Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I grabbed my disc and disappeared into the abyss., November 24, 2007
I've read several reviews of Seal's fifth cd "System". I've entertained all the arguments for and against "System". I, too, have been a fan of Seal since 1991. I, too, have seen him in concert at Red Rocks in June 1995 with Des'ree opening for him. I am a big fan of Trevor Horn (The Buggles, Yes, Peter Gabriel, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Art Of Noise, etc.) I agree that MOST of the time when an artist gets married or has children their music goes downhill. I also agree that the older an artist gets, the less relevant their new music is, and agree that they've already said what they wanted to say when they were young.
However, for me, Seal has always been consistent. Sure, there are songs on each of his discs that I could probably program out, but overall, his past four discs have been very consistent. Unlike others, in 1998, I bought "Human Beings", but it took me a long time to like it. Would I consider it his best work? No. His most artistic? Maybe.
I knew Stuart Price was the same guy who did Madonna's "Confessions On A Dancefloor" (which was average for Madonna in my opinion). So, I listened to "System" many times before sitting down to write my review here. I agree that Stuart Price's production detracts from what Trevor Horn was able to enhance. Seal's lyrics are the same though. I don't feel he has nothing to say. The lyrics are more uplifting (marriage and child can do that to some men) and the music goes with that newfound sense of happiness. Still, "If It's In My Mind, It's On My Face" has that old Seal insight in which he talks about hanging in there. Wasn't that also what "Crazy" and "Killer" were about too? "Amazing" is good in both versions, and also is a song about affirmation.
The sound of "System" is dancefloor friendly, but it differs in one significant way from his debut--variety. His debut alternated between club tracks and acoustic numbers and a mixture of both. "System" is almost purely electronic, though there is strong acoustic guitar on "Dumb" and he slows down for "Wedding Day", a target for jokes since he chose to duet with his wife Heidi Klum of "Project Runway". He also slows down for "Rolling" which is probably his most "Human Beings" era sounding.
To me, "System" is another consistent chapter in Seal's career whether fans like the disc or not. Some say with "Human Beings" he didn't care what the mainstream wanted, but "System" is the same thing. He made this music without caring what his fans wanted. It sounds like he was feeling good and wanted to get that onto record right now. Maybe his next album won't feel as happy, but ten years from now fans might want to come back to "System" and revisit a positive time in Seal's career. Every artist goes back to the beginning from time to time before moving onto their next phase. "System" is a clean, short dance album with many of the same hallmarks of Seal's previous works such as great vocals, strong lyrics and memorable songs. "Amazing", "Just Like Before", "The Right Life", "Rolling" and "If It's In My Mind, It's On My Face" are all solid, memorable tracks. The rest are good, but not great. Four stars, just like "Seal IV".
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, December 2, 2007
Seal's recording career started with a Bang about 16 years ago with two terrific albums of music: startling, beautiful, stirringly sung Music. Music that touched you in places that Music seldom touches you...simultaneously on your mind, in your heart and in your soul.
Then there was a period of searching for a direction, "Human Being" and "Seal IV": both albums with several commendable songs but neither with the intense thought and musical follow-through of Seal's first two.
And now there is "System." From the very first sighs of "If it's in my mind, it's on my face," it is apparent that Seal is up to something different. His trademark voice, always perfectly in pitch, always big, always bold and masculine: "The time is now!..if I could fly I'd spread my wings and free you from these foolish things..." The arrangement is voluptuous with Bass and Strings and the beat dares you not to move out of your chair, whether that chair is in your dining room or in your car....and dance.
The signature song of "System" comes next and that is "Amazing" and indeed it is. In fact there are two versions of this song on this CD, one a remix by "The Thin White Duke" (Bowie maybe?) and there are two others that I know of: one by Kaskade and the other by Bill Hamel available elsewhere.
"Just Like Before," "The Right Life," "Loaded": all primo Seal...thoughtful, rough, truthful, one stronger than the former but all meshed together by the committed vocalizing by one of our premier singers.
"System" is in fact all about fun, about dancing, about Joy and mostly about shrugging off the BS of Life and moving your booty. Seal is obviously happy and wants to spread it around...and we're more than happy to accept his beneficence.
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
WHERE'S THE MOOD!, November 14, 2007
I am an avid Seal fan who waits in misery and counts the months, days, hours, minutes and even seconds for anything Seal has to offer. What I love about Seal is the over-flowing emotions that pour out so smoothly from song-to-song. The dark and moody overtones met with the lustrous delivery makes Seal's music so intriguing and addictive.
With all of that said, I have to say this cd leaves me wondering what happened to the moody overtones....the intrigue and the mystery. It made me want to skip through sunflower prairies with a basket full of flower peddals........... Ok.....its not that bad but it sure doesn't give me goose bumps like all the prvious recordings.
Ok.... I will come down from my soapbox and let someone else have the floor. Please don't get me wrong, I am still a huge Seal fan but I am just a little disapointed with this one. SORRY....
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