One Direction and the Wanted, talented lucky boys at the right place at the right time.
Ed Sheeran?
He is the real deal, an excellent singer songwriter last seen climbing out Taylor Swift's window and ready to break big. I caught him at the tiny Mercury Lounge and was suitably overwhelmed by mere. No, he wasn't what the UK said he was, but, yes, he was everything else and that is enough.
Or maybe he is everything the UK says he is.
+ has beat out Usher for the # 1 position on ITunes. I am, frankly, surprised. Usher is a much bigger seller than Sheeran. Sure, Mercury Lounge sold out instaneously but it was still Mercury Lounge. I don't know how these sales will be reflected on Billboard's 200, but I am guessing Sheeran is gonna be in the top 5… at least.
Listening to the album as I write, it hits me as to just how deep and wide the album is… I think the term is a Costello type album: it sprawls as both indie rock, hip hop, singersongwriter, emoting shit and getting over on shit.
I could spend a worse summer than hearing "Lego House" wherever I go.