SEAL - IV

Seal...  His first two albums seem to be what most people think of when you mention his name.  They don't consider the subsequent work.  And let's be honest, he hasn't had the same chart success he had back then.  But Seal is one of those unique artists...  Even if he isn't the same chart topping superstar he was, he's never left us or compromised the integrity of his work.  And "IV" proves it.

Seal's principal songwriting partner on this release is a man named Mark Batson.  I'm not familiar with him, but I can say he has an amazing grasp of various forms of music.  That will be more apparent as I break the album down.  'Get It Together' reminds me of 'Bring It On' from his second album.  Not just because of the positioning of the song, but the effect is has on the album as a whole.  The song is horn blowing R&B with tons of soul and a great rhythm.  It sets the ton of the album just like 'Bring It On' did.  It excites you, mellows you and prepares you for the journey you're about to take.  'Love's Divine' is the big single from this record and a song I've related to in my own life.  Although the tempo slows a little on this track, it stays incredibly solid and maintains the groove built up to this point.  The lyrics are tragically heartfelt and lovely.  'Waiting For You' introduces an almost urban beat.  Those great horns are back and the song moves at a jagged pace.  It seems to slow and speed up with a classical bridge in the middle.  It's also a great song!  So we've had a TKO right off the bat.

'My Vision' hearkens back to earlier Seal times.  It feels slightly out of place on this record and would've been more at home on his first album.  For fans of that record, I'm sure this number is a particular treat.  But it moves away from the traditional R&B/Soul feeling this album has created thus far.  'Don't Make Me Wait' starts out sounding like a spiritual before transitioning into a beautiful ballad.  'Let Me Roll' starts off pretty funky.  The music is very cool and the beat is groovy.  Another stellar track.  'Touch' is one of those ballads that are simply breath taking.  Once again, Seal achieves an amazing thing.  He writes and performs a ballad worth hearing.

'Where There's Gold' kicks in and you'll be shocked to hear a Reggae beat sliding underneath Seal's animated vocal delivery.  This one, although mellow, is still a strong number.  'Loneliest Star' delves into the more popular urban sound.  It's another delicate ballad.  'Heavenly...(Good Feeling)' is another one that might've done better on a previous album.  This one I can hear on his second album.  It's still a pretty good track and I like it a lot.  'Tinsel Town' keeps the echo effect on the drum patch and meanders along at a sexy pace.  It sounds like something George Michael would've recorded.  Very powerful song though.  Even with the softer music, Seal packs a punch on this one.  The disc ends with 'Get It Together (Reprise)'.  It's essentially an version of the song focusing more on an acoustic guitar in the arrangement.  It's a satisfying end to the disc.

Seal continues to deliver quality product even years after he's "Peaked".  This is a traditional soul artist who needs more exposure and opportunity.  His voice is majestic.  My final words:  A CLASSIC, WRITTEN IN CLASSIC STYLE!!!!

SEAL - IV
01. Get It Together
02. Love's Divine
03. Waiting For You
04. My Vision
05. Don't Make Me Wait
06. Let Me Roll
07. Touch
08. Where There's Gold
09. Loneliest Star
10. Heavenly...(Good Feeling)
11. Tinsel Town
12. Get It Together (Reprise)

THE MUSICAL CAST OF TOYS FEATURING WENDY & LISA - THE CLOSING OF THE YEAR (MAIN THEME FROM TOYS)

Wow, how was that for a mouthful???  Despite the endless title, this disc holds a prized place in my Wendy & Lisa collection.  It's an import, (the song was never released in the US as a single), and it's one of their lesser known achievements.  Probably because they didn't write the song.  For now, I want to focus on the reason for disc existing in the first place...

"Toys" was a complicated, ambitious film that literally imploded on itself because of the scope of the film-makers vision.  And I mean imploded because it never sparked that inner child so many of us feel when we watch "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" or other such films.  It just crushes you with sights, sounds and colors.  "Toys" was full of wide open empty spaces that engulfed the viewer rather than embraced them.  You felt lost and exposed half the time.  Robin Williams and Joan Cusack's characters were both too weird to truly love.  You could never find a place in your heart for either one of them.  Robin Williams was a complicated man.  And this role allowed him to complicate his humor in order to complicate this character.  I love him in dramatic roles, but this one was confusing.

I'm not trying to bash the film because I intend to like it every time I watch it.  I want to like it.  I want to love it.  I respond to the innocence of childhood it tries to invoke.  But I never really find that footing in the film. 

However...  The soundtrack is one surprise after another.  And this track is the best example.  As far as modern Christmas carols go, I think Trevor Horn did an OK job.  On its own, the song is a bit disorganized and free flowing to ever find a place in popular Christmas culture.  But that's where Wendy & Lisa work their magic best.  Under their guidance, the song transforms from a partially developed idea into a virtual masterpiece.  The life of the song erupts through their performance and delivery.  Wendy's voice is fragile and just delicate enough to sound like an Angel calling to you through the snow.  She has that lilting bell quality to draw you in and hold you tightly.  Seal's golden bravado steals the show when he steps in and adds yet another dimension to this already layered cake of Christmas caroling and in the background, the famous harmony Wendy & Lisa so naturally achieve, swells like breakers rushing toward the northern shores of Santa's home.  And the bells...  The bells burst forth - like Christmas morning! - in glory and wonder!

But it's not over...  If you can get your hands on an extended version of the song, the girls take you on a snippet of jazz rock that's more satisfying and exciting than the actual tune itself.  Sadly, even the extended portion fades out leaving you breathless for more.  Wondering to yourself...  What would've happened next???  What if we could hear the whole song?

In that instance, the song achieves what "Toys" the movie fails to deliver.  And once again, Wendy & Lisa take a mediocre piece of work from another musician and turn it into gold.  There are 3 edits of the song on this single.  And my final words are:  3 AREN'T ENOUGH...!

THE MUSICAL CAST OF TOYS FEATURING WENDY & LISA - THE CLOSING OF THE YEAR (MAIN THEME FROM TOYS)
01. The Closing Of The Year (Main Theme From Toys) (Edit)
02. The Closing Of The Year (Main Theme From Toys) (Instrumental)
03. The Closing Of The Year (Main Theme From Toys) (Smooth Variation Featuring Wendy & Lisa & Chris Bruce)

ROISIN O - THE SECRET LIFE OF BLUE

So Roisin O came to my attention through a promotional release and I put the disc in not sure what to expect.  I'd heard 'Hold On', but I wasn't sure what to make of it.  Then I decided to go for it and let me tell ya...  I've been listening to the disc now for a few weeks.  I've lived with the music and I've tried to think about it without feeling so much.  Mostly because the music on this disc causes you to respond involuntary.

I remember reading one of Seal's liner notes and he wrote something about not printing lyrics because sometimes what you hear in your head is radically different from what the actual words are.  And this disc is a prime example of that notion.

Roisin O is one of those vocalists with the ability to emote her songs.  And in my opinion, that's the most success you can achieve as a musician.  If you can make people internalize your music, relate to it on a personal level, you succeed.

The first track on the disc is 'Here We Go' and it's a fun, bright pop tune worthy of a place on any pop chart.  Without diving into the world of electronic blips and whirls, Roisin jumps out at you with a lively number that would make anyone jump out of their seat.  It's followed by the slower paced, 'Synchronicity'.  It doesn't drop the bottom out of the momentum of the disc.  In fact, it softens it and prepares you for a more in depth experience.  The chorus is catchy and it's one you can enjoy singing along with.  With the breathy "ahs" towards the end of the song, it's easy to see why this number is so infectious.  

The next track is one I found extremely powerful.  The first time I heard it, I was listening to the disc as I was driving in my truck.  It reminded me of Ani DiFranco's singing style.  But the music itself and the rhythm...  It made me think of my sister and in minutes I was in tears.  Roisin sings, "Strive to climb high", but I heard, "Strive to come home" and my heart broke.  No matter how often I hear the song, I hear the lyrics I want to hear.  Each time, I feel an overpowering response.  By itself, this song makes the album worth owning.  

She moves the record along with 'How Long'.  I hear a lot of folk instrumentation happening here.  I read online Roisin is an Irish singer and I hear a lot of that in this song.  But it's quite energetic and keeps you interested.  Next up is 'Filled With Snow' and at this point I started hearing Wendy & Lisa in the music.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love them and when I hear artists who remind me of their unique style of composition, I get excited and enthusiastic.  This song is no exception.

Next up is the haunting single from the album, 'Hold On'.  This is another song that causes an incredible emotional response in me when I hear it.  Where so many ballads deal with losing love, devotion or other such ideas...  Roisin uses hers to encourage her audience.  She sings songs of hope.  More than once I've found myself listening to this song when I've had a bad day and needed someone to talk to.  To lean on.

