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Track Listings
| 1. Human Beings |
| 2. State Of Grace |
| 3. Latest Craze |
| 4. Just Like You Said |
| 5. Princess |
| 6. Lost My Faith |
| 7. Excerpt From |
| 8. When A Man Is Wrong |
| 9. Colour |
| 10. Still Love Remains |
| 11. No Easy Way |
| 12. Human Beings Reprise |
Product Description
Amazon.ca
Why is it that Seal's albums seem to be readily disposable at first listen but always prove to be more timeless than could be predicted? On Human Being, Seal's third release (and first with a title other than his name), several of the tracks are layered with prominent, syrupy strings, and his predictable vocal crescendos veer dangerously into the land of forgettable grocery-store-intercom adult contemporary. But hang in there; there's a lot more substance here than what will first reach your ear. This complex release is a little harder to categorize than his debut record (the dance album) or his second disc (the power-ballads album). The first two tracks hint that--oh, no--it's going to be another late-1990s trip-hop album, but thankfully, Seal doesn't go there. Listen a couple of times--you'll hear everything from orchestral swells to tinny rhythm guitar, experimental keyboard effects to late-night jazz piano accompanying Seal's standard "Can't we all just get along?" lyrical message. These tracks are heavily produced and thickly layered but at the same time his most intimate and personal songs to date. The album's cover art is a good metaphor for its mood: Seal is naked and crouched over--cowering or ready to strike? So, too, the songs lash out, then plead, then sting, then soothe. Start counting; this album has a long shelf life. --Beth Bessmer
Review
On his third album, Seal ... has again buttressed his soul-tinged pop songs with lush, creamy, grandiloquent, perfect-sounding production. So while Human Being strives to be a cohesive, close-in look at loss, mainly sketching the death throes of a love affair, the listener is distracted with too many ostentatious soundscapes. -- Los Angeles Times
Thick with lush arrangements and rich swirls of strings, keyboards and technoise, the sophisticated soundscapes on Seal's grandiose third album all but smother its emotional resonance. -- USA Today
This is dream pop that breathes emotion, a feature especially apparent on the wistful waltz "Just Like You Said" and the forceful "Human Beings." -- People
With their reverb-drenched, sigh-imbued layers of keyboards, guitars, and strings, capped with Seal's silky, ruminative delivery, these songs are walls of sound done up with particularly luxurious wallpaper. Phil Spector would be proud. -- Entertainment Weekly
Thick with lush arrangements and rich swirls of strings, keyboards and technoise, the sophisticated soundscapes on Seal's grandiose third album all but smother its emotional resonance. -- USA Today
This is dream pop that breathes emotion, a feature especially apparent on the wistful waltz "Just Like You Said" and the forceful "Human Beings." -- People
With their reverb-drenched, sigh-imbued layers of keyboards, guitars, and strings, capped with Seal's silky, ruminative delivery, these songs are walls of sound done up with particularly luxurious wallpaper. Phil Spector would be proud. -- Entertainment Weekly
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Everytime I hear this album I am amazed on how bad it did in sales. One of the greatest collections of songs to ever grace a plastic disk!!! Deep, soothing and simply amazing....
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
This is heavily panned because it's an album for the wise, for those who know true music in this time in which the likes of Britney Spears and her ilk still reign, and TV news is of zero substance. How fitting it is that a song on "Human Being" is titled "Latest Craze" for the mindless masses are out in search for the latest craze at the sacrifice of their selves, of originality. People who need a laugh track to tell them when to laugh. So those who are not sheep and slaves to radio and the entertainment powers that be know that this easily ranks up there with Seal's other albums and arguably surpasses them. His others may have sold more, but since when are sales signs of an album's quality? Sales reflect marketing, not quality. And so leave the other albums to the masses while we the wise covet and embrace the silent beauty and wisdom that is "Human Being."
By James Simon
Format:Audio CD
Someone else called it "A sadly overlooked gem" and I couldn't agree more. An album which some might call more of a Trevor Horn album with his trademark sweeping orchestral sound mixed with electronic beats he made famous with other acts like Yes and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. But here, Seal balances Trevor's production with the album's mix of power-waltz ballads (Just Like You Said), cool techno (Except From, which sounds like an excerpt from something), and soul-searching epics (Lost My Faith). I listened to this more than the other two albums combined. That's saying something...
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4.3 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
je ne sais quoi
I find it surprising that so many people (including established music critics) panned this album. The opening track, as the slinky cover art suggests, is dark and forboding with... Read more
Published on Sep 16 2003 by christopher
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Sadly Overlooked Gem
Seal has always been an innovative musician and "Human Being", his third album, continues the trend of lush, orchestral music and philosophical lyrics. Read more
Published on April 10 2003 by A. Eby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seal is more than just a 'Human Being'
Seal's third CD is a big departure from the chart-topping classics of his first two albums, both of which are among the best of the 1990s. Read more
Published on Feb 25 2003 by Distant Voyageur
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly A Masterpiece ...
This is one of my most beloved cds along with Radiohead's "Ok Computer", Rufus Wainwright 2 cds, Coldplay's "Parachutes" among others.. Read more
Published on Feb 17 2003 by George Santana
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seal sings with the most feeling of anyone I know
Not as commercially successful as the other Seal releases, and appeals to a smaller audience, but it is my favorite. Read more
Published on Jan 6 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still Remains.
Beutifull. This man has the most dusky, bold and strong voice, and has always helped instill just that type of vitality in me. Read more
Published on Dec 25 2002 by Wysteria
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seal does it again
After taking a long break from his work, Seal's back with Human Being, which i think is probably his most spiritual work to date. Read more
Published on Oct 17 2002 by Madan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seals finest work!
This CD is far superior to his second (most popular) CD. This CD features better vocals, better songs, and is magnificantly produced. Read more
Published on Sep 29 2002 by CHRISTOPHER D FOSTER
5.0 out of 5 stars
Real Art Requires Patience!
I wonder if one of the definitions of a "work of art" is something that doesn't immediately appeal to you, but grows on you over time, like a fungus. Read more
Published on Sep 23 2002 by D. Hawkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
The only reason I have a CD player
Well I'm in Britain and I've been listening to Seal since his debut here in 90/91 (can it be that long ago? Read more
Published on Sep 21 2002 by M. Maguire
Listmania!
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