When I saw Seal was releasing a new album, I was intrigued – I knew it would be Seal’s first full length release since splitting from ex-wife, Heidi Klum and starting his new relationship with model, Erica Packer (who, by the way, is the former spouse of billionaire casino mogul, James Packer). I hadn’t even given Seal a thought for ten years, with the exception of the whole divorce thing with Heidi, so I wondered exactly what kind of music he would be releasing, so I jumped on board to give it a listen and provide you with my humble review.
On this album, Seal 7, Seal explores love and all of its implications, idiosyncrasies, and intricacies – subject matter he began to delicately approach as early as 2013, knowing exactly where he wanted to go. “The album concerns the most sung about, most talked about, and most documented emotion-love,” Seal says. “I tried to capture all of the wonderfully different dynamics of love, whether it’s the anger, the acceptance, the bliss, the sadness, the elation, or the recklessness. It’s this emotion and the ways it makes us feel. It’s about the extreme joy and the extreme regret as well as all of the crazy things love makes us do.”
Basic RGB
Personally, I don’t care for the name of this album – regardless of what that means. At first, I couldn’t find anything specific written about the “why” regarding the name of the song, so I found it quite a coincidence that his marriage to Heidi Klum lasted seven years. From what I understand, Seal apparently wanted to call the new album “Seal,” but the record company was worried that fans would confuse it with his first, second and fourth albums, also called “Seal” so they agreed to call the new album “Seal 7”. Much to Seal’s admitted annoyance, people are calling the album “7”. He said, “people think it’s this mystical reason why it’s called ‘7.’ It’s not. It’s just the seventh studio album.” So there you have it folks!
Okay, now on to the album – you know it’s an album about love. How could it not be? Seal reunites with producer Trevor Horn – the man behind his 1990 breakthrough single, “Crazy,” and signature hits, “Kiss From a Rose” and “Prayer for the Dying”.
Many of the songs on “Seal 7” have a softer, slower R&B feel like I would have expected from Seal, but a few of them sound like they were “made for radio” songs. “Do You Ever,” which has already been released on Seal’s Youtube channel, is a great offering, and I’ve added the official YouTube release below for your listening pleasure. I really like “Redzone Killer” because it’s a bit of a faster song – I could see adding it to my running playlist or even remixes being made in the future and being played on the radio or the dance floor.
Another great dance song ready for the clubs is “Life on the Dancefloor,” a song about his newfound passion. Seal soars in the power ballad, “Daylight Saving.” I found the song, “Monascow,” to be sort of a slinky soul song with a bit of brass-infusion, and I really liked it, while “Padded Cell” is an electronic, industrial throb of a song reminiscent of Seal’s Killer era.
Song List:
01-Daylight Saving
02-Every Time I’m With You
03-Life on the Dancefloor
04-Padded Cell
05-Do You Ever
06-The Big Love Has Died
07-Redzone Killer
08-Monascow
09-Half A Heart
10-Let Yourself
11-Love
Overall, I’d say the new “Seal 7” CD will be well received, but not long remembered, unless a few of those faster, peppier songs make it to the radio and stay there. There’s only so much sadness we can take, which may or may not be the downfall of this album. But then, this is obviously my untrained and humble opinion!
Be sure to check out Seal’s new album, “Seal 7” on iTunes or Amazon. You can connect with Seal on his Official Website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube!
I participated in the Seal 7 album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.
It would be great if you would stay connected with me!! You can follow me on Twitter @DebiL1611, like me on Facebook at 2014 and Beyond, circle me on Google+, follow me on Tumblr, Instagram and Bloglovin’, subscribe on YouTube, or connect with me on LinkedIn and Pinterest.
Please make sure to visit my homepage and subscribe to my blog for more great posts on running, fitness and lifestyle topics as well as food, product, music and book reviews, and more!
