Disco de Seal: “Seal (2nd Album)”

I'm not the kind of person the music industry likes to see.

I'm not likely to go out and buy the latest Pearl Jam just as it rolls into the mall - quite the contrary, actually. My usual CD purchases tend to be releases so old the artist in question has stopped recording by now. Or worse, in the case of Jim Croce or Karen Carpenter. I did buy Michael Jackson's Thriller -- over a decade after its release. Also Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell -- a good eight years after it came out. I hear songs on the radio, and if they catch my ear while they're hot, and then later, maybe years later, they STILL grab me when they come on, well, ok. It's time to buy that one.

And so it was with SEAL II. Of course I had heard Kiss from a Rose, who hasn't? And Don't Cry as well, both of these songs were grabbers, hooking me in on their non-traditional chord progression structure. So I bought SEAL II one day, among a few other CDs I had held out on a while.

I can remember playing tracks 4-6 a lot at first, after all I knew 4 and 6 and Fast Changes between quickly became quite listenable. But something marvelous happened as I gave the other tracks more and more play, over time: ALL of them grabbed me. In each track there was more you could hear, in the lush orchestrations or the odd percussions, with every hearing. Not that everything isn't supporting roles for Seal's voice -- it is, and justifiably so. The clarity, power, SOUL of that voice, comfortable in either high or low range and always full of intense sincerity, should be the showcase and it always is. But I came to realize, on the 10th or 15th playing of track 3 (Metaphors) that everything else underneath is also exquisitely perfected. I'm not a musician myself so I still don't understand those rhythm structure, or those chord progressions. But it all belongs, it always adds, never detracts, and I don't know now, even after 50 plays or more, if I won't hear something new when I next play any one of the tracks from this awesome album. If I do, it won't be a false note, I know that much.

So. As SEAL II grew on me until it was practically the only thing I was listening to, and I became aware of the existence of Human Being (or Hu manBe in g as Seal spells it on the spine), I was driven to something I very seldom do. I won't say it's unprecedented, but nearly so: I bought a CD without ever hearing a single cut beforehand. (Only about a year after its release, too!) And unlike his previous album, Human Being I bought 'alone', without a pile of other artists to listen to at the same time.

Quickly spinning through once, I had that pit-of-stomach feeling I'd been had again. Seal was a one album number. (Yes, I know about SEAL I.) Only tracks 2 and 6 (State of Grace and Lost my Faith) seemed there at all. I played 2, 6, 2, 6 for a while and I felt a bunch better. The same mystifying thing was happening that never happened to me listing to a Seals and Crofts or Billy Joel album: every listening was bringing me more depth, more interest, and... more feeling. Seal's music is not to be dismissed on one hearing. I spun the whole thing again. Now 4 (Just Like You Said) is grabbing me. I'm thinking now that I should slow down, and let this album overwhelm me slowly, like the last one did. Maybe all at once is too much.

As of now (in my current reading of it), Human Being seems to be, not darker exactly, but sadder, than SEAL II was -- not as uplifting or as hopeful. I know Seal is pouring his personal soul and life into these releases - it's likely the main reason they take so long to get made - and so it seems he'd had a pretty trying 3 or 4 years. Too, his view of the external world seems darker than it was 8 years ago when SEAL II was being written. But the music hasn't suffered. From the minimalist accoustic pieces to the fully orchestrated reprise of the title track, Seal's power to grab you and submerse you remains. You do have to give him a chance. But in exchange for having to work a little - to really listen instead of just have it on while fixing dinner or something - you get a unique view, from inside his music. There's nobody out there like him, and my suggestion is: don't miss out on it.

