Seal Releases Amazing New CD
Latest Album System Brings Bristish Superstar Back to Dancefloor
Best known for his sappy single, "Kiss From a Rose", British superstar Seal releases System, a collection of dance songs produced by Stuart Price of Madonna fame.
System, Seal’s first album of new material in 4 years, brings him back to the dance floor. Seal’s recent efforts have generally gone unnoticed, overshadowed by the immense success of "Kiss From a Rose", which flooded the airwaves in 1995 and has subsequently become an Adult Contemporary staple.
To break out of his AC mould, Seal enlisted Stuart Price, who produced Madonna’s Confessions on a Dancefloor, and has worked with everyone from Goldfrapp and New Order to Britney Spears, to produce and mix, and bring Seal back to his dance roots.
Seal Returns to Dance Roots, Remains Grounded
"If It’s on My Mind, It’s on My Face" leads the 11-track disc, setting the mood with a thumping back beat and all the bleeps and pops Price could pack into 4 minutes. An odd choice for a song title, lyrics like “If you can’t find your place in this world/ your life means something to me” deliver a positive ‘never give up’ message over a killer dance beat.
Seal has always had a knack for crafting upbeat, inspirational songs and this record showcases his talents repeatedly on tracks like "Rolling", "Immaculate" and the title track. And there lies some of the problem.
This concept album dedicated “to anyone who has tried to break me or steal my sunshine” (album liner notes) contains a strong message of overcoming hardships and heartaches throughout, but many of the songs are so similar in style and significance that they tend to blend into one another.
System could have had a few more gems like "Amazing", the Grammy nominated first single. With a catchy radio-friendly melody and a singalong chorus, the song’s an uplifting dance track. Instead, "Amazing" appears twice on the album.
"The Thin White Duke Edit" appears first as the second track on the album, yet pales in comparison to the original album mix that doesn’t come until the very end. In this case, the best is definitely kept for last.
System Loaded
"Loaded" begins with haunting strings and a subdued dance beat that slowly fades in, similar to Madonna’s "Sorry", before exploding into a darker dance track dealing with the unravelling of a shared life. “When I see you, I’m loaded like a gun,” Seal sings about a tortured "Little Girl" who has come “undone”.
Following the despair in "Loaded", "Wedding Day" moves the disc into a new direction. Featuring vocals by Seal’s wife, supermodel Heidi Klum, this collaboration could have been a disaster. However, this beat-heavy ballad features a raspy-voiced Seal with Klum mostly on background vocals, and sounds more sweet than sickly.
"Dumb" and "The Right Life" bring back the beats following his wedding, but the mood is considerably more ballad-driven, a vibe Seal has become known for, on the second half of the CD.
A very short album, just over 45 minutes in length, but one well worth adding to your collection whether you are a long time fan of the artist and dance music or a new listener.
