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July 2010

Singer Seal will release his sixth album, titled, Seal 6: Commitment September 28 on Reprise Records.

The first single is "Secret," a deeply moving, string-laden ballad, that ranks among Seal's finest love songs.

Commitment finds the London-born, three-time Grammy Award winner re-teaming with renowned music maestro David Foster, who also produced 2008's Soul, Seal's stunning covers collection of soul classics. There has to be a song inspired by his hot model wife, too.

"I asked David to produce Commitment because quite simply, he's the most incredible person I've worked with in the studio for a very long time," Seal said in an official statement released by his label. "He's one of a kind. I don't think there's an arranger and producer anywhere on the planet who can do what he does."

Foster is equally complimentary of Seal. "His voice is so unique and he has such command of it — his tone and musicality are unequaled," Foster says, adding that Seal was on a mission while in the studio making the platter. "He was in fearless, relentless pursuit of greatness — no one was going to obscure his path. The album is full of beautiful musical surprises and his songwriting has never been better. He says it may be his best work yet and I think he may be right."

"When all things in your life begin to align in the way they have for me over the past few years, you become incredibly focused," Seal explains. "I love a challenge, and this for me, has been the greatest challenge of my career: to write an album that exceeds my own expectations."

While showcasing Seal's one-of-a-kind husky baritone, ear for unforgettable melodies, and unique lyrical point of view, songs such as "Secret," "The Weight of My Mistakes," "Best of Me," and "If I'm Any Closer," delve into the emotions surrounding love, family, and commitment, hence the title. "Everything about my life is fully committed," he says. "I've never felt more focused on the matter at hand: My wife, my children, the family in general, my own well-being, and of course music and my career. Each one of these songs has personal meaning for me. I dug very deep and all I can hope for is that the music strikes a chord with people."

http://www.artistdirect.c...um/7350462

Sounds like some real watered down B.S. - Where the f is Trevor Horn???

Bulldog said:

Sounds like some real watered down B.S. - Where the f is Trevor Horn???

Or at least Wendy & Lisa. Look, I know Trevor treated W&L like dirt but he and Seal had some major chemistry that has not been replicated. Plus, the colors that W&L provided on the first two albums added musical depth to what has sadly become a rather expected sound from Seal. I liked the last album but it just doesn't hold up to those first three works.

seriously... that "Soul" album was incredibly soulless. It was vapid and overproduced, no real feeling or emotion. I expect the same w/ the album but hopefully I'm wrong.

Ohh, just to clarify, I don't consider that David Foster produced Soul-less dreck to be a part of his catalog. I was referring to System.

Didn't Trevor produce SEAL IV?

That was my favorite Seal album of all.

I don't believe he produced "System" though - what inspired Seal to

change directions all-together?

I'd like to believe Seal just picked Stewart Price or whoever he is

to produce "System" because he was the producer of the moment..but

it seems with Seal now teaming up again with David Foster for a second time,

Seal has shut the door with Mr. Horn. Not cool.

"System" had it's moments, but Soul was more or less disappointing iMO.

While I'm excited Seal is doing an original album, I won't get too excited.

[Edited 8/1/10 0:03am]

Human Being was the last Horn produced work. Not sure if Seal has ever publiclly stated why they parted ways but the liner notes on Human Being would lead you to think the process was too emotionally taxing on Seal.

W&L have shared how mean spirited Horn is and how much of a perfectionist he is when working---yet not having a clue what he is looking for.

sosgemini said:

Human Being was the last Horn produced work. Not sure if Seal has ever publiclly stated why they parted ways but the liner notes on Human Being would lead you to think the process was too emotionally taxing on Seal.

W&L have shared how mean spirited Horn is and how much of a perfectionist he is when working---yet not having a clue what he is looking for.

Actually VANILLI is correct, SOS -- Seal IV was the last thing that Trevor Horn produced for Seal... despite the fact that Human Beings was so "taxing" on the relationship. I believe Seal started recording IV by himself or with a different producer and it wasn't working, so he ended up going back to Horn. From there the producers have been Stuart Price and David Foster (System and Soul).

pzlyprk said:

sosgemini said:

Human Being was the last Horn produced work. Not sure if Seal has ever publiclly stated why they parted ways but the liner notes on Human Being would lead you to think the process was too emotionally taxing on Seal.

W&L have shared how mean spirited Horn is and how much of a perfectionist he is when working---yet not having a clue what he is looking for.

Actually VANILLI is correct, SOS -- Seal IV was the last thing that Trevor Horn produced for Seal... despite the fact that Human Beings was so "taxing" on the relationship. I believe Seal started recording IV by himself or with a different producer and it wasn't working, so he ended up going back to Horn. From there the producers have been Stuart Price and David Foster (System and Soul).

Ahh-sooo. Looks like the album was produced by Mark Batson and Trevor Horn. Now I need to research how many each did. To the Batcave.

sosgemini said:

pzlyprk said:

Actually VANILLI is correct, SOS -- Seal IV was the last thing that Trevor Horn produced for Seal... despite the fact that Human Beings was so "taxing" on the relationship. I believe Seal started recording IV by himself or with a different producer and it wasn't working, so he ended up going back to Horn. From there the producers have been Stuart Price and David Foster (System and Soul).

Ahh-sooo. Looks like the album was produced by Mark Batson and Trevor Horn. Now I need to research how many each did. To the Batcave.

Keep me posted - I'm fascinated to know.

I'd love to know what caused the rift or if there is one between Seal and Trevor, simply

because I remember in the booklet for IV, Seal praised Trevor as being the only producer for him

or something like that. Hmph. David Foster eat that

Vanilli said:

sosgemini said:

Ahh-sooo. Looks like the album was produced by Mark Batson and Trevor Horn. Now I need to research how many each did. To the Batcave.

Keep me posted - I'm fascinated to know.

I'd love to know what caused the rift or if there is one between Seal and Trevor, simply

because I remember in the booklet for IV, Seal praised Trevor as being the only producer for him

or something like that. Hmph. David Foster eat that

Horn was the overall producer on the project (I believe it's even written so on the back artwork of the CD packaging), but Batson received a co-producer credit for tracks 1-3 and 6-8 (http://www.discogs.com/Seal-Seal-IV/release/310387). Apparently, Seal recorded an album called Togetherland (made without Horn) in 2001, but WB rejected it (only "This Could Be Heaven" was released). This may have precipitated him going back to Horn for Seal IV. I can only imagine that the supposed bad blood between the two came about because of Horn's incessant "micro-producing" over a long period of time (many who have worked with Horn have had this complaint; look at what happened to the Horn-produced Wendy & Lisa album). He is a great producer, nonetheless. But I can see how it would rub an artist/musician the wrong way (wanting to get their music out there).