- (album)

2023 studio album by Ed SheeranTemplate:SHORTDESC:2023 studio album by Ed Sheeran

 Producer | * Aaron Dessner
* Fred Again
* Max Martin

1. "Eyes Closed"Released: 24 March 2023
2. "Boat"Released: 21 April 2023
3. "Life Goes On"Released: 12 May 2023

***−*** ("***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 the remaining twelve tracks 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.

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.

## Background

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

*-* received a score of 65 out of 100 based on 14 critics' reviews at review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable" 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."

*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 [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". *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

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, *-* 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.

## Track listing

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.

Track numbers are based on the deluxe CD edition.

## Personnel

**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

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Chart performance for *-*
 Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) | 26

## Certifications

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## Release history

Release history and formats for *-*
* CD
* digital download
* streaming
* vinyl
* Atlantic
* digital download
* streaming
* vinyl

## References

1. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
2. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
3. ↑ MacCary, Julia (1 March 2023). Ed Sheeran to Release New Album '-' in May, Detailing Spiral Through 'Fear, Depression and Anxiety'.
4. ↑ Hudson, Alex (2 March 2023). The National's Aaron Dessner Produced Ed Sheeran's New Album.
5. ↑ Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, as he announces new album. BBC News (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" (en).
7. ↑ - by Ed Sheeran reviews. AnyDecentMusic?.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 - (Subtract) by Ed Sheeran Reviews and Tracks.
9. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Ed Sheeran – *-* Album Reviews, Songs & More.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Template:Cite magazine
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>Petridis, 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.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>O'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.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Loftin, Steven (5 May 2023). Ed Sheeran: *-* (Subtract) Review – personal endeavour fails to expand beyond the basic.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Levine, Nick (5 May 2023). Ed Sheeran – *-* review: his troubled times laid bare.
15. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>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.
16. ↑ Hogan, Marc (10 May 2023). (Subtract).
17. ↑ Mancuso, YoYo (6 May 2023). Review: Ed Sheeran – *−*.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>McCormick, 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.
19. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
20. ↑ <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>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.
21. ↑ Smith, Carl (12 May 2023). Ed Sheeran secures fastest-selling album of 2023 so far with *Subtract*. Official Charts Company.
22. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
23. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `CA`
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36. ↑ Subtract Deluxe CD.
37. ↑ Subtract Japanese CD.
38. ↑ Subtract Deluxe Marble Vinyl.
39. ↑ Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 19 – 2023 (is). Plötutíðindi.
40. ↑ Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-05-15 (ja). Oricon.
41. ↑ Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of May 10, 2023 (ja).
42. ↑ 2023 19-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100) (lt). AGATA (12 May 2023).
43. ↑ *-* standard release formats:

	* Subtract Cassette.
	* Subtract CD.
	* Subtract Download Standard.
	* - by Ed Sheeran. Apple Music (UK).
	* Subtract Yellow Vinyl.
44. ↑ *-* deluxe release formats:

	* Subtract Deluxe CD.
	* - (Deluxe) by Ed Sheeran. Apple Music (UK).
	* - (Deluxe), Ed Sheeran. Qobuz.
	* Subtract Deluxe Splatter Vinyl.