New music: Seal, The Legal Matters, Mumford & Sons, Gorillaz, Johnny Blue Skies

In this column I review fantastic new titles featuring British soul icon Seal, as well as new studio albums from power pop greats The Legal Matters, British Americana troupe Mumford & Sons, groundbreaking collective Gorillaz and genre-defying Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds; all the releases are available now.

Artist: Seal
Title: Purpose: Celebrating 30 Years of the Classic Albums Seal I and Seal II (Mercury Studios)
You might like if you enjoy: Seal, Trevor Horn
Tell me more: Fans of top-tier artists, immersive concert films and timeless music will all have find plenty to love about Mercury Studios' "Purpose: Celebrating 30 Years of the Classic Albums Seal I and Seal II." The fabulous new concert film featuring four-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Seal was filmed at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas in 2024 and features stunning live versions of the artist's most beloved material. The 10-track concert film also features some insightful thoughts from Seal interspersed along the way: "I think a song can change peoples lives...in a way that is so profound." That is especially true after seeing Seal and his six-piece band soar through stellar hits including "Crazy," "Future Love Paradise," "Prayer For The Dying" and "Kiss From A Rose." Seal's signature vocals come in the service of a timeless sound that blends soul, R&B, pop and dance. In addition to Seal's incredible vocals, his band features the artist's longtime producer, Grammy Award-winning producer/artist Trevor Horn. Highlights abound on the title, including the sumptuous opener "Crazy," dance-fueled "The Beginning" and "Bring It On," bewitching "Prayer For The Dying," and moving "Kiss From A Rose" and "Love's Divine," the latter two selections finding Seal going into the crowd to sing. Released on Feb. 13, the title is available via multiple formats including a 4K UHD+Blu-ray combo pack, Blu-ray+CD combo, and digital audio and video (the 4K UHD+Blu-ray format is reviewed here). Information: mercurystudio.co.

Artist: The Legal Matters
Title: Lost At Sea (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Badfinger, ELO, Fountains Of Wayne, Crowded House, Dada
Tell me more: Michigan-based The Legal Matters have returned with a spectacular new album, the 10-track Lost At Sea. The talented trio comprised of Keith Klingensmith, Andy Reed and Chris Richards have collaborated on their first new batch of ambitious, harmony-filled songs since 2021's Chapter Three. The Legal Matters' fourth album includes the sumptuous opener "Everybody Knows" (which delightfully recalls the magic of classic Badfinger), propulsive "The Message," melodic gem "Temporary Thing," driving psychedelic-tinged "It Doesn't Matter,"  Beatlesque "Let Me Explain," and Baroque ballad "Slow Down." Not only does the album sound fantastic, but the songs are literate and tap into modern-day themes at every turn. Information: bigstirrecords.com.

Artist: Mumford & Sons
Title: Prizefighter (Glassnote Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, Hozier
Tell me more: English band Mumford & Sons is back with Prizefighter, another batch of infectious originals bolstered by winning songcraft, shining harmonies, dynamic musicianship and artful arrangements crafted from folk and Americana essentials. Additionally, the group's music making is enhanced by several high-profile names who join along the way on the band's sixth studio LP. The anthemic opener "Here" features country music great Chris Stapleton adding his vocals to the track. On the introspective "Rubber Band Man," Hozier brings his distinctive voice to the cut as he trades verses with Marcus Mumford. There are so many great songs on the disc with the sweeping "Banjo Song," ambitious "Run Together" with its burgeoning arc, the confessional "Shadow Of A Man," soaring "Begin Again" that explores the courage to start over and the gentle closer "Clover" are among this writer's favorites. Information: mumfordandsons.com.

