 2 April, to complement the release of the album's lead single. It was produced and co-written by Aaron Dessner of the indie rock band the National, who also produced Taylor Swift's albums, Folklore and Evermore, both released in 2020. Sheeran and Dessner wrote over thirty songs together during a month-long studio session, which was eventually cut down to the album's fourteen tracks.− serves as the final mathematical-themed album by Sheeran. On 29 April 2023, Sheeran announced a series of private shows in North America as part of a mini tour for the album.
Critical reception
edit
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source
Rating
AnyDecentMusic?
5.5/10
Metacritic
65/100
Review scores
Source
Rating
AllMusic
Clash
7/10
The Guardian
The Independent
The Line of Best Fit
4/10
NME
The Observer
Pitchfork
3.8/10
Sputnikmusic
1.5/5
The Telegraph
− received a score of 65 out of 100 based on 14 critics' reviews at review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "generally favourable" reception. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called it "easily his best ever album", an "insular record" on which Sheeran's "crowd-pleasing excesses are nowhere to be seen". Petridis acclaimed Sheeran's work with Aaron Dessner, who provides "atmospheric and beautifully done" as well as "understated string arrangements; twinkling, spectral synthesisers; gentle breezes of feedback and reverb-drenched electric guitars". Neil McCormick of The Telegraph gave the album five out of five stars, describing it as "a fluid, emotional, anxious and atmospheric album of therapeutic self-healing, in which the raw immediacy of Sheeran's feelings takes priority, shaking and warping material in subtle, twisty and deeply personal directions".
Nick Levine of NME wrote that − "definitely feels different. It's doleful and downbeat, melancholy and heartfelt, and doesn't contain anything as crass as 2017's cod-Irish folk song 'Galway Girl'". Levine also found that the album "feels like a warm but cautious hug from a sensitive friend – Dessner gives Sheeran space to say what's on his mind without trying to crowd him", also complimenting Sheeran's lyrics' "striking specificity". Robin Murray of Clash judged the "parallels" to Taylor Swift's Folklore, also produced by Dessner, to be "too neat to miss: removing the gloss, exposing the songwriting underneath, and swapping pop for a more 'serious' artform". Murray wrote that the "results are affecting, but – and this remains Ed Sheeran, after all – not devoid of schmaltz". At Rolling Stone, Maura Johnston said the album is "deliberately arranged, providing solid ground for Sheeran's meditations on a horrific collection of events", while his "lyricism returns to the spotlight, bolstered by finely detailed music that complements his crystalline lyrics and close-confidant delivery."Exclaim! listed the album cover as 10th worst of the year, writing: "the platonic ideal of guy-at-the-party-with-an-acoustic-guitar returns with an image of his own face smeared in what we truly can't believe is not butter. Given how flavourless his music is, we assume it's unsalted."
The Independent's Roisin O'Connor described − as "a departure, of sorts, for the better", on which Dessner brings his "anti-major chord, damper-pedalled piano style", "which in turn harks back to the acoustic-leaning sound of Sheeran's earliest work". O'Connor felt that "Lyrically, the album does fall short, but then Sheeran has spent over a decade trading in vague yet universal issues" although "he's trying his best to open up". Steven Loftin of The Line of Best Fit opined that while the album "doesn't follow usual routine", "it certainly doesn't fall far from the tree", and that it "throws into question why he doesn't at least attempt some form of progress" as he "seems happy to play to the masses with his own by-the-book formula that even when it employs the hottest new indie producer, still feels lost".The Observer's noted critic Kitty Empire regards the album as a visceral one dealing with mental health issues in a "coping to not coping" adult way. From The New York Times, Jon Pareles stated "They're sturdy songs, even as Sheeran sings about fragile emotions", whilst "Obviously, Sheeran doesn't worry about verbal clichés — though in these songs, the sorrowful tone makes them sound more unguarded than banal."
Commercial performance
edit
In the UK, − debuted as Sheeran's sixth number one on the UK Albums Chart with 76,000 chart units, becoming the fastest-selling album of 2023 until then. Physical sales constituted 71% of the figure, and it was also the best-selling album on the vinyl format during the week. The album entered at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 112,000 album-equivalent units, including 81,000 pure sales, during its first week. The sales figure outdid any sales week of Sheeran's last two albums and, at the time, marked the 10th-largest sales week of 2023 for any album. In Canada, it peaked at number two.
The album reached number one in Australia. In New Zealand, the album charted at number one. Elsewhere, it peaked at number one in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Awards and nominations
edit
The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
Track listing
edit
All tracks are written by Ed Sheeran and Aaron Dessner, except where noted; all songs produced by Dessner, with "Eyes Closed" also produced by Fred Again, Max Martin and Shellback and "F64" only produced by Fred Again
Standard edition
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Boat"
3:05
2.
"Salt Water"
3:59
3.
"Eyes Closed" (writers: Sheeran, Max Martin, Johan Schuster, Fred Gibson)
3:14
4.
"Life Goes On" (writer: Sheeran)
3:30
5.
"Dusty"
3:42
6.
"End of Youth" (writer: Sheeran)
3:51
7.
"Colourblind" (writer: Sheeran)
3:29
8.
"Curtains"
3:44
9.
"Borderline"
3:57
10.
"Spark"
3:34
11.
"Vega"
2:58
12.
"Sycamore"
2:50
13.
"No Strings"
2:54
14.
"The Hills of Aberfeldy" (writers: Sheeran, Foy Vance)
3:15
Total length:
48:02
Deluxe CD edition
No.
Title
Length
15.
"Wildflowers" (writer: Sheeran)
2:58
16.
"Stoned"
3:17
17.
"Toughest" (writer: Sheeran)
3:33
18.
"Moving"
3:35
Total length:
61:25
Japanese CD edition
No.
Title
Length
19.
"F64" (writers: Sheeran, Gibson, David Omoregie, Jonathan Awote-Mensah, Daniel Benson, Vata Sonzi)
Alex Proctor – recording, additional engineering (7)
Jason Treuting – recording, additional engineering (8)
Ber Quinn – recording, additional engineering (15)
Lisa Hannigan – recording, additional engineering (17)
Matt Wolach – mixing assistance (3)
Reid Jenkins – additional engineering (13)
Charts
edit
Weekly charts
edit
Weekly chart performance for −
Chart (2023)
Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26]
1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[28]
1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29]
1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[42]
1
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[25]
2
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[43]
1
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[44]
9
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[45]
2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[33]
1
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[46]
5
French Albums (SNEP)[30]
1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31]
1
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[47]
16
Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn)[48]
6
Irish Albums (OCC)[32]
1
Italian Albums (FIMI)[49]
2
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[50]
8
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[51]
8
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[52]
7
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[53]
26
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[27]
1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[54]
2
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[34]
1
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[55]
2
Scottish Albums (OCC)[35]
1
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)[56]
5
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[57]
4
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[36]
1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[37]
1
UK Albums (OCC)[58]
1
US Billboard 200[59]
2
Year-end charts
edit
Year-end chart performance for −
Chart (2023)
Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[60]
28
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[61]
52
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[62]
42
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[63]
100
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[64]
85
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[65]
25
French Albums (SNEP)[66]
75
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[67]
18
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[68]
20
UK Albums (OCC)[69]
23
US Billboard 200[70]
169
Certifications
edit
Certifications for −
Region
Certification
Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[71]
Gold
40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[72]
Gold
10,000‡
France (SNEP)[73]
Gold
50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[74]
Gold
7,500‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[76]
Gold
198,580[75]
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Release history
edit
Release history and formats for −
Region
Date
Format(s)
Edition(s)
Label
Ref.
Various
5 May 2023
Cassette
CD
digital download
streaming
vinyl
Standard
Asylum
Atlantic
[77]
CD
digital download
streaming
vinyl
Deluxe
[78]
References
edit
^Gerber, Arielle (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran Drops New Album 'Subtract' Right After Winning Copyright Case: Tracklist, Tourdates, More". Music Times. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
^Mier, Tomás (1 March 2023). "Ed Sheeran Announces Final Mathematical-Themed Album 'Subtract'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
^Aniftos, Rania (1 March 2023). "Ed Sheeran Announces New Album '-'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
^MacCary, Julia (1 March 2023). "Ed Sheeran to Release New Album '-' in May, Detailing Spiral Through 'Fear, Depression and Anxiety'". Variety. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
^Hudson, Alex (2 March 2023). "The National's Aaron Dessner Produced Ed Sheeran's New Album". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
^"Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, as he announces new album". BBC News. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
^"Ed Sheeran on Instagram: "I'm playing some smaller theatre shows in North America this summer, so I can play Subtract the entire way through with full band in an intimate setting. Sign up for on-sale access, link in stories. Tickets on sale Tues 2nd May x"". Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023 – via Instagram.
