Seal has been popping albums out with incredible regularity. He returns with his fourth in as many years. That includes his excellent "Hits" collection from 2009.
The man with the soulful, rough hewn voice - who also happens to be married to supermodel and "Project Runway" host Heidi Klum - recently revealed the first single from his forthcoming longplayer.
"Secret" is the lead track from "Commitment", Seal's seventh studio album. For some reason, he considers it his sixth. Apparently, his previous elpee, the drippy covers album, "Soul", doesn't count. Whatever the correct tally, "Commitment" is the latest in a career that stretches back twenty years! Where did all that time go?
The verse kinda reminds me of "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt. This is not necessarily a good thing. Old war horse and MOR knob twiddler, David Foster, makes a return appearance in the producer's seat for "Commitment". Seal and Mr. Foster developed a close, creative relationship during the recording of "Soul" which prompted Seal to reprise David's role for the follow up.
David Foster, for those that don't know, has produced everyone from Celine Dion to Chicago, Cher, Gloria Estefan, Olivia Newton-John and more. He is the undisputed king of the adult contemporary ballad.
While "Secret" is a bit schmaltzy, its b-side, "If I Could Ever Make You Love Me", shows a few glimmers of Seal's epic ballads from the past like "Violet". However, it doesn't come close to the dizzy heights scaled by towering classics like "Prayer For The Dying" or "Kiss From A Rose". It doesn't even hold a candle to recent favorite "Love's Divine" which was criminally overlooked by the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic with the exception of Germany where it peaked at #4.
"Secret" is the lead track from "Commitment", Seal's seventh studio album. For some reason, he considers it his sixth. Apparently, his previous elpee, the drippy covers album, "Soul", doesn't count. Whatever the correct tally, "Commitment" is the latest in a career that stretches back twenty years! Where did all that time go?
The verse kinda reminds me of "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt. This is not necessarily a good thing. Old war horse and MOR knob twiddler, David Foster, makes a return appearance in the producer's seat for "Commitment". Seal and Mr. Foster developed a close, creative relationship during the recording of "Soul" which prompted Seal to reprise David's role for the follow up.
David Foster, for those that don't know, has produced everyone from Celine Dion to Chicago, Cher, Gloria Estefan, Olivia Newton-John and more. He is the undisputed king of the adult contemporary ballad.
While "Secret" is a bit schmaltzy, its b-side, "If I Could Ever Make You Love Me", shows a few glimmers of Seal's epic ballads from the past like "Violet". However, it doesn't come close to the dizzy heights scaled by towering classics like "Prayer For The Dying" or "Kiss From A Rose". It doesn't even hold a candle to recent favorite "Love's Divine" which was criminally overlooked by the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic with the exception of Germany where it peaked at #4.
As much as I like Seal, I prefer him in the guise of otherworldly, social troubadour to the mushy, gushing husband enveloped in marital bliss. I think he's a better songwriter when he incorporates more lyrical bite into his songs.