Artist: Gorillaz
Title: The Mountain (Kong Studios Essex Limited)
You might like if you enjoy: Gorillaz, Blur, Damon Albarn
Tell me more: Singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Damon Albarn has returned with the latest Gorillaz full-length masterwork, The Mountain. The album includes a parade of 15 compelling originals featuring a slew of high-profile guests. Highlights include the instrumental-heavy opener "The Mountain," luxurious trip hop meets hip-hop romp "The Moon Cave," the New Wave-flavored "The Happy Dictator" featuring the iconic duo Sparks, the mesmeric "Orange County," dreamy "The Empty Dream Machine" (the latter featuring guitar great Johnny Marr), electronica sortie "The Plastic Guru," immersive "Delirium" featuring English singer Mark E. Smith, evocative "Casablanca" (featuring Marr and Clash bassist Paul Simonon) and India-minded foray "The Sweet Prince." The album's closing track, "The Sad God," is a wonderful showcase for Albarn's signature vocals and alluring melodic instincts as well as his ability to collaborate with other artists artfully. Information: gorillaz.com.

Artist: Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds
Title: Mutiny After Midnight (High Top Mountain Records/Atlantic Music Group)
You might like if you enjoy: Sturgill Simpson
Tell me more: Following up the release of Johnny Blue Skies' 2024 debut Passage Du Desir, singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson (aka Johnny Blue Skies) and The Dark Clouds are back with the sophomore followup Mutiny After Midnight. The dance-minded disc is filled with left-leaning political-minded originals that simultaneously are aimed at getting everyone out on the dance floor. The rousing opener "Make America Fuk Again," rapid-fire rock-styled "Excited Delirium," Americana-rooted "Don't Let Go" (the latter featuring nuanced sax playing from Raw B), funky "Stay On That" and "Ain't That A Bitch," and country-tinged "Viridescent" all explode out of the speakers. The nine-track album is available on vinyl, as well as via audio CD and on cassette. Information: sturgillsimpson.com.

Robert Kinsler

Purpose: Celebrating 30 Years of the Classic Albums Seal I and II Out on February 13 on 4K UHD+Blu-ray

Check out the official media release below and artwork for the just announced "Purpose: Celebrating 30 Years of the Classic Albums Seal I and Seal II"; also be sure to view the outstanding live concert video of Seal's performance of "Crazy"...Robert Kinsler

Mercury Studios Presents: Grammy Award-winning British Soul Icon Seal in

Purpose: Celebrating 30 Years of the Classic Albums Seal I and Seal II

Celebratory Concert Film To Be Released In Multiple formats on February 13, 2026

View "Crazy" HERE

Pre-Order Link HERE

New York, NY (December 3, 2025) – Mercury Studios proudly announces Purpose: Celebrating 30 Years of the Classic Albums Seal I and Seal II, a celebratory concert film from four-time Grammy Award-winning British soul icon Seal out February 13. Shot live at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas in 2024, this performance marks three decades since the release of Seal’s groundbreaking debut album, Seal, and its acclaimed follow-up, Seal II. Purpose: Celebrating 30 Years of the Classic Albums Seal I and Seal II will be available in multiple formats, including a 4K UHD+Blu-ray combo pack, along with a Blu-ray+CD combo and digital audio and video.

The 10-track performance boasts classic chart-topping anthems such as “Crazy,” “Future Love Paradise,” “Killer,” and “Kiss From a Rose," as well as a few surprises. The concert also features Seal’s longtime producer, Grammy Award-winning producer, musician, and songwriter Trevor Horn (Yes, LeAnn Rimes, Belle and Sebastian), who joins his six-piece band as bassist and music director.

“He is this mentor that I’ve spent the last 34 years looking up to. He knows me as an artist better than anyone else,” Seal said. “Having him on tour caused me to bring a level of professionalism and discipline that I hadn’t had before.”

The hour-plus concert documentary directed by Keirda Bahruth (Hardcore Devo, Saturday Night Live, Bob and the Monster) includes intimate interviews with Seal and Horn, including a vignette of Seal reminiscing about his first appearance on the BBC’s legendary Top of The Pops television show in 1990. Back then, Horn’s wife and business partner candidly told Seal his performance was good but it didn’t connect.