^"- by Ed Sheeran reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
^ ab"- (Subtract) by Ed Sheeran Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
^Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ed Sheeran – - Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
^ abMurray, Robin (4 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran – Subtract | Reviews". Clash. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
^ abPetridis, Alexis (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran: Subtract review – easily his best ever album". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
^ abO'Connor, Roisin (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran review, Subtract: Aaron Dessner collaboration proves that less is definitely more". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
^ abLoftin, Steven (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran: - (Subtract) Review – personal endeavour fails to expand beyond the basic". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
^ abLevine, Nick (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran – - review: his troubled times laid bare". NME. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
^Empire, Kitty (6 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran: Subtract review – a grownup record that swings from coping to not coping". The Observer. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
^Hogan, Marc (10 May 2023). "(Subtract)". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
^Mancuso, YoYo (6 May 2023). "Review: Ed Sheeran – −". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
^ abMcCormick, Neil (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran's Subtract is a raw, powerful grief album worthy of Bob Dylan". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
^Johnston, Maura (5 May 2023). "Review: Ed Sheeran's 'Subtract'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
^Hudson, Alex; Bell, Kaelen; LaPierre, Megan (14 December 2023). "Exclaim!'s 25 Worst Album Covers of 2023". Exclaim!. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
^Pareles, Jon (8 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran Lets His Tears Flow on '-'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
^Smith, Carl (12 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran secures fastest-selling album of 2023 so far with Subtract". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
^Caulfield, Keith (14 May 2023). "Morgan Wallen's One Thing at a Time Spends 10th Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
^ ab"Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
^ ab"Australiancharts.com – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
^ ab"Charts.nz – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^ ab"Austriancharts.at – Ed Sheeran – −" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
^ ab"Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – −" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
^ ab"Lescharts.com – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
^ ab"Offiziellecharts.de – Ed Sheeran – −" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
^ ab"Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
^ ab"Dutchcharts.nl – Ed Sheeran – −" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^ ab"OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 05.05.2023–11.05.2023 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved 18 May 2023.
^ ab"Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^ ab"Swedishcharts.com – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^ ab"Swisscharts.com – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
^Guglielmi, Jodi (4 February 2024). "Grammys 2024: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
^"Subtract Deluxe CD". Ed Sheeran Official Store. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
^"Subtract Japanese CD". Ed Sheeran Official Store. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Subtract Deluxe Marble Vinyl". Ed Sheeran Official Store. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
^"Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – −" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
^"Lista prodaje 19. tjedan 2024" (in Croatian). Top of the Shops. 1 May 2023. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
^"Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 19.Týden 2023 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
^"Danishcharts.dk – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
^"Ed Sheeran: −" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 19. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
^"Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 19 – 2023" [The Music – Albums – Week 19 – 2023] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
^"Italiancharts.com – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-05-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
^"Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-05-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
^"Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of May 10, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
^"2023 19-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 12 May 2023. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
^"Norwegiancharts.com – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Portuguesecharts.com – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^"Slovak Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
^"Spanishcharts.com – Ed Sheeran – −". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
^"Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
^"Ed Sheeran Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
^"ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2023". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
^"Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2023" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
^"Jaaroverzichten 2023" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
^"Rapports annuels 2023" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
^"Album Top-100 2023". Hitlisten. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
^"Jaaroverzichten – Album 2023". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 January 2024.
^"2023: La dynamique de la production et de la consommation musicales en France" (in French). SNEP. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
^"Jahrescharts 2023 Album" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
^"Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2023". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
^"End of Year Albums Chart – 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
^"Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
^"Canadian album certifications – Ed Sheeran – -". Music Canada. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
Disclimer: PCDS.CO.IN not responsible for any content, information, data or any feature of website.
If you are using this website then its your own responsibility to understand the content of the website