=

"I have grown up, I am a father now." These are the first words Ed Sheeran sings on =, his fourth official solo album, the one that arrives four years after ÷. Between these two records, he got married to his old sweetheart and had a baby -- he also released the stopgap No. 6 Collaborations Project, a star-studded affair that kept him on the charts -- major life events that provide the fuel for the 14 songs on =. Supported by a bed of supple R&B rhythms, retro keyboards, and a vague hint of his signature acoustic guitar, Sheeran tackles new fatherhood and love everlasting, taking time to offer such complementary accents as "Visiting Hours," a nod to a departed friend. Despite his feint at late-night debauchery on "Bad Habits," the album teems with mature aspirations: he's grappling with growth, sensing the passage of time, and wishing he could relive first times once again. These themes are simultaneously profound and banal, an emotional territory that suits Sheeran's knack for crafting candied corn. Sheeran never chooses a winding path; whether it's his melody or lyrics, he always opts for the straightest course. By favoring simplicity, he veers toward clichés and homilies -- this is particularly true when he's writing for and about his newborn child, such as the singsong lullaby "Sandman" -- yet he knows how to turn his highly personal observations into adult contemporary pop: music where the vibe matters as much as the hooks. Here, Sheeran's melodies are soft yet insistent, and the production glistens with flair borrowed from younger, hipper artists who mine a similar blend of retro new wave and modern R&B, but he knows how to turn this stylish sound into something cozy and reassuring. That comforting gloss is the surest sign that Ed Sheeran has indeed grown up: he's not chasing trends, he's making music for people who have aged out of the clubs but have yet to wallow in nostalgia. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine