New Seal Album [Archive] - PM Dawn Online

Brian221

11-28-2007, 07:18 PM

:confused:

What the hell happened to Seal? I used to look forward to hearing his new material...but this latest album seems to dip deeper into some of the most bland music and song writing I've ever heard. Each phrase seems to be sqeezed into a melody that was a stretch to begin with. It might be useful to change the tempo setting on the synthesizer between songs too...ugh.

Also, who the f*ck at the NFL though this music was appropriate to be played during every intermission during MNF. It was the most pathetic football game I've ever watched, but this techno crap made it even worse. Most likely an attempt from record companies to advertise a crappy album. Way to sell out to the highest bidder, NFL.

But I'm not bitter...:fingas:

Twisted.Mellow

11-28-2007, 07:22 PM

Tell us what you really think, Brian :)

I haven't heard it yet, but will look it up. To be honest, I have never really dug Seal. Kiss From a Rose burned it for me. They played the fuck out of it in Australia (dunno about the rest of the world), and in the end it just got to the point where I wanted to burn every copy I saw - after that, couldn't even listen to his other stuff.

Anyone want to advise me on a particular album I should first listen to?

ElizabethX

11-29-2007, 02:00 AM

Kiss From a Rose was great, but overplayed. All his music is really great... but I have to admit to barely listening to the album just prior to his new release. It seemed so different from the others and didn't HIT me the way the others did.

I haven't heard the latest album yet, though.

Etherspin

11-29-2007, 04:56 AM

i liked human being and the same album kiss from a rose is off..

Twisted.Mellow

11-29-2007, 05:20 AM

Tim, you'd like anything at the moment! :D

xtristessax

11-29-2007, 06:44 AM

i actually liked the new seal album. i think his sound picks up more off of his first album, with dance beats.

of course nothing will ever compare to Human Being...that album is perfect!!!!

pmFan

11-29-2007, 08:26 AM

I thought Kiss From a Rose was really good (yes a bit over played), but my fav is Crazy! The whole processed "Cray-ay-azy are the people walking through my head..." still turns on my musical ears!

My mother loves Seal's music. She has I, II, and III. I thought the new CD might be a good Christmas present, but if hard core Seal fans say it sux, I may rethink it... :( Maybe I can listen to it somewhere...

Louis85

11-29-2007, 09:32 AM

:confused:

Also, who the f*ck at the NFL though this music was appropriate to be played during every intermission during MNF. It was the most pathetic football game I've ever watched, but this techno crap made it even worse. Most likely an attempt from record companies to advertise a crappy album. Way to sell out to the highest bidder, NFL.

But I'm not bitter...:fingas:

Well, you can blame our (Steelers) crappy field for the most part of why the game was so bad. Let's see: 4 high school teams (mine included) played their championships on Friday, my University of Pittsburgh Panthers played the field on Saturday, and the Steeler game on Monday. So on Sunday the field was completely re-sodded all while we recieved two inches of rainfall. Mosh pits are cool, but they make for lousy playing conditions--you saw how the football stuck in the field on a punt, now imagine the players trying to run it that. Can you say "FIELD TURF!!!" (side note: our O-line sucks too!!)

Personally, I don't care what type of music is played around a football game broadcast; they could do opera for all I care. It's all hype and bullshit anyway. The game is the only thing that's important.

But if the thread is about Seal, I have to say that I haven't purchased the new album yet, but I look forward to it--at least I did until now. I must say that Seal IV was a bit of a disappointment at first, but then it grew on me. We'll see. I'm torn as to whether your disliking of this album helps, hurts or has no effect on how I'll like it...hmmm....

Hero1

11-29-2007, 09:56 AM

I really like amazing! :rock::rock::rock: the remixes are great too :clap::clap:

PsychoMan

11-29-2007, 02:11 PM

Anyone want to advise me on a particular album I should first listen to?

I actually think the best order is the order in which they were released.

3 standout tracks from the first album: Deep Water, Future Love Paradise, Wild.
3 standout tracks from the second album: Dreaming in Metaphors, Kiss From A Rose (at least, I liked it a lot before it was overplayed to death), and People Asking Why.
3 standout tracks for Human Being: Human Beings, Just Like You Said, and, um... well, I don't really think there is a third standout track, but some will probably disagree with me here!

I also recommend trying to get your hands on the Killer "Maxi Single" released in 1990 (NOT the 2005 one)... It has great live versions of "Whirlpool", "Hey Joe", and "Come See What Love Has Done"... in fact, those are the best three tracks on the disc, in my opinion.

Twisted.Mellow

11-29-2007, 05:40 PM

Cool - will look into it...

Louis85

11-29-2007, 08:50 PM

ElizabethX

11-29-2007, 11:57 PM

I actually think the best order is the order in which they were released.

3 standout tracks from the first album: Deep Water, Future Love Paradise, Wild.
3 standout tracks from the second album: Dreaming in Metaphors, Kiss From A Rose (at least, I liked it a lot before it was overplayed to death), and People Asking Why.
3 standout tracks for Human Being: Human Beings, Just Like You Said, and, um... well, I don't really think there is a third standout track, but some will probably disagree with me here!

I also recommend trying to get your hands on the Killer "Maxi Single" released in 1990 (NOT the 2005 one)... It has great live versions of "Whirlpool", "Hey Joe", and "Come See What Love Has Done"... in fact, those are the best three tracks on the disc, in my opinion.

YOU GUYS ARE TOO COOL. You're saying too many right on things I can't keep up.

1. Kristen and Tim-- Human Being!!!! AHHHH!!! =D Beautiful. Perfect.
2. Now to answer this quotey quote...

Deep Water! Oh my god. Future Love Paradise! What about Violet? What about Show Me?

People Asking Why! Dreaming in Metaphors! OH MY GOD. You are picking all the best ones. Amazing. These are some of the greatest songs ever made. Talk about soundtrack to my life! What about Newborn Friend, or Don't Cry?

Human Beings! Just Like You Said! What about Colour, or Still We Remain?

Forget it. It's easier to pick the songs that are "weaker" (for lack of a better word) than to pick the best ones. Short of the two most recent albums, Seal music to me is one form of perfection, much in the way I've loved PM Dawn as well. You can just put on one of those Seal albums and the music gets inside you, and it's like you are transported to another place with every song. Too beautiful. I remember I saw colors once with PM Dawn (and no, I wasn't on drugs. at most, maybe sleep deprived, but I'm not counting that). It's not just some sound coming out of a piece of electronics, it's a spiritual experience.

Don't even get me started, you guys. :cool:

Twisted.Mellow

11-30-2007, 03:53 AM

It's not just some sound coming out of a piece of electronics, it's a spiritual experience.

Liz, that's deeper than the cavity I just had filled at the dentist about 2 hrs ago. This is exactly the way I feel about PM Dawn's music (not the cavity, the spiritual experience) - and I wouldn't consider myself a spiritual person, the songs just get me - at the core.

PsychoMan

11-30-2007, 11:59 AM

Forget it. It's easier to pick the songs that are "weaker" (for lack of a better word) than to pick the best ones. Short of the two most recent albums, Seal music to me is one form of perfection, much in the way I've loved PM Dawn as well. You can just put on one of those Seal albums and the music gets inside you, and it's like you are transported to another place with every song. Too beautiful. I remember I saw colors once with PM Dawn (and no, I wasn't on drugs. at most, maybe sleep deprived, but I'm not counting that). It's not just some sound coming out of a piece of electronics, it's a spiritual experience.

Ha, too true! I guess I was just trying to list the "essential, your life is meaningless without listening to these" tracks from the Seal catalog.

I don't know why I picked up the first Seal album on cassette when I was a kid... I probably liked the Adamski/Seal version of "Killer". But listening to Deep Water was like opening a box. I bought the second album on CD the day it came out and listened to it over and over... "Kiss From A Rose" was definitely my favourite track at the time, but then they started playing on the radio and it was attached to that movie, and that kind of killed it.

And yes, "Show Me", and "Newborn Friend" almost made the list... but I decided to limit myself to three recommended songs per album max. ;)

Hmmm, I've got to start bringing my Seal collection to work so that I can listen to it again.

Etherspin

11-30-2007, 04:33 PM

first impression... what the hell is this ...

human being and seal II any day

11-30-2007, 04:49 PM

yeah....i love that nigga but he's been stinkin it up lately...dude the first 2 seal albums are absolute masterpieces... but yeah.. ever since those two....he went the way of lenny kravits....from a comet-to-vomit

11-30-2007, 04:58 PM

Mistress M

11-30-2007, 05:52 PM

also...prince has been polishing turds into glass these last few albums or so...musicology...marginal....that new one..is at least a good atempt at some greatness....it has wendy,lisa, and sheila e on it..like i said ....nice attempt but no blunt..(sorry...i mean cigar)

Prince's albums have always sucked compared to his live versions. Something happens to him in a recording studio and it's like the ghost of the song.

Like on the new album, check out the difference between the recorded version of "Fury" (moose-balls lame) and the live version on SNL (holy toledo, batman!): http://popmuse.typepad.com/my_weblog/files/PrinceSNL246.mov

I've never understood why he won't open up on the guitar on his recordings the way he does on stage. :think: Maybe he needs the energy of the crowd or something. I think if Prince did a recording of some hardcore jam sessions, it would blow people away. His regular recordings are too stiff.

Hero1

11-30-2007, 07:29 PM

Louis85

12-01-2007, 03:28 PM

It's only natural (I guess) that MOST artist have a "peak" album. I guess the sad part is that once that album drops, there is no way an artist can ever repeat/exceed that performance (even if the future albums are technologically better) or can they?

I'll humbly list a few of my favorites:

Michael Jackson -- "Thriller" ("Dangerous" was a good follow-up, I thought)
Earth, Wind & Fire -- "All N All" (Many many great follow-ups!!)
Seal -- "Seal" (the second album, although the first was great too.)
Sade -- hmm...a tough one but I'll say "Promise" ("Love Deluxe" was awesome too)
Anita Baker -- "Rapture" (great follow ups too)

etc. etc. I'm sure this is something that NO artist wants to hear, especially those who've made it big, but this is just a microcosm of life, n'est pas?

:think:

xtristessax

12-01-2007, 09:35 PM

Ha, too true! I guess I was just trying to list the "essential, your life is meaningless without listening to these" tracks from the Seal catalog.

I probably liked the Adamski/Seal version of "Killer".

you just earned alot of bonus cool points for mentioning Adamski AND Killer!!! i have the single of the Adamski version.

yeah....i love that nigga but he's been stinkin it up lately...dude the first 2 seal albums are absolute masterpieces... but yeah.. ever since those two....he went the way of lenny kravits....from a comet-to-vomit

i have to protest this comment. I think Human Being is Seal's best album, the songwriting is soooooo good. But from a production standpoint i think Seal(I) is the best. There are very few songs that make me want to dance like Crazy and Killer do!!!!

xtristessax

12-01-2007, 09:37 PM

I've never understood why he won't open up on the guitar on his recordings the way he does on stage. :think: Maybe he needs the energy of the crowd or something. I think if Prince did a recording of some hardcore jam sessions, it would blow people away. His regular recordings are too stiff.

people just don't understand that Prince has mad guitar skills!!!!!

ElizabethX

12-03-2007, 01:05 AM

Human Being was very special, and Prince is sooooo good.

12-04-2007, 08:47 PM

i like human beings the song... just not the album...except for one song...that one about the princess and the lion...maybe i'll give it another shot...if i can find a copy...i do have a tendancy to b e extreemely hard on people who make music

Twisted.Mellow

12-04-2007, 08:54 PM

That include yourself, Be?

Etherspin

12-04-2007, 10:13 PM

theres reaching your peak but then theres falling under your potential,this sounds like something is seriously missing... is it that producer?? trevor horn or something ?

ElizabethX

12-05-2007, 12:42 AM

I think that princess song, Be, is one of me least favorite. ;) Go figure.

xtristessax

12-05-2007, 03:01 AM

Still Love Remains is my favorite from that album.

Etherspin

12-05-2007, 07:43 AM

still love remains... yeah the nonsensical AAAAAAAAh yeeeah yeaaaahs towards the end!! love it!

Louis85

12-05-2007, 03:49 PM

"Lost My Faith" is my favorite from Human Being. I also like "Excerpt From", but it would have been better had it been a bit longer.

I remember seeing Seal in concert. He was VERY good live. I was impressed.

I like "Human Being", but he will probably never do an album that I will like better than the first one. And Trevor Horn produces some excellent stuff.

