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,
Autumn Variations 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
Autumn Variations, 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
Autumn Variations doesn't feel markedly distinct from
-. Perhaps
Dessner helps
Sheeran keep his ebullience subdued -- "Amazing" and "Plastic Bag" come to the precipice of unfettered pop, then pull back -- but he mainly allows
Sheeran 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
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