Ed Sheeran - X

Sheeran’s second album includes “One,” his final song about the girlfriend who dominated his first disc. “The rest of X,” explains the 23-year-old English singer, “is about moving on and the incredible experiences I’ve had since then.” Where Sheeran's debut was mostly acoustic pop-rock, his followup is more diverse. The slinky groove of “Sing,” produced by Pharrell Williams, is reminiscent of Justin Timberlake, while the edgy “Don’t” is a payback song about a cheating lover. Best of all is “Thinking Out Loud,” a blue-eyed soul song sung with convincing passion, showing how much the ginger-haired star has grown.