Amazon.co.uk Review
Not to be confused with his equally eponymous but rather less fine second album. Seal towered briefly over the scene in the early nineties--latecomer to pop, he co-wrote and sang on
Adamski's sublime "Killer", bringing a rare touch of
Marvin Gaye-style gravitas to the otherwise E-driven and perishable techno scene. His debut album was equally stately, benefiting from producer Trevor Horn's trademark epic flourishes and funky bombast, with Seal's hoarse vocals and impassioned lyrics taking on the entire, broken world. "Deep Water", for instance, was a spiritual/eco-lament inspired by the fate of some dolphins who found themselves washed up in the Thames where the water pollution killed them. This conscientious
cri de coeur was echoed in "The Beginning" and "Crazy", pop music that dared to shed a serious tear. After this, unfortunately, Seal went all MOR-shaped. --
David Stubbs
CD Description
Released in 1991, Seal's self-titled debut attracted a Top-40 crowd, dance enthusiasts, and fans of expertly crafted pop-rock songs. Producer Trevor (Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Yes) Horn helped Seal achieve a sonically rich sound right offthe bat--while the songs have electronic elements (drum-machine beats, samples, etc.), there is an underlying organic texture to SEAL that makes it a classic. A significant reasonfor the album's warmth comes form acoustic and electric guitar, which serve as the root elements for many of the songs.In addition, Seal's soulful voice and hopeful, introspective lyrics add to the winning combination.
Though the album-opening "The Beginning" may give the listener the impression that SEAL is purely a dance album, this couldn't be further from the truth. Seal proves expert in crafting tranquil compositions ("Deep Water", "Whirlpool", "Show Me", "Violet"),as well as in more rock-oriented and funk fare ("Future Love Paradise", the chart success "Crazy",), and dance-floor shakers ("Killer"). Seal's self-titled debut was easily one ofthe best of the '90s.