'Let's Find Some People' is another track I can hear the timeless groove of Lisa and Wendy shining through.  There's a wonderful bop happening here and I love it.  Especially the organ pumping away under the guitars.  'Tea Song' is another one that reminds of Ani DiFranco.  In fact the opening few strums recalls a track from "To The Teeth".  When the organ cuts in again, I feel almost like I'm in the smooth arms of a Norah Jones lullaby.  It's followed by 'You Owe Me A Drink'.  A hurried number, this one kinda chugs along and includes an amazing arrangement of electric organ and guitar strumming.  This is one of the tracks where Roisin's vocals really shine through.  She's got an interesting range and she's fun to listen to.  At certain points, the song almost sounds like Country and you could swear Dolly Parton was singing backup.

Winding the disc down, 'Find The Light' is almost lost on the disc.  The interesting percussion mix is a highlight and the sounds are ethereal yet earthly.  She never seems to leave you behind.  Each word pulls you along and yet, if you're not paying attention, this little gem will slip past you.  Finally, the title track, 'The Secret Life Of Blue' winds up the disc.  When I hear it, I feel like I'm sitting on the porch of the house in North Carolina.  Up in the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Playing guitars on a summer night while a warm rain strums against the roof.  It's a peaceful and lovely way to end the record.  The harmonies are delightful and enchanting as they fade leaving you longing for just a little more.

There are so many sounds happening on this recording and all of them make me want to hear more from this vital exciting new artist.  I was fortunate to have this disc brought to my attention and I hope you'll take the time to discover it and enjoy it as much as I have.  My final words: BEST NEW MUSIC I'VE HEARD IN AGES!

ROISIN O - THE SECRET LIFE OF BLUE

01. Here We Go

02. Synchronicity

03. Climb High

04. How Long

05. Filled With Snow

06. Hold On

07. Let's Find Some People

08. Tea Song
09. You Owe Me A Drink

10. Find The Light

11. The Secret Life Of Blue

WENDY AND LISA - SNAPSHOTS

Once again it seems I am on the forefront of music by reviewing a totally new CD as it is released! For those of you who read the blog, you know I'm working through my collection rather than just reviewing new material, but this little gem has had my attention for the past week or so and I decided it was time I shared it with you.

In many ways, this CD is what fans of the duo have been waiting for. Over various incarnations of their website, Wendy & Lisa have allowed fans to hear some of the scoring work and other tidbits of music they've done. But only in the most limited fashion. Streaming media files you could only listen to on the site or record illegally to have a copy you could burn. You could easily find gems among the many snippets they posted, but one day, you'd log in and the site would change or a piece was gone. Take "Rosalyn" for example... I've had various edits of the track for over ten years now. To finally have a nice quality recording of this track I can listen to is absolutely wonderful! Same thing with "Perfect Stranger". I've had two edits of this track, but neither can equal the intensity of this version. I remember the first time I heard this song... I remember thinking, "Ok, now Lisa & Wendy have crossed over into lesbian rock..." Which wasn't a bad thing. But it seemed trendy at the time. Regardless of that impression, this song is aggressive with so many elements of classic rock 'n' roll you can't help but jump up and dance. Or you can do what I did when I got my CD the other day... You can dump it in your truck, roll down the windows and put it on repeat just to rock out the neighbors. You just can't beat the look of horror on an old woman's face when you roll up next to her in your big truck and she hears, "Give it up, I'm coming for ya!" blaring out the speakers. Oh yeah, pure terror.

The majority of the other tracks represent pieces of music the two have done over the years. The digital download includes a PDF book explaining where the songs came from and why they never saw the light of day. It's fascinating to read about the music and get some impressions from the duo on their stuff.

Only "Perfect Stranger" and "Water To The Wave" have vocals. The other tracks are all instrumental but vastly different in temperament. "Time" kicks in sounding like the opening titles of a 70's TV show and then breaks down into a bass jam. Once that rhythm kicks in, the tune moves across the board in an almost suite-like trajectory. One minute, it's funky and the next it's ethereal and shimmering. In the end, it has a very simple structure building around 3 specific motifs. "Water To The Wave" sounds like it would have found a home on "Fruit At The Bottom". They write about Babyface Edmunds thinking the song was too experimental. There's some expressive playing and a disjointed feeling by the beat changeups, but it works and is easily one of my favorite tracks on the record. I find the lyrics beautifully compelling and the coda actually flows nicely into "Rosalyn". Both pieces of music would've fit nicely on Seal's first album.