Louis85

12-05-2007, 04:08 PM

My Top 10 Favorite Seal songs:

Heavenly
Future Love Paradise
Deep Water
Don't Cry
Violet (acoustic piano Version ONLY)
Waiting For You
Prayer For The Dying
Fly Like An Eagle (I know that's not his)
Crazy (Many versions)
Lost My Faith

When I listen to the first 5 songs on this list, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Louis85

12-06-2007, 01:38 PM

Just got the new "System" CD today and have been listening to it all day. It's okay. I like it better than I did the first couple times I played Seal IV. I think this one will grow on me too, but it is NOT better than his first album.

(I need to stop posting here. I feel like I'm monopolizing this thread. 3 posts in a row geez!)

ElizabethX

12-06-2007, 11:35 PM

To Kristen, Tim, and Louis's 1st of 3-- YES. Absolutely yes. A million times.

Man, I would love to see Seal live. Someday...

Cozmo D

12-11-2007, 03:22 AM

I saw him at Jones Beach one year. Well, at least i think I did. I think that Sade was there too.

Twisted.Mellow

12-11-2007, 06:26 PM

Watched the Victoria's Secret special the other night, Seal did two songs, and I didn't think either was very good. *shrugs*

dreamrib

12-12-2007, 07:02 PM

it took me a long time to get into some of his stuff, i quite remember the big fan of his we have here as well. but now i love him. he is right on the money, go him . i'm glad he finally has some new music out.

:)

ElizabethX

12-13-2007, 05:02 PM

I remember the first song I heard was Prayer For the Dying, and I hated it... but I was just a kid then. After I grew up a little, I heard Kiss From a Rose at the right time and then I appreciated all his music. It's when I started to see the world in a more spiritual, broader, more abstract light.

dreamrib

12-13-2007, 10:13 PM

i remember long debates on here til i finally let my closed mindeness go. now i totally dig him. Lol, i even get told to turn down love's devine i tend to play it so often.

sdldawn

12-28-2007, 03:24 AM

yeah... not keen on them new prince albums...

he should release some of those old demos he got layin around.. at least we could get a decent album...

Brian221

12-31-2007, 10:20 AM

yeah... not keen on them new prince albums...

he should release some of those old demos he got layin around.. at least we could get a decent album...

:eek:
I can't believe those words just came from sdldawn...

sdldawn

12-31-2007, 06:42 PM

yeah... the more that time goes by.. its showing that princes latter work isn't really cutting it...

I will always be huge on his 80's stuff though.

and the seal thing.. i totally see what you were saying.. the new album isn't great.. i did like the first track though..

Bonkman

01-01-2008, 09:23 PM

Seal's new album isn't fantastic, but it isn't horrible either.

He went back to the sound of his first album. Maybe he's hoping to get more club play, I don't know.

I like all his stuff, regardless.

Louis85

01-02-2008, 08:54 PM

I like the first two tracks a lot. I'm sure they'll wear "Amazing" out pretty quickly. The rest of the album is just mediocre to me.

And I agree Bonk, it does sound REAL clubby.

sdldawn

01-02-2008, 09:48 PM

that first track is really good.. i like that one

ElizabethX

01-03-2008, 02:28 AM

I will prob like it then... I like clubby, and I like the first album.

pmFan

01-03-2008, 06:30 PM

I caught the last half of an ABC or NBC special - figure skating to a live Seal performance to benefit autism (or some noble cause). WOW!!! I Loved seeing and hearing him perform! He played one song from the new album and I thought it was pretty good... probably need to check out the full CD now.

Bonkman - interesting that you say it sounds like the 1st album style - I really like that sound.

Bonkman

01-03-2008, 08:27 PM

...Bonkman - interesting that you say it sounds like the 1st album style - I really like that sound.

When I say that, I mean a lot of the tracks on the new album are upbeat, clubby sounding. Much like the upbeat, clubby tracks on his first album. (Even though I really like Violet from his first album and that's not really clubby to me.)

dreamrib

01-07-2008, 02:47 PM

i'm definatly still going to get it, its worth it for everythign i've heard so far.

as for prince, he's always so different but i like him. he manages to be so different but yet usually on top of it. I do miss a lot of his old stuff, andit took me awhile when he did his last cd and tour. he's definatly always has his ear to the music.