Hours after leaving the courthouse with another copyright infringement win, Ed Sheeran released the last album from his mathematics series, "Subtract."
In the months prior to the official release, the singer released "Eyes Closed" and "Boat" to give fans a glimpse into what the final album would be like.
"I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air," the singer revealed in an Instagram post. "As an artist, I didn't feel like I could credibly put a body of work into the world that didn't accurately represent where I am and how I need to express myself at this point in my life."
"This album is purely that. It's opening the trapdoor into my soul. For the first time I'm not trying to craft an album people will like, I'm merely putting something out that's honest and true to where I am in my adult life. This is last February's diary entry and my way of making sense of it. This is Subtract."
'Subtract'
According to Billboard, "Subtract" was written, produced, and recorded during some of the toughest times in Sheeran's life, and thus it will reflect as much.
It boasts 14 tracks on the standard release, while there are 18 and 23 on the CD and the deluxe vinyl versions respectively.
Sheeran collaborated with The National's Aaron Dessner, a frequent collaborator, and friend of his good friend Taylor Swift, for the album.
They came up with over 30 songs for "Subtract," before they finally narrowed it down to the original 14.
Unlike his more recently released albums, "Subtract" is more acoustic and folk-pop in the genre.
"Sticking for the most part to the acoustic folk-pop he first made his name with, Sheeran really does seem to be working through his emotional tumult in musical form," said Will Hodgkinson of the Times in their review of the album.
READ MORE: Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift Friendship Goals: 'She Truly Understands Where I'm At' [TIMELINE]
Experience
Fans who have not heard the album yet can expect the tracklist to bring them through various emotions which will eventually bring them to a point of self-healing, Neil McCormick notes in their review for the Telegraph.
Along with the release is Sheeran's upcoming "Subtract Tour" which is expected to kick off in May and finish in September.
"I'm playing some smaller theater shows in North America this summer, so I can play Subtract the entire way through with full band in an intimate setting," he announced.
READ ALSO: Ed Sheeran Triumphs In Copyright Infringement Case: Singer WON'T Quit Music
