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Seal IV
by
Seal IV Image
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

  • Summary: Never one for original album titles, Seal returns with just his fourth LP in his 12+ year recording career. Trevor Horn produces.

Top Track

Love's Divine
There the rainstorm came over me And I felt my spirit break I had lost all of my belief you see And realized my mistake But time threw a prayer to... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. Blender
    80
    Seal remains one of the best half-dozen male pop singers drawing breath. [Sep 2003, p.129]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Amazon.com
    70
    Seal never goes all out in any direction and this coolness, combined with Trevor Horn’s perfectionist production, plants the album inescapably in the realm of adult contemporary (although this is as good as adult contemporary gets).
  3. Rolling Stone
    70
    While that heal-the-world sentiment soon becomes repetitive and rarely approaches the poetic heights of past classics, that gorgeously granulated voice is never less than sublime.
  4. PopMatters
    60
    Seal IV is actually much better than one would expect from an artist whose last decent album is now nine years old. At the same time, something about it is off; for the first time, Seal is not merely outside his time (good), but behind it (bad).
  5. Splendid
    50
    Seal IV... finds him retreading old ground and misguidedly attempting to claim new territory.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    50
    Much of Seal sounds dated and tepid. [12 Sep 2003, p.152]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Q Magazine
    30
    Most of it already sounds a decade old. [Dec 2003, p.137]
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See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Sroop
    Aug 12, 2005
    10
    He is beyond music of this age.
  2. StephenN
    Oct 15, 2003
    10
    Excellent Album! Seal gets back to his roots with a series of songs that blend many musical styles. Only wish there were more tracks!
  4. LindaW
    Oct 25, 2003
    10
    Ya can't beat this man and his sound!
  5. ThomasA
    Oct 30, 2003
    9
    Redeem the world with just one sound. You know music has the power to take you to the 4th dimension. Well this one does it. Forget about the Redeem the world with just one sound. You know music has the power to take you to the 4th dimension. Well this one does it. Forget about the lyrics, its music and the intention what makes this holy music.… Expand
  6. KatrinaM
    Nov 10, 2005
    9
    I. Love. This. CD. Admit it, Seal in love sounds great. "Loneliest Star" is probably one of the best love letters ever written. If you are in I. Love. This. CD. Admit it, Seal in love sounds great. "Loneliest Star" is probably one of the best love letters ever written. If you are in love, miss being in love, want to be in love, then this CD wraps up all those feelings.… Expand
  7. PacoS
    Sep 23, 2003
    8
    I gotta tell ya', I had been awaiting the arrival of this album for the better part of five years now - ever since being completely and I gotta tell ya', I had been awaiting the arrival of this album for the better part of five years now - ever since being completely and utterly floored by the underrated (and, in most cases, flat out unnoticed) genius of his last album, Human Being. Let me say, Seal IV has been well worth the wait. Though not as strong from front to back as his last, this record boasts more than its share of masterpiece compositions. If you're a fan of pop music, I urge you not to take for granted the genius of this artist or of this record. Get it, listen to it often, live it and love it.… Expand
  8. SandroL
    Sep 26, 2003
    5
    His voice remains beautiful, his inspiration is bought.

See all 17 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Most Discussed Album of 2003
13
#13 Most Shared Album of 2003

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