I think Liz the Squeak's judgment is insightful and too true. To put it a little more strongly, the album isn't about real sea music, and it's only inadvertently about making good music. What it's about is Pirates of the Caribbean, teen P-of-C wannabes, teen Johnny Depp fans, the careers of the producers, and (in the same breath) making millions for Disney.

My theory: "Background noise" isn't music. If you don't want to give your full attention, it's pretty bad stuff.

Even posters who "liked" the album say it didn't grab them and make them listen all the way through like good music does.