Customer Reviews

Best: 1991-2004

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After four albums (and a few soundtrack appearances), Seal has put out a stellar greatest hits album. Absolutely stellar.
And the way to purchase the album is to get THIS version, as the acoustic disc is a worthy buy on its' own. It's revelatory.
The songs selected for the "regular" disc are the ones any self-respecting Seal fan would approve of. For my taste, there is a little too much emphasis on his fourth (most recent) disc, and there's probably one (or two) too many covers.
It may be my imagination, but the songs from his first two albums sound remastered, and I would have preferred one or two more songs from THOSE records.
Nevertheless, listening to the entire disc, there's no denying Seal is an amazingly talented individual. There has not been as perfect a partnership between an artist and a producer (Trevor Horn) since Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones.
Seal should be huge.
That said, this disc would be the perfect gift for ANY music fan on your list. It has appeal towards pop fans, R&B lovers, those who appreciate what was once called "soul" music, and even the open "alternative" music aficionados.

The second disc, simply put, is a joy to listen to. It's an exquisite set of his songs re-done in "acoustic" fashion. Seal clearly put this together out of a passion for performing in this manner, and it shows.

This makes an outstanding greatest hits collection into an essential purchase.

I don't really consider a diehard fan of Seal's music, maybe more of a casual fan. Still I always loved his voice. He has one of the sexiest voices in music, the male equivalent to Sade in my opinion. When I saw Seal's greatest hits cd with the bonus disc of acoustic tracks of his greatest hits, I immediately bought it. Listening to this wonderful compilation, I almost forgot how much I love "Don't Cry" and "Kiss From a Rose", a couple of songs that at one time were overplayed too death on the radio but haven't heard on the radio for a long time. My personal favorite Seal song is the gorgeous ballad "Love Divine". I forgot what show I was watching but I heard that song on some tv drama and immediately fell in love with the song. I still love that song to this very day. It is one of those rare songs that moves me deeply. It is so emotional and powerful. Most of the songs I have heard but there were a few I haven't. One of them is the funky "Walk On By", an infectious r&b/soul/pop song that I can snap my fingers along to. I also love "Human Beings" which I only had heard bits of but not the song in its entirety. The only track I wasn't really big on is the cover of "Fly Like An Eagle". I never cared for the original version to begin with. The acoustic disc is amazing. I have always wanted to hear Seal's music acoustically and I was not disappointed in what I heard. I especially loved the acoustic version of "Love Divine". If you can find this greatest hits package w/the bonus acoustic disc, it is worth buying.

I am one of Seal's biggest fans as I love his voice and fusion of R&B, rock, and club music that he has created with the great Trevor Horn. I eagerly wait for Seal to put out anything and I buy it without hesitation. I have his 4 CDs, including his first which in my opinion is one of my top 20 debuts of all time, most of the remixes made of his songs, bought soundtracks to 2 movies that I did not watch (but in which his songs appeared on), and even had the pleasure of being introduced to a great group named Jakatta via Seal's vocals in the song "My Vision." With that precursor, when I heard that Seal was putting out two versions of his "Best" songs, I immediately shelled a little more money for the 2 CD version as I felt that the acoustic versions of some of my favorites would more than make up with my familiarity of all but a couple of the songs on the 1 CD release.

Here comes the hard part of writing this particular review because I have to try to speak to hardcore fans like me and those who may like Seal but never got into him enough to buy any of his releases. If you find yourself in the latter group, I would highly recommend that you buy the 1 CD release as the acoustic versions may not bring much value added. If you are a hardcore fan, this release (even with the acoustic versions) may not be warrant purchasing.

Before other Seal fans behead me, my point regarding hardcore fans is that they will already have most of the songs on the non-acoustic CD, with the exception of "My Vision," the aforementioned soundtrack selections, and yet another remake of "Walk on By." His take on the song is OK but if you want to hear a much better version try Gabrielle's take on it. With regard to the acoustic CD, I was disappointed because I have heard Seal live recordings (including his amazing "Unplugged" performance on MTV) and I have always been impressed; however most of the acoustic versions have Seal sounding EXACTLY is he does in the original versions and are only stripped on the amazing production work performed by Trevor Horn. There are a couple of nuggets towards the second part of the acoustic CD in which Seal does something different with his voice and I wish he had done more of this in all the acoustic versions as they would have had a bigger punch.

