Although it picks up a thread left hanging from
-
(subtract), which it follows by a mere matter of months,
Autumn Variations
represents a major break from tradition for
Ed Sheeran
in some important ways. The first of his albums to not follow a mathematical scheme in its title,
is also the first not to be released through a major label -- he put it out on his own imprint,
Gingerbread Man
-- and it also was made with one main collaborator,
Aaron Dessner
of
the National
. Many of these fresh starts are felt more than heard on
, which spends its 14 tracks in sepia-toned reflection.
Sheeran
's ruminations are inspired by the plights of his friends and family, a lyrical distance that amounts to a distinction without much difference; his reflections here feel as earnest as the personal musings that fueled
. Similarly, the vibe of
doesn't feel markedly distinct from
. Perhaps
Dessner
helps
keep his ebullience subdued -- "Amazing" and "Plastic Bag" come to the precipice of unfettered pop, then pull back -- but he mainly allows
to follow his introspective instincts, resulting in an album that sustains a mellow, melancholy mood without quite distinguishing itself as a collection of individual songs. Then again, that's kind of the point of the album: it's a pensive soundtrack for a specific season, nothing more and nothing less. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine