The Album Club: "Seal" by Seal
 

http://www.trollheart.com/sealalbum.jpg
Anteater's choice for round three. Discuss here.

Fix that goddamn broken image code

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Seal - Seal

This was boring as all get out.

It had nothing to it, and it was a pain to listen to. In other words, I didn't like it and it sucked.

Half a star.

If you think this is Adult Contemporary then you haven't heard any Adult Contemporary.

I picked an album I liked that I knew would "push people out of their comfort zones". This wasn't a typical record in '91, and was massively influential. Look at the cast of people involved with it, writing credits, different genre influences on the various songs here (Chicago House, early trip-hop and neo-soul, EDM, progressive rock, etc.). Or hell, listen to 'Crazy', 'Killer', 'Deep Water' or 'Violet' in isolation. Great songs.

I'm not going to write an essay telling people why they are wrong like I did with Devin Townsend. I'm just providing some perspective to stamp out the stupidity before it gets out of hand.

If you aren't going to give this album a serious spin like you all have given the last bunch, then don't bother participating. Even the albums I didn't like here I did more than say "it sucks because durrrrrrrrrmfph". I'm lazy as fuck...if I can do a well thought out analysis then anyone can.

I want to trash this album just because you're being a pathetic defensive baby. However, I'm reviewing the record not you.

This is a solid early 90's pop release. Seal has a tender sincere voice that's easy to connect with. And Trevor Horn did an excellent job with the production. The hook on the chorus to Crazy is stunning. The verse carries on for some extra measures really making you wait for it. The song holds up well over time because of it. I also really like the song Whirlpool because it showcases his talents in a similar way. At this time there was a lot of in your face music going around but Seal kept it cool and easy doing his own thing. 4/5 stars.

It's OK. I am not prone to listen to Seal's albums, but I like the few singles I know. Crazy is one of those songs. The Beginning begins with a synth sound that reminds me of "Night Train" by Steve Windwood. It was released little over a decade before Seal's massively influential break-through Adult Contemporary album. I don't know what creates that sound exactly, it could be a synthesizer by David Smith Instruments, that is my best guess. (More review to come in the near future, maybe. It's late. Idk what I am saying.)

Tell me how you realllllly feel.

But seriously, I don't care if people give it 1 star or 5 stars or whatever. I just wanted to see some actual reviews.

Both.

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Seal - Seal (1991)
Allmusic.com puts the following genre tags on this album:

- Adult contemporary
- Contemporary pop/rock
- Club/dance
- Dance-pop

Allmusic's genre/style tags get a bit odd at times, but there you go. Might be interesting given the things that were said above my review in this thread.

Let's get into it. Track by track:

1. The Beginning
Fantastic textures and a rather good vocal melody. The musical backing really carries it well. Seal's voice is expressive and nuanced. He's definetely a talented performer. The electronic drums are somewhat dated and the weakest link here, but I'm going to have to forgive that since I wouldn't wonder if most of the album has them.
The song drags on a bit longer than it should have, and I can see the song lengths are generally on the flabby side here, so I don't hope it will be much of a problem from here on.

2. Deep Water
I frankly didn't enjoy the acoustic first half of the song, but then the song suddenly changes style entirely midway through. I'm feeling torn on this one. In some ways it is sort of interesting and it's clearly well made, but it also recalls all sorts of music that I plainly don't like. Surprisingly in your face lyrics for such a smooth, mom-radio friendly song: "we shed our pain, and then we die".
The vocal passage near the end makes me think of Robbie Williams. I'd rather not be reminded of Robbie Williams.

3. Crazy
Crazy how this starts out evoking cool 90's video game soundtracks; especially that of Crusader: No Remorse.
Oh wait, here's a chorus. I know this song! One of those hundreds of songs you've heard in passing, probably dozens of times, but just somehow never really noticed the details of.
I like the bass in this song. The song also flows quite well. A breakdown in the middle works pretty well, except maybe I'm not sure I agree with putting that wah-pedalled guitar there. Oh well, pretty good song.

4. Killer
The track starts off recalling that Deep Forest/Peter Gabriel track that plays in the credits of the sci-fi movie Strange Days. Odd connection to make, I know.
Then the verse starts up and... this is a sort of odd groove. I can't help but draw lines to 90's video game soundtracks again. I can't come up with any specific titles, but all the ****ing samples here really, really have me convinced I've heard ALL of them in various DOS game soundtracks. This is early 90's music allright.
I don't feel like I'm completely on board with the vocal melodies in the verse/chorus here, but I do enjoy the backing track.
Then we get to the expected change after the second chorus and... things get pretty nutty. That's some pretty cool sample layering.
Ok I'm getting along with the chorus by now. He's got a really great color to his voice at times.
Time to mention that this track was 6 minutes and 21 seconds long, yet didn't feel drawn out. Only the first track has suffered from that yet.

5. Whirlpool
First reaction: Oh no, not acoustic Seal again.
More bluesy than expected. The song runs pretty dynamically, with barely there guitar under the chorus segment, agitated guitar during the verse.
It's allright. I would have to listen to this more to really get a feel for it.

6. Future Love Paradise
That sounds like a title Prince would have come up with. Except then it would have been "Eye Welcome U 2 the Future Paradise of Love".
Pretty fun bass in this track. Some softened funkiness, but somehow I feel like the music is still quite boring in this track. Apart from the bass, it's a pretty bland textural approach, really just aimed at supporting the basic harmonic shifts of the song, while not actually doing anything interesting on it's own.
Overall I don't feel like adult contemporary is the right term for this album, but apart from the bass, the music in this track is pure adult contemporary goop.

7. Wild
Starts off very much NOT wild. Those descending chords caught me off guard though. Then the vocals come in and I'm slowly getting worried this will be dull.
Basically take the negative things I said about the previous track and amplify it by a factor of 4. Saving the filler for late on the album, I guess.

8. Show Me
Very new-agey vibe in the beginning. Becomes a partially major key, soft, ballad like track.
I'm confirmed that they save the fillers for last. This is just flat out boring, not to mention how it sounds like a million other boring songs.

9. Violet
Interesting synths coming in shortly after we begin. I'm afraid this will soon devolve into more AC blandness. Some subtle synth and bass work suggest I just might be wrong. I'm still waiting for the song to 'begin' as I realize it will probably mostly stay on this very restrained level. Definitely way better than the previous three misfires. Wait... this song is 8 minutes and 30 seconds long! How the hell is that going to work out? I'm not too positive that it will, but I'll be patient and just see where it goes. 3½ minutes in so far, still very, very gentle. Starts feeling like a song could fade out here, but it won't be doing that.
Some kick drums come in, but otherwise things stay the same for a good while. A snare joins, but still no change in the rest of the music. A voice talking in the background. I suppose this is intentionally repetitive as to let you ride on the atmosphere. Little variations in the synth, bass and piano gives this a feeling of a very, very restrained, slow-jam. Later; another voice, a synth-saxophone or something... but this is essentially the ending of this track: a 5 minute slow jam to the end. It's allright. Great production job on this album in general, but I feel like the first half of the album was still considerably stronger.



Allright, so Anteater mentioned wanting people out of their comfort zones, so I'm thinking about where this album sits compared to what's on my CD shelves. Some of the early, poppier tracks could be slightly compared to early/mid 90's Kylie minogue. The smooth pop/soul mixture compares somewhat to Julia Fordham's early album, Swept. I've got several things that have some kind of adult contemporary component, but I don't have much that takes on a more soul/r&b approach. This album is both a little outside of what I really like to listen to and it's also a bit on the boring side, due to a weak second half. I liked the dancier side of this album best. When Seal starts to softly croon about love and whatnot, I'm starting to feel bored. There were some highlights for sure and there's no denying the careful work that went into this album.

Like with any album in here, I'll just have to folow my gut and be honest:

5/10. Many good things here, but also a lot that bored me and felt disappointing.

I just voted and realized the vote is currently split cleanly in precisely 1 vote for each of the 5 grades. No concensus there!

Yeah boy you show 'em what's for! Hit me with that rattler.

On another note, Guy Sigsworth co-wrote a lot of Seal's debut and later became a writing partner for Bjork and Imogen Heap. He also was involved in this fun Hector Zazou project from '94 where they do tripped out interpretations of primordial Arctic music.

Nothing wrong with it from where I sit. Is is not showing up for you?

Also, I think it's very unfair to be calling Anteater a defensive baby. All he did, as all of us do, is defend his choice. He did not go on saying "You guys know nothing about music, screw you guys I'm going home" or any such thing. He was in fact quite restrained in his defence, given how off-the-cuff so much early reaction was to this album, so like give him a break. And it would be nice if everyone could give the album at least a few considered lines, even if you want to use that to say how much you hate it. Mord's "review" was weak and I feel unwarranted, and Ant had every right to respond to it as he did.

That's because I fixed the image for you.

And ja Mord and Rips have not shown themselves to be good album reviewers.

Oh thanks. So it wasn't showing? I'd better check that.

It would be nice if we can all be civilised. I mean, even if you hate an album (like my poor Waits one) say why, not just that it's ****. It's just so lazy, and it's unfair to the person whose choice it is.

Well I wrote a fair review.

I see your point but I also don't think people should take it personally.

Yes you did, fair play to you. But you were the one who threw the insult. If you call someone a "defensive baby" I don't see how they can take it other than as personal. I certainly would. Mind you, I'm a baby anyway.
Yeah, bollocks. Lots of people wrote lots of things in defence of their albums and did not get called a baby. He has a right to explain his position and defend his choice. The use of "stupidity" here was, I think, referring to completely unfair and frankly **** reviews from Mord and Rips. And was justified.

He edited his reply and changed it a good deal but ok, my bad, Ant

We're cool dawg.

A Seal album shouldn't be a challenge to review...the comfort zone comment was sarcasm.

I was thinking if you always listen to edgier music sometimes it does get too easy to dismiss everything that doesn't take a running kick at your balls.

That's crap.

Define "worthwhile".
And it's Mondo not Mundo.

No. I'm losing sleep wondering where Ophelia is gonna hit worst.

Looks like it'll prob be a cat 1 when it hits. Prep what you can bro.

Looks like you're in the orange not the red. I don't mean to be negative but be ready for the power to be down for awhile. Hopefully it won't be. I know that would cause you problems.

My next rec is the best thing ever recorded, so sit your ass down!

There's not a whole lot I can do. I'll fill up water bottles tonight and secure anything in the garden that might be a potential hazard, but other than that, not a lot of options.
The electric company are making an early start and will be out to restore power wherever it gets cut. I hope we'll be ok. I guess prayers and wishes would not be unwelcome at this stage.
:shycouch:

Water and candles. If you got a car a car charger for your phone is super handy.

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I don't have a car but I do have a portable charger (powerbank). We should be ok by the time it gets dark, so I don't think candles will be required but I have a battery torch anyway just in case. Water I'm sorting atm. Thanks for your concern man.
OK, no problem. Sorry to see you go, but I don't want anyone feeling they have to stay here if they don't want to. Is your daughter staying or going with you?

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God what a bitch move

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Aw come on, the more the merrier. As long as it's an honest opinion, I don't care if it's five paragraphs or five words long.

I care. Just vote if you're going to be that lazy.

Mord, if you can sit through all of Da Pacem you could have given Seal more than three minutes. That's all I'm saying. This is an "album" club because we are reviewing whole albums right?

He literally means Mundo as in Mundo Jerry. I get all my Punk recs from Mundo Jerry. Don't you?

This album is held together by Seal. If anyone else made an album this eclectic and yet simultaneously by-the-numbers, it probably wouldn't work at all. Even this only works minimally, but it definitely works. I found myself enjoying this album at certain portions, and finding it at least not annoying at other sections. The performances are all bland and lifeless excepting Seal himself, again exemplifying why and how he holds the album together. All in all, the songwriting is pretty by-the-numbers too. The perfect adult contemporary mix of jazz, R&B, soft rock, and electronic influences mixed into one very unique, and also completely tame and expected, album. Not much else to say, this was good but not anything particularly special. Probably won't listen again ever, or at least until I forget I've already heard it. 6/10

Bikini Kill - Pussy Whipped
Seal - Seal [1991]
The Divine Comedy - Casanova