British singer/songwriter Seal [ tickets ] rose to fame with his 1991 self-titled debut, a dance-oriented set that spawned the breakthrough hit "Crazy." Sixteen years later, he has returned to his dance-music roots.

"System" is, by far, the most danceable album Seal has pumped out in years, particularly when contrasted against its predecessor, 2003's ballad-heavy, R&B/soul collection "Seal IV." Playing a major role in the new set's sound is producer Stuart Price, whom Seal recruited after having worked with Trevor Horn on all four of his previous studio albums. Not coincidentally, Price also oversaw Madonna's "Confessions on a Dance Floor."

In addition to the dancehall sounds that dominate the album, "System" is also largely populated by positive, life-affirming, optimistic lyrics--a development that Seal attributes to his current role as a husband (to model Heidi Klum) and father.

"Everything is done with [my family] in mind, so perhaps that's the reason this new album is up-tempo," Seal said in a press release. "It feels like a celebration of life. I am finally in a content and happy place to the point where I feel like I need to sing about it."

Longtime fans whose appreciation of Seal's music dates back to his first album will, no doubt, be pleased with "System" (though the singer does ask a bit much of us by including on the album "Wedding Day," a duet with Klum that he wrote on theirs). It's an uplifting collection that is a worthy showcase of Seal's most valuable asset: his exotic, inimitable vocal delivery.