"Rock Song" uses an echo on the piano to make a reverberation I think was intended to give the listener a feeling of hallucination or uncertainty. For me, the tune moves in a different direction entirely. I find myself anticipating sounds. It grounds me. It's the breakdown about 3 minutes in where I find myself enjoying the track the most. It's a simple progression, but an enjoyable one and demonstrates an ability to cause feeling through sound manipulation. "Lemon Chiffon" sounds like it would've been at home on "Eroica". It's another mellow number you just fall into a groove and flow along with it. There's no complication, just a musical bed for your body to comfortably drift off in. The sway of this tune is lazy and calm. There is a tartness to it about two and a half minutes in. The minor additions help to accentuate the track and also help in understanding where the title comes from.

It's not the huge compilation of scoring material fans have been waiting for, but it does reflect a demand for this music. What would be wonderful.... Is if Wendy & Lisa responded with a continuing series of these CDs and released more of this material over time. With the many hours of music they've recorded for "Crossing Jordan" or "Heroes", this would be the perfect venue for capitalizing on those efforts and also giving their fans what they want most. However, considering the shorter length of some of these pieces, I'd suggest making a compilation similar to Electric Six's "Sexy Trash". However they did it, releasing a series of these discs would help generate income for the new mothers and help establish stronger ties with their fans. You're only as popular as your last release. A steady diet of new material (even if it's old material just sitting around) will help them stay current with fans. I know for me, this wonderful disc is both long awaited and anticipated. When I saw it was for sale, it was a no-brainer. I bought it immediately. And once again, I find myself rededicated to Wendy & Lisa. My final words: THANKFULLY RECEIVED, GREATLY ANTICIPATED.

WENDY AND LISA - SNAPSHOTS
01. Perfect Stranger
02. Time
03. Water To The Wave
04. Rosalyn
05. Rock Song
06. Lemon Chiffon

VICTORIA WILLIAMS - MUSINGS OF A CREEK DIPPER

There used to be a Tower Records on Maryland Parkway right off of Flamingo in Las Vegas. That's where I paid full price for this CD. I picked it up because Wendy & Lisa worked on it and I had no idea what I was in for. At the time, I was buying anything they worked on. If their name was attached at some point I was gonna buy it. And this disc was no exception.

I put the disc in and started listening and thought there must be some mistake. To that point, I'd heard some interesting work they'd done with other artists like Joni Mitchell and Michael Penn, but I was convinced their strengths lie in working with pop artists like Seal or Prince. 'Periwinkle Sky' began and I thought, "WTF?" Williams has a broken small voice that she half sings/half speaks her vocals. Normally, I'm drawn to interesting and unique sounds but in the case of Williams, I find the combination of her strange child-like songs and bizarre voice an unappealing marriage. It's like watching an adult paint like a child. There's that car crash curiosity that keeps you looking, but inside you're somewhat appalled.

Wendy & Lisa appear on two tracks on this odd record. 'Train Song (Demise Of The Caboose)' and 'Let It Be So'. The two songs are easily the highlights of the record. 'Train Song (Demise Of The Caboose)' is actually pretty amazing. The music is wonderful and huffs puffs along like an actual steam engine train. The Wurlitzer gives it the chugging quality and the stuttering, skip of the drum track is singularly beautiful. You can't help but enjoy the number. Even through Victoria's strange lyrics. At one point, she stops and says,
"I'd like to take this time to complain about the train".
My mind boggles at this. I find it ridiculous. Still, I have to say, once again, Wendy & Lisa take an artist and bring out their best qualities. As annoying as I find Williams, I do appreciate her performance on these two tracks. Musically, 'Let It Be So' doesn't have the cool physical motion of 'Train Song'. Probably because Lisa & Wendy didn't work on the music. They contribute Backing vocals only. Still, their very presence give strength to Victoria's sound. It's like taking a banner heading and making it bold. Thankfully, the music on this song is fairly well done.

There are a couple other tracks that always stand out on this disc. But that's mostly because they're so weird. 'Kashmir's Corn' is a completely bizarre fairy tale Williams tells of waking up one night and adventuring out of her room. 'Grandpa In The Cornpatch' is another number I find oddly disproportionate. It's like milk when it starts to go bad. There's just something off. But that's not always a bad thing.

