- Audio CD (15 Sep 2003)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Wea
- ASIN: B0000C66BE
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 67,271 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
After five years and one do-over later, Seal presents a fourth album, Seal IV, that finds the singer growing with his audience. The opener "Get It Together" melds a quiet "live" moment into a horn-and-string disco number, setting the stage for the rest of the album, which is largely a nod to Detroit and Philly R&B. The UK-born musician pulls it off. His rasp and emotive, positive vocals are well suited for the retro stylings he attempts. "Waiting for You" will flood the dance floor, and he's unafraid to dig deep for the ballads--Marvin Gaye would approve. The funk is real, but saddled with a pop safety net, and the upbeat tracks need a helping hand from a good remixer before they are as compelling as his seminal singles "Killer" and "Crazy". Seal never goes all out in any direction and this coolness, combined with Trevor Horn's perfectionist production, plants the album inescapably in the realm of adult contemporary (although this is as good as adult contemporary gets). On "Let Me Roll", Seal salutes the album's influences by proclaiming he's "not too proud to beg". If that were actually true, the songs would have been that much better for it. --Beth Massa
Review
On the sleeve of his new album, IV, Sealhenry Samuel in his trenchcoatlooks like Laurence Fishburne's sidekick in The Matrix. Seal has the looks, the image and more importantly the voice of a successful artist, unfortunately right now he's not got the songs.
IV is produced by Trevor Horn of 80s pop fame, (Frankie Goes To Hollywood in particular). Subseqently, this record is slick but lacks the edge of past hits and enters the bland Lighthouse Family camp. It begins with the new single, the incredibly catchy "Get It Together". The song will get inside your head, attaching itself like a piece of chewing gum to your shoe - it's there but not out of choice. "Waiting For You" is similarly upbeat and starts promisingly enough in a funky vein but the string break in the middle ruins not enhances it.
The rockier and funkier numbers such as "My Vision" and "Let Me Roll" lift the album out of complete mediocrity although "My Vision" builds but goes nowhere. On a more positive note, "Don't Make Me Wait" is the highlight of the eleven tracks and his best chance of a big chart hit. By contrast if you should get as far as track seven, "Touch", you would be well advised to skip this insipid ballad which verges on the cringeworthy.
There is no disputing that Seal has an amazing voice - it is eminently soulful with a hint of roughness that is much better suited to rockier and funkier tunes. It certainly doesn't need the distraction of echoing backing vocals and the saccharine strings that it has to fight against throughout. Having seen some of this material performed in concert I would recommend the Seal gig experience but until he brings out a live version of these tracks I would give IV a miss. --Niky Daley
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Adamski? Yep, I've listened ever since that Killer record and have been hooked ever since. Seal's albums right up to this one have always been soulful, but in a strange kind of way, very English, despite his Nigerian origins. I believe Seal's music has never been black or white, just thoughtful and deep with meaningful lyrics, always thought provoking and moody yet relevant. Forget mediocre reviews of Seal, all the albums are great, and this one is a "modern revelation". Some people don't listen enough to albums. Newcomers can listen to this album and quite confidently listen to his past accomplishments. Think about it, 13 years and 4 albums, quality not quantity, and I'd be surprised if at least one track could not stir your emotions and maybe make you shed a tear relating to one experience in your life. Lose yourself in his music and remember to give each album 3 sessions of listening before you judge. Seal and big Trev (Trevor Horn) have done it again. Guaranteed, you will ALWAYS replay your Seal albums over the next few years where other albums and artists collect in dust, and so bring on the next album. He truly is a unique artist with a way of cutting through the monotonous bilge that fills the charts today. On this album, there's such a crossover of music that there is something for everyone, from funk to soul, pop to dance. Without doubt, a superb album.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Seal's third album Human Beings was a near commercial disaster, nowhere near matching the sales of his first two albums. Human Beings by his admission was his best album and the disappointment of it flopping has led to the five year wait for this album Seal IV, on the way consigning a whole record named "wonderland" to the scrapheap.
Well, Seal IV is worth the wait, his voice is an even more lucious gravel fuelled an harmonious than before. There's an inclusion of orchestral arrangements in most songs which give the album a great ambience. Apart for a couple of dancy upbeat songs like my vision, its an altogether more melancholy, reflective seal than we have heard before. Highlights are loves divine and tinseltown.
Its not as good as Human Beings, but it still needs to be in your record collection.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This CD was well worth the wait, it is definately Seal at his finest yet. His distinctive voice and style has grown, and is clearly shown on this album. I bought this album because I have always loved Seal's music,I had not heard a single track, but it was the best purchase I have made in a long time. It has yet to be removed from the CD player !!! I would say that if you liked Seals previous music, then buy this album. Seal has reached a higher level within his music, lyrically, vocally and emotionally, but has retained his own individual style. Go get, listen and enjoy!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wonderful album from a wonderfil man.
Waiting for you, tinsel town, My vision are the best three tracks in my opinion. Seal has a fantastic voice.
Published 22 months ago by Chlobo Shoka
Great music - poor packaging
Shame it only comes in a cardboard wrapper (bit like a fee CD in the Sunday papers), but the music is wonderful, just what you've come to expect from the great man. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2005 by FixItDik
Mr. Feelgood is back
Almost a decade has passed since the last album from Seal. It was worth all the waiting.
As with most of the albums I've ended up liking the most, IV seemed a bit disapointing... Read more
Published on 28 May 2004 by Martin Dybendal Nielsen
Disappointing
The reviewer who compared this to the Lighthouse Family got it spot-on. Very bland and dull, and compared to the first 2 albums where (if you'll excuse the pun) Seal let his voice... Read more
Published on 21 April 2004 by Mr. K. Blair
His best work to date.
One of the major UK talents of the last 20 years, this album has been criminally underpromoted in the UK. Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2004 by Mr Andrew Philip Twidle
One of my favorite singers EVER is finally back!!
Seal's debut CD may be my favorite release of all time, so it makes it very hard to review any of his subsequent his work without taking that amazing debut into account. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2004 by Burjiz
Addictive, such a change from the norm
Absolutely superb. I heard it playing in a store while shopping in New York and it was the first time I have ever approached a store assistant to ask the name of the playing CD... Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2003 by "separr78"
More of the same - top drawer stuff!
Adamski? Yep, I've listened ever since that Killer record and have been hooked ever since. Seal's albums right up to this one have always been soulful, but in a strange kind of... Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2003 by P. Clarke
Seal's back (almost)
Yes this album walks all over "Human Being" so if that put you of check out "Seal IV". Maybe in excorsising his inner demons Seal has slightly lost the skill to "spookily write... Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2003 by C J R
Sublime Seal
I heard "Waiting for You" on Jay Leno the other night and from that moment I knew I MUST have this album..! Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2003 by Al
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