In conclusion, if you are a casual Seal fan I would give this release, 4 solid stars, although I would first suggest you check out with debut CD and then buy this one. For hardcore fans, I can't give this release more than 2+ stars as you'll already have most of what is here and will be able to make an original "Best" that suits your tastes and mine would include "Newfound Friend," "Please Asking Why," "Whirlpool," and "Wild," just to name a few. I would have rated this CD higher had it included more new material, some remixes, b-sides, and something to get hardcore fans to really enjoy this release. Although the acoustic CD is OK and I am glad to have it, it's not a MUST have. So combining a 4 for casual fans and a 2+ for hardcore fans, I will give this release 3.5 stars because it's Seal.

Personal request to Seal (as if he actually reads this ;-)): While I love almost all of your music, it would make this fan even more of one if future releases included the soulful club-like energy and quiet elegance found in your debut. I know that there is no going back, but one can move forward and get the funk back. Too much syrup causes tooth decay and I miss the loud Seal as much as the barely there Seal that make you want to dance and/or listen to every nugget included in songs like "Violet"

I was hesitant to purchase this CD when I saw it originally released. After all, I already had the four albums, and the extra songs were covers. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Then I heard that there was going to be a deluxe version with a bonus disc of songs performed acoustically. Now THAT piqued my interest. I consider Seal to be a rare vocal talent, and an ace songwriter with a gift for empathy that few can match. The thought of hearing him without the gee-whiz production of Trevor Horn (who really does understand how to produce Seal) made me grab this the week it was released.

I was not in the least bit let down. Stripped of the glossy synths of their album counterparts, songs like "Killer," "Don't Cry" and "Prayer For The Dying" take on a stately elegance. Even Seal himself states in the liner notes that he feels acoustic is his natural setting. Having this disc in addition to the originals is like a piece of Bavarian Chocolate after a lavish meal; it's the perfect after dinner topper.

As for the "Best" disc's main course, there are a couple delights. Rescued from soundtrack obscurity are Seal's covers of Steve Miller's "Fly Like An Eagle" from "Space Jam" and Echo and The Bunnymen's "Lips Like Sugar" from "50 First Dates." His gentle rendition of the Bacharach/David chestnut "Walk On By" holds its own to any other well known version. I am also glad that "Human Beings" made the cut, even if I wished another song or two might have snuck from that CD into the list. (All the more reason to hang on to that vastly underrated, personal work.)

The most important thing about Seal is that he keeps a utopian world view that also maintains a pragmatists' edge. A song like "Prayer For The Dying" holds up years later, maybe taking on more weight, given the current regime's narrow world view. And when all else fails, "Crazy" and "My Vision" can still make you dance.

Best of albums are almost always a way for a record company to earn some quick bucks because the cost of producing them is practically nothing. In this case Warner Brothers adds a 2nd disk with new material, but for the price of a 2nd albumn. If you're a Seal fan you already have most of disk 1 so you'e paying a steep premium for everything else. That said, the 2nd disk is what is most disappointing. Yes, it's new versions of some great Seal songs and if you're a Seal fan you'll want them, but after comparing it to the truly accoustic Seal: The Accoustic Session, these versions seem barely "accoustic" at all. As has been the problem with some of Seal's later work, overproduction buries his talent in blanket of technically well-done, but marginally meaningful sound. What made Seal popular and famous is the passion and emotion of his voice. That should be front and center in an "accoustic" album. For whatever reasons Trevor Horn keeps complicating what should be simple and powerful.
At least get the version with the DVD audio. As I said, this release is technically well done and that's the best way to appreciate it.

Sometimes I think people do these reviews just so they can complain. As always, Greatest Hits Albums are done for two reasons. First, to sum up an artists career so far and allow those who have become recent fans of the artist to hear previous hits. And second, for the labels to cash in on holiday sales. With that being said, as Greatest Hits albums go, it's almost perfect. While it does fall into the trap of featuring too many tracks from the latest album (lables often do this) it does leave off a few essential hits such as "In the Beginning" and "Human Beings." But where it lack it also does some surpising and great things, such as including the Jakatta hit remix version of "My Vision". One of the biggest dance singles of 2003 throughout european clubs and radio, and the gay clubs of the US, it was especially nice to see it included here since it is technically his biggest worldwide hit to date. So it would have been nice to have included the original Adamski feat Seal mix of "Killer" since it was that original version that introduced the world to Seal in the first place. But that's minor. Then to add a second disc of acoustic mixes makes this a Must-have purchase. I look forward to a Seal remix album that contains his multitude a hit dance remixes. Although given the vast amount of remixes and their length, many up to 10 mintues long, it would probably have to be a two or even three disc set. Oh well ... we could dream.