-- Joeygray --

First off, this isn't the kind of thing that I usually listen to- nearly everything in my CD case is either heavy metal or progressive rock, and Seal comes nowhere near to either of those. But this is music awesome enough to transcend genre boundaries, and I'd recommend it to the most dyed-in-the-wool metalhead, or the hickiest country fan, for that matter. Seal is a vocalist of tremendous gift and skill, with pipes worthy of Peter Gabriel and enunciation that brings to mind the very best R&B. His songs are beautiful, deep, poetic, and heartfelt. And the production on this album is gorgeous- a layer of sound that manages to be sweet without being saccharine, intricate without being overproduced, and soothing without losing its edge. Pure music, regardless of what you call it, and one of my favorite albums- even if I do file it in between Prong and Skinny Puppy.

Seal really outdid himself here with a colorful and complex tapestry of moods and music carried along by his slightly raspy unmistakeable soulful voice. All told, this disc was like a balm for my soul at a very dark and trying time in my life.

"Bring It On" is a perfect opener with it's dramatic entrance and fierce rhythmic pulse, funky, yet somehow VERY unusual, with dark stormy atmospheres and some nice soaring guitar interjections from Jeff Beck, of all people to appear on a Seal album! "Prayer For The Dying" is unique in its ability to be simultaneously somber and uplifting, great vocals and a VERY happening arrangement to boot, easily my favorite track. It just gets better with "Dreaming In Metaphors". Normally I enjoy power ballads about as much as a stomach flu, but "Don't Cry" is a miraculous exception to that for me. "Fast Changes" with its lively percussion and flutes supporting Seal's multi-layered vocals is a track that just hypnotises you. While "Kiss From A Rose" is very beautifully written and produced, I skip over it just from over-exposure, though I do like its mysterious poetry.

"People Asking Why" is another favorite, that plaintively asks the listener to contemplate the grand scheme of things and not just theoir own little world. Musically this one really hooks you with it's soulful and ethereal chord progressions. "Newborn Friend" is an infectiously danceable track with TONS of musical substance to it. "If I Could" just haunts me for days after I hear it, Joni Mitchell's vocal contributions are a nice addition here, emphasising Seal's heartfelt yearning to make a difference in someone's life, very nice arrangement too! "Im Alive" for me though is one of the weaker tracks comparatively speaking, not as interesting as th others but still pretty good. "Bring It On-Reprise" brings it all to a rousing close, it's actually a very cool variation on the opening track with a great loping bass part and ethereal backup vocals.

All throughout, many musical styles interweave in interesting ways (I hear rock, soul/r&b, pop, folk and even tinges of Yes-like progressive rock, house and ambient flavorings) constantly holding your attention. Seal's rough around the edges yet melodic voice and his enigmatic/mysterious lyrics just add to the allure, along with Trevor Horn (ex Buggles, Yes) once again producing.

Again I say, if only 99.9% of pop music was THIS GOOD!!

Over the years I have used this album as THE REFERENCE for testing audio systems. I thought its production values so superior to the competition at the time that it would always be the first CD out of the box!

The real trouble with it is that it sounds good on ANYTHING! It seems to have been mixed and EQ'd so perfectly that it flatters anything from a high-end hi-fi system to an inexpensive car audio. You'll always get goosebumps at that first chorus in "Prayer For The Dying!" Even on a £19.99 boogie box. So be careful with this recording; it's sonic sugar!

I believe that great albums endure. That with enough passing time, you can pull it out, listen to it again, and still say, "Fantastic - just as good as the first time."

Such is the case with this particular Seal release. There isn't one false step on the entire album. 10 years after release, it's still as evocative and powerful as ever. Seal has a complicated, multi-layered voice that never disappoints even on lighter-weight material. He can bring you to tears on "Prayer for the Dying" and awe you with his poetry on "Kiss from a Rose." He'll als have your foot tapping - like it or not - with "People Asking Why."

The production of "Seal" is top-notch.

For an even more rewarding experience when listening to Seal, the lyrics must be read.

* Personal side-note: you might want to get Seal's work before the guy gets cancer of the tongue, throat, lungs, or whatever. From what I understand, he's a super-heavy smoker. For our sakes and his life and talent, I wish he'd quit.