 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Seal IV
Common Sense Media says
Soulful, well-written album showcases his voice.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the lyrics are pretty tame. This CD is about listening to sounds, not words.
What's the story?
This is a carefully constructed collection of songs all written (or co-written) by Seal to show off his extraordinary voice. Musically, many of the songs pay tribute to classic Detroit and Philadelphia R&B arrangements, with an overlay of pop-disco.
Is it any good?
The production quality is a little disappointing -- it feels as though the recording should sparkle more throughout -- but the instrumental and vocal performances are beautifully delivered. The sexually seductive pleas implied in the lyrics of "Don't Make Me Wait" and "Let Me Roll" are delivered with innuendo that is almost too polite -- with his wonderful velvet-and-honey rasp, Seal could get a little dirtier and make it work just fine; the whole album feels restrained.
But teenagers will respond to "I'm free and I'm young; I'm the loneliest star from the sun; but I feel that I'm close to the one who will stop me from coming undone" ("Loneliest Star"), and the media-savvy musings of "Tinsel Town." The end result is an energetic, romantic, and lovely album featuring a very talented singer-songwriter.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what they most enjoy about this album -- Seal's voice, or the messages in his songs?
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