British popstar Ed Sheeran’s new album “Play” is dull, and does not make use of his full talent. Yet it became an instant success when released Sept. 12, now his ninth record to hold the No. 1 spot in the United Kingdom and No. 5 in the United States.

The initial track is similar to that of Sheeran’s 2017 album “Divide.” The leads of both albums are both upbeat, rap-based tracks with similar refrains. The first track of “Divide,” “Eraser,” is punchier and has better flow, while “Opening,” from “Play” has less adventurous production and feels more tame.

Other songs in “Play” are upbeat, such as “Azizam,” standing out for its particular catchiness. “Azizam” is notable for its Eastern influence, as well as the tracks “Sapphire” and “Symmetry,” which both feature Hindi refrains.

Another early highlight, “Old Phone,” evokes classic Ed Sheeran balladry, acoustic guitar driven with feel-good chords. The track offers a reflective assessment of nostalgia, with Sheeran singing of the titular old phone and its associated memories of being “best left there in the past, where it belongs.” 

After the first six tracks, the album begins to blend together. The final five songs in particular drag the whole work down. These tracks would be fine as background music at a wedding, but not for much else. 

The exception is the eighth track, “A Little More,” an invective breakup song built over a vibey backing track. Sheeran takes some rare risks with “A Little More,” and the variance in song structure and general sound goes a long way.

Thematically, the album feels unfocused. About two-thirds of the runtime is occupied by slow ballads about his relationships, while the other third is fit for dancing at the club.

This is to be expected for a typical Ed Sheeran album, but “Play” differs from his earlier work because  none of the songs are particularly memorable. “Play” has no equivalent to “Castle on the Hill,” “The A Team,” or even “Bad Habits.” 

The production, songwriting, and vocal performances are very bland, especially compared to his earlier work. Sheeran manages to make a perfectly listenable album, but fails to outdo himself or push the envelope in any way.