On his third album, Seal continues to bridge the genres of R&B and subtle trip-hop, though not as skillfully as on previous works. Much of "Human Being" is music to float to -- soothing, but lightweight. But numbers like the title track and "Excerpts From" add a more kinetic feel to the mix. On "Latest Craze," Seal does his best Bowie impression -- which is surprisingly good, actually. But if he doesn't stay true to his unique voice and style, Seal could soon become just another R&B singer.

-- Beth Winegarner

This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle.