Ozzy Osbourne has always been a dividing influence. From Black Sabbath and during his solo career - biting off bats and urinating on the Alamo - Ozzy created trouble! His fans loved it and everyone else absolutely hated him. Those feelings have changed. Metal's wildest satanic madman became MTV’s favorite incoherent dad. Old fans scratched their heads and new fans ate it up. Hence came the problems with his music. New fans were given a watered down Ozzy on the disappointing Down To Earth. Ozzy’s longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde was even putting it down before it is was even released!! A retrospective box set and a dreadful covers cd followed. Truly lean years for Ozzy’s faithful.
At long last Ozzy has finally given the old and new fans something to hang their hat on. Black Rain is a very pleasant surprise. Ozzy is engaged and in fine voice. His vocals are strong. His delivery is remarkably clear. He claims this was the first record he has done sober. Upon hearing that I figured – oh no – this is gonna be really bad! Fortunately, a sober Ozzy is also a pissed off Ozzy. There are still the obligatory songs about being crazy, but on tracks like "Not Going Away” and "Civilize the Universe", Ozzy has transformed into resentment and angry finger pointing. Now THIS is the Ozzy I can get into to! The band stretches out on the album's ambitious centerpiece “God Bless The Almighty Dollar”. This is a mini-epic metal masterpiece. It’s based on Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and is anchored by a rugged funky-metal groove. Complete with a spacey bridge and an intricate, King Crimsonish style middle, It doesn't feel like a seven-minute track!
I’ll admit – as I think everyone would, we will never hear another Blizzard of Ozz, or No More Tears - that was a different time with different musicians - but start to finish this is a great listen. Zakk Wylde – who co-write 8 of the 10 tunes, brings what he has been doing with Black Label Society into this record. That means big riffs and REAL guitar solos. Blasko is on bass and Faith No More's co-founder Mike Bordin on drums. Both are perfect fits for Ozzy's style of metal and are rock solid.
Producer Kevin Churko sprinkles in some electronic textures and sonic manipulations which make the record feel fresh and contemporary sounding, but does so sparingly.
Along with this being his first record made sober - Ozzy's Black Rain is also his first record in years that's worth the money. With any luck, it won't be the last.
4 out of 5 stars
1 comment:
Good review. You know it's an "accessible" piece of work when my 12 year old daughter is "all over it." She can't stop playing it!
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