- (album)

- ("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, - was preceded by the singles "Eyes Closed" and "Boat" and serves as a visual album, with videos for the remaining twelve tracks premiering on the album's release date.

−
A digitally manipulated photograph of Ed's face on a yellow field and covered with yellow dirt.
Studio album by
Ed Sheeran
Released5 May 2023
Length48:02
Label
Producer
Ed Sheeran chronology
=
(2021)		 −
(2023)
Singles from -
  1. "Eyes Closed"
    Released: 24 March 2023
  2. "Boat"
    Released: 21 April 2023

Background

Ed Sheeran announced the album title, tracklist and release date on 1 March 2023 through all social media platforms.[1][2][3] 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. 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.[4][5] - serves as the final mathematical-themed album by Sheeran.

On 29 April 2023, Sheeran announced a series of intimate shows in North America as part of a mini tour for the album.[6]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?5.5/10[7]
Metacritic65/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Clash7/10[10]
The Guardian[11]
The Independent[12]
The Line of Best Fit4/10[13]
NME[14]
The Observer[15]
Pitchfork3.8/10[16]
Sputnikmusic1.5/5[17]
The Telegraph[18]

- received a score of 65 out of 100 based on 13 critics' reviews at review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[8] 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".[11] 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".[18]

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".[14] 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".[10] 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."[19]

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".[12] Steven Loftin of The Line of Best Fit opined that while the album "doesn't follow [Sheeran's] 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".[13] 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."[20]

Track listing

Produced by Aaron Dessner, except "Eyes Closed", produced by Dessner, Fred Again, Max Martin and Shellback.

All tracks are written by Ed Sheeran and Dessner, except where noted.

Standard edition
No.TitleLength
1."Boat"3:05
2."Salt Water"3:59
3."Eyes Closed" (written by Sheeran, Martin, Shellback and Fred Gibson)3:14
4."Life Goes On" (written by Sheeran)3:30
5."Dusty"3:42
6."End of Youth" (written by Sheeran)3:51
7."Colourblind" (written by 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" (written by Sheeran and Foy Vance)3:15
Total length:48:02
Deluxe CD edition[21]
No.TitleLength
15."Wildflowers" (written by Sheeran)2:58
16."Stoned"3:17
17."Toughest" (written by Sheeran)3:33
18."Moving"3:35
Total length:61:25
Japanese edition[22]
No.TitleLength
19."F64"3:24
Total length:64:49
Deluxe vinyl edition[23]
No.TitleLength
15."Wildflowers" (written by Sheeran)2:58
16."Balance"2:56
17."Stoned"3:17
18."Fear"3:15
19."Get Over It"3:08
20."Toughest" (written by Sheeran)3:33
21."Ours"3:42
22."Moving"3:35
23."Boat (Reprise)" 
Total length:74:26

Personnel

Track numbers are based on the deluxe CD edition.

Musicians

  • Ed Sheeran – vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7–12, 14–18), acoustic guitar (1, 4, 6, 14), electric guitar (5, 18)
  • Aaron Dessner – acoustic guitar (1–3, 8, 12, 17, 18), hi-string guitar (1–3, 17), grand piano (1), bass guitar (2–6, 8, 12, 15, 17), bass synthesizer (2, 3, 5–11, 13, 14, 17), drum programming (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10–13, 15, 17), electric guitar (2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17), piano (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13–17), Juno synthesizer (2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17), synthesizer (2, 5–7, 9, 11–13, 16, 17), Prophet synthesizer (2, 7, 10, 12, 15, 16), tambourine (2, 8, 10, 11, 13, 17), Wurlitzer (2), shaker (4, 8, 10, 17), Mellotron (5, 6, 8, 9, 11–13, 17), percussion (5, 6), programming (7), upright piano (7, 8), synthesizer piano (11); cymbals, Minimoog, organ (12); electric piano (16)
  • Rob Moose – orchestration, viola, violin (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 18); cello, (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 18), piano (4)
  • James McAlister – drum programming (1, 2, 6, 8, 11), synthesizer (1, 3, 6, 11, 16, 17), Moog (3, 16), shaker (3), drums (5, 8, 15), samples (5, 7), Juno synthesizer (8); lyra, Prophet synthesizer (16)
  • Clarice Jensen – cello (2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17)
  • Bryce Dessner – orchestration (2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17), synthesizer (2, 6, 8, 13, 17), Omnisphere synthesizer (10, 12)
  • Yuki Numata Resnick – violin (2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17)
  • Kyle Resnick – whistle (2), trumpet (11, 12)
  • Fred – backing vocals, bass guitar, drums, electric guitar, keyboards, programming (3)
  • Max Martin – programming (3)
  • Shellback – programming (3)
  • Thomas Bartlett – piano (4, 6, 8, 10, 14), synthesizer (4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16), Prophet synthesizer (4, 11), Rhodes solo (4, 16), Mellotron (6, 10), bass synthesizer (16)
  • J.T. Bates – drums (5, 6, 9–11, 13)
  • James Krivchenia – drums (5, 12), percussion (5), shaker (12)
  • Benjamin Lanz – synthesizer (5, 7), trombone (11, 12)
  • Dave Nelson – trombone (5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17)
  • Jason Treuting – percussion (8)
  • Reid Jenkins – violin (13)
  • Lisa Hannigan – backing vocals (15, 17)

