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Seal Album: “Best: 1991-2004 [2 Disc]”
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Best: 1991-2004 [2 Disc] |
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Release Date:2004-11-19
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Type:Unknown
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Genre:Pop, Soft Pop, Adult Alternative
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Label:ZTT
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Explicit Lyrics:Yes
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UPC:093624894360
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Review - :
Reusing the cover from his 1994 self-titled release -- as opposed to his 1991 or 2003 self-titled release -- makes {$Seal}'s discography all the more confusing, but that's the only mistake made on this glorious collection. {$Seal}'s partnership with producer {$Trevor Horn} has yielded some of the most elegantly soulful and richly textured {\pop} music of the preceding 20 years. {^Best: 1991-2004} picks and chooses from their output perfectly, orders it in a way that makes sense, and remembers a couple compilation and {\soundtrack} appearances to make itself worthwhile for {$Seal}'s faithful. If you've owned a radio at sometime in the past two decades, a quarter of the disc will be familiar. But radio's compressed delivery of {&"Crazy,"} {&"Kiss From a Rose,"} and others don't do these grand songs justice; plus, anytime you can put a {$Trevor Horn} production on the headphones is a rewarding experience. The songs from the lesser {^Seal IV} come off much stronger in these surroundings, and the inclusion of a bunch of album tracks you forgot about but shouldn't have speaks to the compilers' keen understanding of {$Seal}'s career. The new recording of {$Bacharach}-{$David}'s {&"Walk On By"} is sweet, fair, and no disappointment, but it's {$Seal}'s take on {$Steve Miller}'s {&"Fly Like an Eagle"} or {$Echo & the Bunnymen}'s {&"Lips Like Sugar"} that proves him an great interpreter of other's tunes and able to shine without {$Horn}'s help (the positive and empowering {&"My Vision"} is the third and final track without {$Horn}). The greatness of {$Seal}'s first two albums keeps the collection from being "the only {$Seal} CD you'll ever need." Instead, {^Best: 1991-2004} is a fantastic overview of a hit-or-miss artist that soars when he's got the right material. This is all the right material and an unquestionable success. [As good as the regular edition is, {^Best: 1991-2004} was also released in an even better bonus-disc edition with a gold cover. The extra CD contains wonderful acoustic renditions of the singer's best, newly recorded in the studio and once again helmed by {$Horn}. {$Seal}'s performance equals any of his regular recordings, but it's the clever and inspired arrangements that really make the difference. That {&"Crazy"}'s staccato synth line is played by a marimba is just one of the surprises that works; plus, the intimacy and warmness of the entire disc is yet another victory for {$Horn}. The acoustic disc would be four-star on its own, and any {$Seal} fan would be cheating themself if they pass on it.] ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
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![Seal Album: “Best: 1991-2004 [2 Disc]”](http://www.musicpopstars.com/covers_yaS/seal/2004_170_147_Best%253A%25201991-2004%2520%255B2%2520Disc%255D.jpg "Seal Album: “Best: 1991-2004 [2 Disc]”")