After the phenomenal success of his full-length debut, +, Ed Sheeran returns with his cleverly titled follow-up, x (pronounced “multiply”)—a dazzling display of incandescent, often hip-hop-indebted folk-pop. Written while reflecting on the many life changes that came with his staggering ascent, the English singer/songwriter recorded it with legendary producer Rick Rubin. “The Man” is a heart-searing rap confessional, while “Photograph” is a honeyed, wonderfully arranged highlight whose windswept melody is delivered with Sheeran’s weightless, trademark falsetto. Elsewhere, his voice lends power to the acoustic charge of “I’m a Mess” and soul to the electric sway of “Thinking Out Loud.”