Seal IV

• Artist: Seal
• Rating:
• Release Date: September 09, 2003
• Genre: Rock

Review

Besides taking his usual multi-year hiatus before releasing Seal IV, the artist scrapped a whole album's worth of material, feeling he couldn't stand behind the strength of the songs (should this be Seal IV.I?). It's disappointing, then, that the songs on Seal IV lack any of the Grammy-grabbing flair of his earlier releases. What saves it is a conviction that is high enough to overcome, a voice that is more driven than usual, and some genuine moments of songwriting inspiration. "Let Me Roll" has a cool swagger and fun wordplay, and the yearning ballad "Loneliest Star" is only a few steps away from "Kiss from a Rose." Opener "Get It Together" offers an Up With People understanding of the state of the world with its "everyone is beautiful" sentimentality, but it's the funky backbeat and gritty vocals that make it more Al Green than Lee Greenwood. A re-recording of Seal's collaboration with Jakatta, "My Vision" is given new life through more restrained than usual production from Trevor Horn. The absence of Horn's usual bombast throughout the album allows Seal's voice (in every sense of the word) to be the focus. It's a good move, and if the totally solid Jakatta-sourced track is any indication, a break from Horn might be beneficial next time. Despite being heavy with unexceptional tunes, Seal IV has enough going for it to warrant the next four years of anticipation. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Get It Together (Lyrics)	Seal, Mark Batson	Seal	(3:59)
Love's Divine (Lyrics)	Seal, Mark Batson	Seal	(4:35)
Waiting for You (Lyrics)	Seal, Mark Batson	Seal	(3:38)
My Vision (Lyrics)	Seal, Ric Salmon	Seal	(4:48)
Don't Make Me Wait (Lyrics)	Seal, Mark Batson	Seal	(4:31)
Let Me Roll (Lyrics)	Seal, Mark Batson	Seal	(3:52)
Touch (Lyrics)	Seal, Mark Batson	Seal	(5:20)
Where There's Gold (Lyrics)	Seal, Mark Batson	Seal	(5:12)
Loneliest Star (Lyrics)	Seal	Seal	(4:04)
Heavenly... (Good Feeling)	Seal, Alan Griffiths	Seal	(5:01)
Tinsel Town (Lyrics)	Seal	Seal	(5:53)
Get It Together (Reprise)	Seal	Seal	(1:08)

Credits

Seal (Keyboards), Jamie Muhoberac (Keyboards), Seal (Guitar), Seal (Bass), Gus Isidore (Guitar), Dan Gautreau (Pro-Tools), Seal (Vocals), Dan Vickers (Engineer), Mark Batson (Producer), Pete Murray (Piano), Jill Sinclair (Executive Producer), Phil Tyreman (Assistant Engineer), Tim Lambert (Engineer), Nick Ingham (String Arrangements), Luis Jardim (Percussion), Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff (Creative Director), Charlie L. Russell (Drum Programming), Trevor Horn (Producer), Jeri Heiden (Art Direction), Mark Batson (Keyboards), Steve Price (Engineer), Seal (Executive Producer), Robert Orton (Mixing), Mark Batson (Bass), Earl Harvin (Drums), Steve Sidwell (Arranger), Robert Maxwell (Cover Photo), Trevor Horn (Bass), Robert Orton (Engineer), Trevor Horn (Guitar), Nick Ingham (Orchestral Arrangements), Chris Bruce (Bass), Ian Thomas (Drums), Chris Bruce (Guitar), Trevor Horn (Keyboards), Sacha Waldman (Photography), Jeffrey Aldrich (A&R), Mark Batson (Organ), Glen Nakasako (Design), Tessa Niles (Vocals (Background)), Tim Weidner (Mixing), Carlos Rios (Keyboards), Tim Weidner (Engineer), Gavyn Wright (Leader), Tim Cansfield (Guitar), Nick Ingham (Choir Arrangement), Tim Lambert (Assistant Engineer), Steve McDonald (Guitar), Seal (Liner Notes), Mark Batson (Drum Programming), Jamie Muhoberac (Piano), Heitor Teixeira Pereira (Guitar), Pete Murray (Keyboards)