Purpose: Celebrating 30 Years of the Classic Albums Seal I and Seal II showcases a different artist, one who with unbridled passion and reverence for his decades-spanning body of work literally brings the music to the people. Throughout the concert, Seal steps off the stage to sing among fans and even pauses to sign autographs, transforming the show into a shared celebration of artistry and connection. “Where this tour is concerned, the one thing I didn’t see coming is rediscovering my purpose,” Seal said.

Purpose: Celebrating 30 Years of the Classic Albums Seal I and Seal II is a stunning film that captures an artist at the top of his performance game.

Track Listing:

1. Crazy

2. The Beginning

3. Deep Water

4. Future Love Paradise

5. Bring It On

6. Prayer For The Dying

7. Killer

8. Kiss From A Rose

9. Get It Together

10. Love’s Divine

About Mercury Studios

World Class Music Content. Working with a global network of creatives and artists, Mercury Studios develop, produce, distribute and invest in award-winning content. We are filmmakers in the world of music.

Headquartered in London, with offices in LA and New York, current and recent projects include ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO directed by Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald, Grammy-winning, Academy Award and BAFTA award-nominated AMERICAN SYMPHONY, directed by Matthew Heineman for the Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions/Netflix, REGGAETON: THE SOUND THAT CONQUERED THE WORLD / NBC Peacock, and IF THESE WALLS COULD SING, directed by Mary McCartney for Disney+.

Mercury Studios also produced and distributed performance capture films ANDREA BOCELLI 30TH: THE CELEBRATION, directed by Sam Wrench (Taylor Swift The Eras Tour) for global Theatrical and TV, BACK TO THE BEGINNING: OZZY’S FINAL BOW, for global Livestream and Theatrical, and QUEEN ROCK MONTREAL for IMAX and Disney+.

In 2025, Mercury Studios also hosted world premieres at the Tribeca Festival for METALLICA SAVED MY LIFE and JUST SING.

Mercury Studios represents the world’s leading catalogue of music-related content, consisting of thousands of hours of premium music-driven film and television programming.

Sights and Sounds: Super Bowl 50, Grammy Awards update, Okeechobee Music Fest

Whew, is there music news or what? While it has been long publicized that Coldplay will headline at the "Pepsi Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show" this coming Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, there is more news as it relates to Super Bowl 50. Here is a roundup (as best I can!) of all kinds of music happenings...

Seal gearing up for Super Bowl 50 festivities in the Bay Area 

MULTI-PLATINUM ARTIST TO HEADLINE PREGAME SHOW AT LEVI'S STADIUM ON FEBRUARY 7^TH ALONG WITH SAM HUNT, AS WELL AS ONE-OFF SHOW AT THE FOX THEATER IN OAKLAND ON FEBRUARY 5^TH

SEAL FEATURED IN NFL'S SUPER BOWL 50 "SUPER BOWL BABIES" CAMPAIGN

February 3, 2016 - (Burbank, CA) - Seal is gearing up for a very busy weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area where he will participate in the Super Bowl 50 festivities.

First up, the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter will perform a one-off show at the Fox Theater in Oakland on February 5^th, the start of Super Bowl weekend. Tickets are available for purchase online at TheFoxOakland.com and Ticketmaster.com or in person at the Fox Theater Box Office, located at 1807 Telegraph Avenue on the 19th Street side of the building, as well as by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

The National Football League (NFL) has also announced that Seal, along with Sam Hunt, will headline the Super Bowl 50 pregame show at Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday, Feb. 7^th as the Denver Broncos meet the Carolina Panthers. Seal and Hunt will perform at the NFL Tailgate Party and part of each performance will be televised live as part of CBS's Super Bowl Sunday pregame show.

