Seal IV [CD & DVD]

• Artist: Seal
• Rating:
• Release Date: April 20, 2004
• 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 the material's weaknesses, 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. [Seal IV was reissued in 2004 with a bonus DVD containing the whole album in a spacious 5.1 Surround Sound mix along with three videos.] ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide

Tracks

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

Credits

Seal (Bass), Seal (Guitar), Seal (Keyboards), Seal (Executive Producer), Robert Maxwell (Cover Photo), Jeffrey Aldrich (A&R), Craig Anderson (Authoring), Chris Bruce (Bass), Chris Bruce (Guitar), Tim Cansfield (Guitar), Alan Griffiths (Guitar), Alan Griffiths (Drum Programming), Earl Harvin (Drums), Trevor Horn (Bass), Trevor Horn (Guitar), Trevor Horn (Piano), Trevor Horn (Keyboards), Trevor Horn (Producer), Luis Jardim (Percussion), Bob Ludwig (Mastering), Jamie Muhoberac (Bass), Jamie Muhoberac (Piano), Jamie Muhoberac (Keyboards), Tessa Niles (Vocals (Background)), Tim Pierce (Guitar), Carlos Rios (Keyboards), Steve Sidwell (Horn Arrangements), Steve Sidwell (String Arrangements), Steve Sidwell (Choir Arrangement), Tim Weidner (Engineer), Tim Weidner (Mixing), Tim Weidner (Surround Sound), Gavyn Wright (Leader), Mark Batson (Organ), Mark Batson (Synthesizer), Mark Batson (Guitar (Acoustic)), Mark Batson (Bass), Mark Batson (Piano), Mark Batson (Clavinet), Mark Batson (Producer), Mark Batson (Fender Rhodes), Mark Batson (Horn Arrangements), Mark Batson (String Arrangements), Mark Batson (Drum Programming), Mark Batson (Synthesizer Bass), Mark Batson (Wah Wah Guitar), Mark Batson (Wurlitzer), Mark Batson (Piano Arrangement), Gus Isidore (Guitar), David May (Producer), Charlie L. Russell (Drum Programming), Ian Thomas Band (Drums), Jeri Heiden (Art Direction), Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff (Creative Director), David Dieckmann (Authoring), Heitor Teixeira Pereira (Guitar), Jill Sinclair (Executive Producer), Steve Price (Engineer), Steve Price (String Engineer), Dan Vickers (Engineer), Tim Lambert (Engineer), Tim Lambert (Assistant Engineer), Pete Murray (Piano), Pete Murray (Keyboards), Glen Nakasako (Design), Raena Winscott (Graphic Coordinator), Robert Orton (Engineer), Robert Orton (Mixing), Nick Ingham (String Arrangements), Nick Ingham (Orchestral Arrangements), Nick Ingham (Choir Arrangement), Sacha Waldman (Photography), Sean Donnelly (Graphic Design), Phil Tyreman (Assistant Engineer), Robin Hurley (Producer), Penny Marciano (Producer), Spencer Christu (Authoring), Dan Gautreau (Pro-Tools)