Seal, Human Being

Although Seal's album 'Human Being' bombed in the charts, it is in my opinion a complete and utter masterpiece. It has a very dark aura which surrounds it from the offset with the lead single 'Human Beings' and although there are a few lighter tracks such as the dance orientated 'Latest Craze', the main message of the album is death and personal turmoil. The thing about Human being is that it exudes many of the emotions and feelings that we as human beings go through at some point during our lives. These feelings the brain generally tends to try to block out, which is why at first listen it goes straight over your head; but after a few listens you begin to pick out lyrics and slowly relate to them.

On to the songs themselves... The track listing is as follows...

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

In my opinion there is only around two songs on this album which aren't up to the standards of the others- Princess and Latest Craze, the latter never really gets going. Human Beings is possibly one of the darkest sounding songs that you will have ever heard by Seal but was meant to be that way. Supposedly released as a tribute to 2pac and Notorious BIG, the lyrics 'We're mere human beings we die, its destined' really does send shivers down your spine.

'Just Like You Said' is another stunning stand out track. The lyrics really are heart breaking to listen to an example being 'Yesterday it hit me, I felt we were slipping away. Say if you can it's OK' and only 'No Easy Way' surpasses it in terms of raw emotion that is exuded.

Seal really is a very talented singer who, for some reason, has not quite had the chart success that he deserves. However that doesn't matter really because when an album like this comes along it really is just about the music and the passion and messages behind it. Seal should be very proud of himself.

9/10