Ultimately, the fact is without the Wendy & Lisa input, I'd never have bought this record. Victoria Williams isn't an artist I find compelling or interesting. Her fans are drawn to the poetry of her lyrics and the honesty of her voice. I'm not. I find her lyrics rambling and unappealing. Musically, I'd put her somewhere between traditional folk and plucking banjos on some backwoods porch. My final words: HUGE PASS.

VICTORIA WILLIAMS - MUSINGS OF A CREEK DIPPER
01. Periwinkle Sky
02. Rainmaker
03. Kashmir's Corn
04. Train Song (Demise Of The Caboose)
05. Last Word
06. Nature Boy
07. Tree Song (Eucalyptus Lullabye)
08. Let It Be So
09. Allergic Boy
10. Humming Bird
11. Grandpa In The Cornpatch
12. Blackbirds Rise

SEAL - SEAL

I was living in Switzerland when this disc came out. About the only thing I really knew about the disc was that Wendy & Lisa had worked with him on it. To this day, I'm still not sure to what extent their involvement on the disc was. I can hear them very distinctly on different tracks, but the actual contribution seems mired in mystery. Still, with that in mind, you can understand how excited I was to see this disc take off and be so popular in Europe. It was everywhere. In every store window, on everyone's bookshelf and all over the radio. I heard the tunes everywhere I went. I didn't actually pick the disc up until I was back in the states. But I'm glad I did. It really is a remarkable effort by a new artist.

These days, Seal's old hat. Everyone knows the guy and his appearance has mellowed somewhat. He's not nearly as shocking and you come to realize, he's actually a really nice guy. But even before then, his call to love and vision of world peace recalled the 60s even if his music was more modern and progressive. The three singles from this disc... 'Crazy', 'Killer' and 'Future Love Paradise' were huge hits and seemed to be manufactured specifically for radio airplay. Although it's easy to accept Lisa & Wendy playing on these tracks, their influence is more prominent on 'Deep Water', 'Whirlpool', 'Show Me', 'Wild' and I suspect 'Violet'.

My favorite songs are 'Show Me', 'Whirlpool' and 'Violet'. However, the entire album is an enjoyable mix from start to finish. It's easy to see why Lisa & Wendy wanted to work with him. Well, aside from the mutual association with producer Trevor Horn... This is one of those discs everyone should own. Like the "Star Wars" dvds or Charmen toilet paper. It's the creamy middle of an Oreo cookie. Sit back, twist the chocolate cookie off and enjoy the sweet goodness of tasteful pop. My final words: YUM.

SEAL - SEAL
01. The Beginning
02. Deep Water
03. Crazy
04. Killer
05. Whirlpool
06. Future Love Paradise
07. Wild
08. Show Me
09. Violet

SEAL - CRAZY

Crazy is a great tune and in the grand tradition of single releases, we're treated to a plethora of mixes, odds and ends. The 'Crazy (Single Mix)' is more or less an edit of the album version. The second track mixed by William Orbit is probably my favorite of all the mixes. There's a wonderful build and blend to the mix that really stands out. The 'Crazy (Acoustic Version/Instrumental Version)' is an interesting piece. It starts out with a great acoustic rendition of the song with Seal's vocals to the fore and suddenly morphs into an ambient rhythm. It's a strange choice to combine such different sounding versions together and seems slightly haphazard.

'Crazy (A Cappella Mix)' isn't entirely an accurate description of the next mix. Seal's vocals are backed by odd bleeps and trance noises used for orchestration. It's more like a science experiment than a decent mix. 'Krazy' is Tim Simenon's version of the track and is also a satisfying mix. The final two mixes didn't leave a huge impression aside from what seems like a different vocal performance on the 'Crazy (Chick On My Tip Mix)'.

'Sparkle', the single's only b-side is a danceable tune with a lively beat and repetitive lyrics. Despite it's limited scope, it's an entertaining ditty and enjoyable to listen to.

Often, singles get bogged down in mixes that identify more with the mixers than the original band and performance. In this case, careful attention has been paid to maintain the integrity of Seal's original release. With special vocal tracks on mixes and an interesting b-side this is a great single to own. Well worth the expense. My final words: WELL BALANCED.

SEAL - CRAZY
01. Crazy (Single Mix)
02. Crazy (William Orbit Mix)
03. Crazy (Acoustic Version/Instrumental Version)
04. Crazy (A Cappella Mix)
05. Sparkle (Extended Version)
06. Krazy
07. Crazy (Do You Know The Way To L.A. Mix)
08. Crazy (Chick On My Tip Mix)