And finally, Seal stars in the NFL's "Super Bowl Babies" campaign that features a :60 TV commercial slated for Super Bowl Sunday. The campaign launched with a long-form music video this past Monday - watch here. In the anthemic commercial, Super Bowl Babies of all ages were recruited from the markets of eight Superbowl champion teams to form an NFL choir. In the film, the choir sings a specially written song set to the music of Seal's classic international hit "Kiss from a Rose." Seal also makes a cameo standing on a hilltop overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl Babies.

"I was honored to be part of one of the biggest sporting events on the planet and to work with the NFL on such a fun family campaign," Seal says. "An event like this brings so many people together and to have a song I wrote 25 years ago still be so loved is very special for me. I can't wait to be at Super Bowl and be a part of Super Bowl 50 with the NFL.''

Metallica to live stream Saturday's 'The Night Before' concert in San Francisco on February 6, 2016

SAN FRANCISO, CA - FEBRUARY 3, 2016 - On the eve of the nation's most anticipated sporting event, Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductees and Grammy® Award-winning rock band Metallica will headline CBS Radio's The Night Before, a one-of-a-kind concert experience the evening prior to Super Bowl 50 at AT&T Park in the band's hometown of San Francisco, CA. The concert marks the band's first performance of 2016.

Metallica fans around the world will be able to tune in to a live webstream direct from the historic show. The webcast will be a free 1080p FullHD stream live from AT&T Park, available on mobile and desktop devices at http://webcast.livemetallica.com, delivered by nugs.net. Metallica will take the stage at approximately 8:30p PST. Fans can watch the show live for free and pre­order professionally mixed audio recordings of the show as downloads and collectible CDs.

"We can't wait to play our first show of 2016 and there's nowhere we'd rather kick off the festivities than in our own backyard," said Metallica's Lars Ulrich. "Even though the show has been sold out for months, Metallica fans around the world will be able to join in on the madness."

"We've released audio recordings of every Metallica show for the past 12 years at LiveMetallica.com, so naturally we're excited to deliver the band's first live HD stream from their hometown on their own web site," says nugs.net founder and CEO Brad Serling.

The free Metallica webcast follows a string of highly successful pay­per­view webcasts for nugs.net, including four nights of Phish at Madison Square Garden over New Year's, and last summer's Grateful Dead "Fare Thee Well" shows at Soldier Field. 