Technical

  • Aaron Dessner – production (all tracks), engineering (11, 12), recording (2, 6–8, 14), additional engineering (2, 6–10, 14)
  • Fred – production (3)
  • Max Martin – production (3)
  • Shellback – production (3)
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Jonathan Low – mixing (1, 2, 4–18), engineering (all tracks), recording (1–8, 13–18)
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (3)
  • Bella Blasko – engineering (2, 3, 5–17), recording (2, 5–8, 13, 17)
  • Cormac O'Kane – engineering, recording (3)
  • Michael Ilbert – engineering, recording (3)
  • Clarice Jensen – engineering (13), recording (2, 6, 8, 13, 17), additional engineering (2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 17)
  • Ashton Miranda – engineering, recording (18)
  • James McAlister – recording, additional engineering (1, 8, 15–17)
  • Rob Moose – recording (1, 3–5, 7, 14, 18), additional engineering (1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 18)
  • Kyle Resnick – recording (2, 6, 8, 13, 17), additional engineering (2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17)
  • Richard Brown – recording (3)
  • Thomas Bartlett – recording, additional engineering (4, 16)
  • Benjamin Lanz – recording, additional engineering (5, 7)
  • Dave Nelson – recording (5, 8, 13, 17), additional engineering (5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17)
  • J.T. Bates – recording, additional engineering (6, 7)
  • 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
Chart performance for -
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[24] 1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[25] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[27] 1
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28] 2
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[29] 9
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[30] 2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] 1
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] 5
French Albums (SNEP)[33] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[34] 1
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[35] 16
Icelandic Albums (Plötutíðindi)[36] 6
Irish Albums (OCC)[37] 1
Italian Albums (FIMI)[38] 2
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[39] 8
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[40] 8
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[41] 7
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[42] 26
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[43] 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[44] 2
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[45] 1
Scottish Albums (OCC)[46] 1
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[47] 4
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[48] 1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[49] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[50] 1
US Billboard 200[51] 2

Certifications
Certifications for -
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Silver 60,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release history and formats for -
Region Date Format(s) Edition(s) Label Ref.
Various 5 May 2023
Standard
[53]
  • CD
  • digital download
  • streaming
  • vinyl
 Deluxe [54]

References
  1. Mier, Tomás (1 March 2023). "Ed Sheeran Announces Final Mathematical-Themed Album 'Subtract'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. Aniftos, Rania (1 March 2023). "Ed Sheeran Announces New Album '-'". Billboard. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. MacCary, Julia (1 March 2023). "Ed Sheeran to Release New Album '-' in May, Detailing Spiral Through 'Fear, Depression and Anxiety'". Variety. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  4. Hudson, Alex (2 March 2023). "The National's Aaron Dessner Produced Ed Sheeran's New Album". Exclaim!.
  5. "Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, as he announces new album". BBC News. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  6. "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"". Retrieved 30 April 2023 – via Instagram.
  7. "- by Ed Sheeran reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  8. "- (Subtract) by Ed Sheeran Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  9. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ed Sheeran – - Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  10. Murray, Robin (4 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran – Subtract | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  11. Petridis, Alexis (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran: Subtract review – easily his best ever album". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  12. O'Connor, Roisin (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran review, Subtract: Aaron Dessner collaboration proves that less is definitely more". The Independent. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  13. Loftin, Steven (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran: - (Subtract) Review – personal endeavour fails to expand beyond the basic". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  14. Levine, Nick (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran – - review: his troubled times laid bare". NME. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  15. Empire, Kitty (6 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran: Subtract review – a grownup record that swings from coping to not coping". The Observer. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  16. Hogan, Marc (10 May 2023). "(Subtract)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  17. Mancuso, YoYo (6 May 2023). "Review: Ed Sheeran – −". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  18. McCormick, Neil (5 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran's Subtract is a raw, powerful grief album worthy of Bob Dylan". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  19. Johnston, Maura (5 May 2023). "Review: Ed Sheeran's 'Subtract'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  20. Pareles, Jon (8 May 2023). "Ed Sheeran Lets His Tears Flow on '-'". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  21. "Subtract Deluxe CD". Ed Sheeran Official Store. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  22. "Subtract Japanese CD". Ed Sheeran Official Store. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  23. "Subtract Deluxe Marble Vinyl". Ed Sheeran Official Store. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  24. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  25. "Austriancharts.at – Ed Sheeran – -" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  26. "Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – -" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  27. "Ultratop.be – Ed Sheeran – -" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  28. "Ed Sheeran Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  29. "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.
  30. "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 19, 2023". Hitlisten. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  31. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ed Sheeran – -" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  32. "Ed Sheeran: -" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  33. "Top Albums (Week 19, 2023)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  34. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ed Sheeran – -" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  35. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 19. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  36. "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 19 – 2023" [The Music – Albums – Week 19 – 2023] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  37. "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  38. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 19 (dal 05.05.2023 al 11.05.2023)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  39. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-05-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  40. "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-05-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  41. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of May 10, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  42. "2023 19-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  43. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  44. "Album 2023 uke 19". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  45. "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.
  46. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  47. "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  48. "Veckolista Album, vecka 19". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  49. "Swisscharts.com – Ed Sheeran – -". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  50. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  51. "Morgan Wallen's 'One Thing at a Time' Spends 10th Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  52. "British album certifications – Ed Sheeran – -". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  53. - standard release formats:
  54. - deluxe release formats:
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