The best thing about this sumptuous retrospective feast of Seal's work is actually two things: the first is the additional acoustic disc that strips some of the artist's best work down to pure soulful emotion and elated spirituality. The second is that this survey of Seal's exceptional musical output answers so irrefutably the question posed by his debut release; namely, was the genius so superbly showcased on the first album a one-time deal, or, was there substantially more to follow? Fortunately for those who savor superlative talent, the answer to the former question is a gleeful, "No way!" and the answer to the latter an ecstatic "YES!"

The seamless fusion of rock, rhythm and blues, folk music, and electronic English glam that Seal presented on his first release served as the perfect vehicle for his prophetic warnings, and angelic fog-horn of a voice, against the persistent ignorance of racism, the avoidable dangers of social ostracism, and the arrogance of self-righteousness at the expense of unconditional love. Those pleas are revisited here as authentic and painfully relevant in "Crazy," "Killer," and "Future Love Paradise." What other singers emerging in the 1990s demonstrated as much unadorned and nakedly vulnerable compassion for his fellow human creatures as Seal when crying out on "Killers,": "Solitary Brother, is there still a part of you that wants to live? Solitary Sister, is there still a part of you that wants to give?"

Whereas the progression of Seal's musical aesthetics is thrilling to experience through the samplings of work from each of his four albums presented here, even more exciting is the undiminished passionate sincerity and fatal addiction to faith in love that resurfaces time and time again. From the employment of medieval lyricism with shadings of jazz to contemporary electronica and reggae, and from ocean-deep ballads to rocket-powered dance tunes, a rare and significant musical sensibility is always evident. Part of Seal's tremendous appeal remains his dazzling originality. For that reason, the inclusion of Dionne Warwick's classic "Walk On By" on this collection sounds more like a letter of instruction to undesired company than like a souvenir bonus track. The real treasured bonus is the full set of acoustic tunes on the second CD. Nevertheless, pellucidly clear throughout this masterful offering is an enthralling portrait of the artist as a musically-inclined prophet forever working to amplify, fine-tune, and make a gift of his brilliantly healing voice.

by Aberjhani
Author of I Made My Boy Out of Poetry
And Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File Library of American History)

I wanted this cd because there were a couple of Seal songs that I really liked. I only knew about half of the songs on the cd and I really like those, but the other half that I didn't know were just as good, if not better. This is a really great album - didn't know I liked Seal that much! Highly recommend this CD.

Warner Music presents "Best 1991-2004", a double compact disc set featuring classic Seal as he performs song after song...the first disc is "The Hits" with 14 tracks and the second disc is "Acoustic Album" with 13 tracks...excellent arrangements by Trevor Horn makes this a first class project, an outstanding release...lyrically Seal still sings plaintive, pleas for love, peace and understanding hopeful of saving the planet from destruction...his voice is powerful, can be soft and haunting almost to a whisper...listen to "PRAYER FOR THE DYING", on the second disc check out the experimentation blends a transformation of renewed spiritually relaxing sounds searching for an ultimate escape from reality...great rhythm guitar guaranteed to get your mojo moving...depending on the mood, Seal can find the listeners comfort zone...just unwind and let his music take over, enjoy the triumph.

Seal has one of the most distinctive voices in music today...just about everything he sings becomes his own..."FLY LIKE AN EAGLE", recorded in 1996 from "Space Jam Motion Picture"..."WALK ON BY", the classic standard composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David..."CRAZY", recorded in 1990, the one that started it all..."KISS FROM A ROSE", recorded in 1994, played by every radio station Disc Jockey on the airwaves...compositions are well assembled, with multi layered yet simple...as a musician he is amazing...he is a master of vocals, lyrical, moving and perfect to the musical palette...you are drawn into the hypnotic snare of the arrangements and his voice...just the way you like 'em!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Warner Bros 48943 ~ (11/09/2004)

This is the Double CD that includes the acoustic version also. This is the best Seal CD(s) I've ever heard. I can't stop listening to it. There is so many different songs on it that I can relate to. Some songs make you feel happy, some songs make you sad, but I think there is something on one of the CD's that anyone can relate to!!! I HIGHLY recommend it!!!