www.metallica.com

www.twitter.com/metallica

www.facebook.com/metallica

www.instagram.com/metallica

www.youtube.com/metallica

Broadway cast of 'Hamilton' returns musical theater to the Grammy® Stage Music's Biggest Night® — Hosted By LL COOL J — Airs Live On CBS, Feb. 15, 2016 SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2016) — The GRAMMY®-nominated musical "Hamilton" ushers Broadway back to the GRAMMY Awards® stage after a more than five-year hiatus. GRAMMY winner Lin-Manuel Miranda and his extraordinary cast will perform a number from the acclaimed musical on the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards®, directly from the legendary Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York, marking one of only four times that the GRAMMY telecast has featured a performance live via satellite. Watch a video of the "Hamilton" cast announcing their upcoming GRAMMY performance. Previously announced performers include Adele, James Bay, Andra Day, Ellie Goulding, Sam Hunt, Tori Kelly, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, and The Weeknd. Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J is set to host Music's Biggest Night® for the fifth consecutive year. Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Additional performers will be announced shortly. The "Hamilton" performance will be the eighth time in history that musical theater has been featured on the GRAMMY Awards. Previous Broadway productions featured on the telecast include "Godspell" (1972); "The Magic Show" (1975); "Sophisticated Ladies" (1982); "La Cage Aux Folles" (1984); "Will Rogers Follies" (1992); "Riverdance" and "Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk" (1997); and, most recently, "American Idiot" (2010).  "The 'Hamilton' cast and crew are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this year's GRAMMY Awards," said Miranda, "Hamilton" creator, writer, and lead performer. "The music community's response to our cast album has been overwhelming, and we're honored to be a part of such a special night. To perform from our home at the Richard Rodgers Theatre is a dream come true." Catch an exclusive interview with Miranda as he talks about his musical influences, the inspiration behind "Hamilton," and how he hopes the show will expose hip-hop and musical theater to new audiences. The "Hamilton" segment also marks the fourth time that a performance will be broadcast live via satellite on the GRAMMY Awards. The last time the awards telecast included a performance from another location was when Amy Winehouse performed "You Know I'm No Good" and "Rehab" in London during the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2008, the same year Winehouse earned her five GRAMMYs®. "Melding contemporary hip-hop into a musical set in the year 1776, 'Hamilton' reimagines the traditional musical in a unique and extraordinary way that has brought Broadway — and our nation's history — to new audiences," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "With the GRAMMY Awards on a Monday this year, we have a wonderful opportunity to highlight this important musical art form on an even bigger stage for our millions of viewers worldwide to experience." Current nominees for Best Musical Theater Album from the Original Broadway Cast recording of "Hamilton" include: principal soloists Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom, Jr., Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos, and Phillipa Soo; producers Alex Lacamoire, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Sherman, Ahmir Thompson, and Tarik Trotter; and composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda, Lacamoire, and Sherman are previous winners in this category for "In The Heights" (2008). For the latest news and content, follow the GRAMMY conversation on social: Facebook: Facebook.com/theGRAMMYs Twitter: @theGRAMMYs Instagram: @thegrammys Snapchat: thegrammys Tumblr: thegrammys.tumblr.com Vine: vine.co.theGRAMMYs John Oates Joins Miguel and Win Butler for Live Superstar Mashup "PoWow!" at Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival  OTHER PERFORMERS INCLUDE KAMASI WASHINGTON, THE METERS’ GEORGE PORTER, JR. & ZIGABOO MODELISTE, AND THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND HORN SECTION

John Oates to perform at Okeechobee Music Fest in March. February, 3, 2016, NASHVILLE, TN...Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival will make musical history with “PoWoW! A Live Superstar Mashup,” a once-in-a-lifetime collaborative concert that will, for the first time ever, unite acclaimed GRAMMY Award-winning superstar vocalist Miguel with visionary frontman Win Butler of GRAMMY Award-winning Arcade Fire. Together they will lead a genre-busting band of master musicians that include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist/singer/producer/songwriter John Oates (of Hall & Oates), Kamasi Washington, George Porter, Jr. and Zigaboo Modeliste, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Chris Karns, and Eric Krasno & Neal Evans.  Oates notes, "I am really honored and stoked to be the musical director for the first PoWow at Okeechobee; the 2013 Superjam at Bonnaroo was one of my favorite experiences as a musican and this PoWow is going to take it to another level. Looking forward to working with Paul Peck again and can't wait to collaborate with Miguel, Win Butler, and all the other incredible players and performers to see what we'll come up with, it's going to be a one time only crazy groove experience."   ”PoWow! A Live Superstar Mashup” has set the stage for an historic moment for artists and audience alike. Miguel and Win Butler will share the spotlight as co-creative directors, while John Oates will serve as the music director of this virtuoso group. Longtime Bonnaroo SuperJam director Paul Peck will produce the show. Peck and Oates also worked together on the legendary Bonnaroo 2013 Rock & Soul Dance Party SuperJam that paired the Hall & Oates vocalist with Jim James (My Morning Jacket), and Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes), and also included Zigaboo Modeliste and Preservation Hall.  Major special guests – both announced and unannounced – will take the stage for PoWow at Okeechobee, guaranteeing an unforgettable evening of surprises, invention and excitement.  OKEECHOBEE PoWoW! lineup below: Miguel & Win Butler (Arcade Fire) John Oates (Hall & Oates) George Porter, Jr. & Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters) Kamasi Washington Preservation Hall Jazz Band Eric Krasno (Soulive) Chris Karns Plus Very Special Guests For additional information, please visit okeechobeefest.com, facebook.com/okeechobeefest,twitter.com/okeechobeefest, and instagram.com/okeechobeefest.