Seal Album: “Seal IV”

Description :

Personnel includes: Seal (vocals, guitar, bass); Chris Bruce (guitar, bass); Tim Pierce, Gus Isadore, Tim Cansfield (guitar); Pete Murray (piano, keyboards); Mark Baston (keyboards, programming); Jamie Muhoberac (keyboards);Ian Thomas, Earl Harvin (drums); Luis Jardim (percussion); Alan Griffiths (programming); Tessa Niles (background vocals). <p>This release includes a bonus DVD featuring 5.1 surround-sound and Advanced Resolution Stereo versions of SEAL IV and three music videos. <p>All set to record what would become SEAL IV, the album's namesake ended up tossing a large number of tracks and returned to his London hometown to start anew after living in Los Angeles for 12 years. The result is a dozen songs with a gritty texture that better reflect the Paddington-born native's affinity for soul and reggae more so than prior work. Blessed with a burnished vocal style, Seal uses it to great effect whether he's growling out the intro to irresistible numbers like the swaggering "Waiting for You" or sounding like a cross between Teddy Pendergrass and Bobby Womack on the party invitation "Get It Together." Longtime producer Trevor Horn keeps a steady hand on the rudder, executing a concise balance of lush orchestral arrangements and ethereal keyboards on songs ranging from the ambient lovemaking invitation "Heavenly...(Good Feeling)" or the can't-miss slow jam "Don't Make Me Wait." Seal's considerable talents find him bouncing between sweeping epics such as the heavenly "Love's Divine" and snappier fare like "Let Me Roll," where this prim and proper Brit gets to strike a good-natured, faux b-boy pose.

I am a huge fan of Seal's first 3 albums, so I rushed out to buy this one the minute it came out. What a disappointment!! Most of the songs sound like old remixes of Curtis Mayfield tunes. The only 2 with that eerie signature 'Seal' sound are 'heavenly' and 'tinsel town'. I'd say go to Itunes....listen to the songs...buy the tunes you like (if there are any) and call it a day.

I have been a big Seal fan ever since his first album came out. He became a household name with Seal II becuase its an amazingly deep and well produced album with great songwriting and vocal performances. Getting his single on the Batman soundtrack didnt hurt sales, either. When Seal III came out and was a commercial flop, I was not suprised. But poor sales dont mean an album is bad,just as big album sales dont necessarily mean a great album. Seal III is an artistic triumph. Some of the songs (ie No Easy Way)are utterly beautiful. Please give it a listen, readers. That being said, we come to the topic of the new album, Seal IV. I was waiting for something at least as good as Seal III, and hopeing for something even better. Like its predecessor it also appears to be a commercial letdown. I personally have not even listend to it many times. The reason for that is that I just can't stand hearing it for more than a few minutes at a time. There is one HUGE,GLARING PROBLEM with Seal IV. For me , that problem lies in the fact that Seal chose to Pitch Correct his voice on on this album, and it sticks out BIG TIME! Seal, I hope you read this review! Your voice shouldn't ever be tampered with in that way again! It takes the soul out of the vocal performances! I really am disappointed that you allowed that to happen. It sucks. The subtle pitch imperfections that are part of a natural vocal are GLARINGLY missing. You dont need to resort to such studio tricks. You're no amatuer. Dont follow that trend! Its a crappy trend. Its the type of trick that producers for film songs resort to when trying to get Eddie Murphy's "Donkey" to sing on pitch. Ah, the heights from which you have fallen. I pray that your next album wont suffer from such a blatent identity crisis. Your unique raspy voice is one of the things you are known and loved for. Why tamper with it? Please! I anxiously await Seal V!

I like Seal. Some of his songs are very good. I had seen this and decided to pick it up because I'm a surround freak at the moment. I thought it was pretty good. Definitely solid 3 stars with some 4 star songs. I've given it 4 stars for the CD & DVD combo at (Now?) a great price. If you like Seal definitely recommended. I like the 5.1 - 3.5 stars OK but not Great. I mainly wrote this because of the poor rating this has. You'll regard it.