Album Review: Seal – Commitment

Popular soul singer Seal is back, and the latest addition to his repertoire is Commitment, released on the 28th of September, in 2010.

[Music] is something that you love doing, but second to the thing that you really love, which is your wife and kids. I mean, it’s only music – it’s not that important.” - Seal

The second album since working with producer David Foster and Seal’s seventh album overall, Commitment is about relationships; even the title itself was inspired by Seal’s wife Heidi Klum. Seal has deservedly claimed the title of an adult-contemporary artist and has stopped pushing the boundaries he used to push in his earlier albums. Gone are the thought provoking lyrics from his earlier works; nowadays, we are left with generic, family-oriented statements. And ever since Seal got married in 2003, his attention has slowly moved away from his music to his family.

The album opens up to one of the better songs on the album, “If I’m Any Closer”. A powerful piano and orchestral melody introduces the song, with the help of Seal’s layered vocals as melodic additions. It also ends with two of the better songs of the album, “Letting Go” and “Big Time”. The album’s first single, “Secret” is also worth a listen. The rest of the songs however, are instantly forgettable.

Truth be told, it pains me to write a review like this, since Seal was an artist and singer I personally admired. But after listening to the album several times, I can honestly say that very little stands out from the album. Nothing is really memorable and I don’t find myself singing snippets of his latest album long after I’ve stopped listening to it.

If you’re looking for background music for an evening in, then this album should be added to your collection. If you’re looking for love songs to woo your significant other, then you should go out of your way to acquire this album. If you’re looking for though provoking lyrics and earworm melodies, then you’ll have to look elsewhere.