Down To Earth - Ozzy Osbourne

...release of this album, however DOWN TO EARTH finally arrived. Whereas OZZMOSIS may have harkened back to Ozzy's early days of Black Sabbath, EARTH is unmistakably solo Ozzy.

The album is anchored by the fantastic rhythm section of Robert Trujillo and Mike Bordin, the playing on EARTH is exceptionally tight. Tim Palmer's production steers Osbourne in a melodic direction, as the album's use of strings, synth, and background vocals complements ...
...Wylde reprises his role as the lad guitarist.


GETS ME THROUGH:

This is often tagged as "the radio friendly 1st single" from the album. The song begins with a nice piano intro and leads you to believe that it will be a piano driven ballad - until about half a minute in to the song. At this point the drums kick in, the bass "switches" on and the guitars let out their main riff, which is rather ... more

I don't know about being "Down to Earth' - as the album boasts lyrics all about craziness and insanity, namely in the tracks 'Alive' and 'Can You Hear Them?". Impatient Ozzy fans had to wait for six years before the release of this album, however DOWN TO EARTH finally arrived. Whereas OZZMOSIS may have harkened back to Ozzy's early days of Black Sabbath, EARTH is unmistakably solo Ozzy.

The album is anchored by the fantastic rhythm section of Robert Trujillo and Mike Bordin, the playing on EARTH is exceptionally tight. Tim Palmer's production steers Osbourne in a melodic direction, as the album's use of strings, synth, and background vocals complements some of Ozzy's best vocal performances in years. Also, Zakk Wylde reprises his role as the lad guitarist.

GETS ME THROUGH:

This is often tagged as "the radio friendly 1st single" from the album. The song begins with a nice piano intro and leads you to believe that it will be a piano driven ballad - until about half a minute in to the song. At this point the drums kick in, the bass "switches" on and the guitars let out their main riff, which is rather slow and heavy and repetitive (albeit in a positive way). "I'm not the anti-christ, or the iron man" Ozzy sings. It gets the album off to a nice start, and leaves a hint of what is later to come. Although not my favourite track, it definitely is worth listening to - if not especially for the part after the piano when all the music bursts in.

FACING HELL:

The track begins with sound effects that sound is if they represent the portal to hell which gradually become more eerie and louder which leads to a simple drum beat and the whole song then get covered with a heavy (and rather fast paced) bass and guitar riff. The drumming takes centre stage on the verses, until the chorus in which all the instruments combine to make a heavy and rather catchy chorus. The guitar solo on this song is exceptional and probably one of my favourite solos on the album. I became a fan of this song as soon as I heard it and is a definite highlight of the album. This is a very "chunky" sounding song to say the least!

DREAMER:

This ballad begins with a soft piano and tells the tale of the Earth and how it us under threat from Global Warming and simply that if we don't do something about it - the human race will soon be wiped out. "I'm just a dreamer, I dream my life away, I'm just a dreamer, I dream my life away, I dream of better days".

NO EASY WAY OUT:

Things get heavier with this next track. The track begins with a rather soft "floating" acoustic intro, which then cleverly leads in to a grinding guitar and a few "screeches" of the guitar. I like the fact that the choruses sound the same as the soft intro - and then get heavier again afterwards. My favourite part of the song however is about halfway through when the heavy guitars cut off, and the music goes rather haunting. "And now, as the Sabbath begins, it wakes your nightmare again, so run away if you can" Ozzy sings with some vocal distortion effects, as the bass tactfully sounds on appropriate parts such as "nightmare" to emphasise the horror of being trapped in a war as a soldier with no easy way out. Fight or die, which is what the song is basically about according to various Ozzy resources online.

YOU KNOW: PART 1.

There isn't much to say about this. It is a short acoustic track cut about Ozzy and his role as a father. It isn't anything special at all, by the time it has begun - it has ended.

THAT I NEVER HAD:

Joe Holmes, Ozzy's road guitarist of recent years lends his writing talents to "That I Never Had". Things get hard and heavy again here. The whole song has a rather chugging feel to it, although mellows rather hauntingly towards the middle: 'Should I think about tomorrow? Ohh, should I live for just today? Take the light that burns inside you. Let it burn away, let it burn away...". Soon after this portion however, the guitar solo takes over, which soon leads back in to the heavy chugging motion that was set earlier in the song. A nice touch is the layered backing vocals towards the end. Another favourite of mine - in fact it sounds great live. (Check the "Live In BUDOKAN album for that).

JUNKIE:

This is a mid tempo rocker which tells the tale of a desperate heroin addict who is aware of his/her habit - but won't admit to being one. "You try so hard to quit, but you'll never admit - YOU'RE A JUNKIE! - There's no reasoning why 'cause the mirror don't lie - YOU'RE A JUNKIE!". The bass and guitars have a slow and rather heavy pace to them, however during the chorus the music tends to go somewhat sadder, until the truth of being a "Junkie!" is yelled, at which this point the music regains its heaviness as the horrible truth of being a drug addict is explicitly stated. I know that this is a favourite track amongst a lot of ozzy fans.

RUNNING OUT OF TIME:

This is a rather sad sounding ballad which includes a piano. I actually quite like this track, especially the way ozzy sings "Just another lonely broken hero, picking up the pieces of my mind, I'm running out of faith and hope and reason -I'm running out of time". I prefer this ballad to 'Dreamer' that featured earlier in the record. Layered vocals are used again here which is a nice touching as they are used sparingly on the 'right' words.

BLACK ILLUSION:

This is a mid-tempo heavy track which at first listen didn't do much for me. However, this is another highlight of the album for me now. The way Ozzy sings along side this music is fantastic, he has the voice that just manages to make this song sound so 'evil'. I can't think of a bad thing at all for this track. The song sounds repetitive music wise (not a bad thing) until suddenly the guitar screeches and the rather menacing chorus begins - 'Black Illusion is all I have to see, Black Illusion, I'll bring you misery". A simple but effective chorus and I really like the guitar work that follows each chorus.

ALIVE:

Chugging bass and heavy guitar riff opens this track, which then mellows in places and then gets heavier and so on. I must say that actually the intro and some select lyrics towards the start I really do enjoy listening to:

'I hate rejection it's the worst it really hurts me, living in side my head, I feel like the living dead, I need your affection it's the best it really helps me'.

The song basically speaks of Ozzy's craziness. However, after the first half I tend to switch off until...

CAN YOU HEAR THEM?:

This track is one of my ultimate favourites from the album, which begins with a heavy drumming machine which gradually gets heavier and heavier and leads in to a rather 'psychotic' guitar riff. The main tune is a rather heavy "chug" of the bass and quick flicking of the guitars with the occasional lift and sudden drop of the bass/guitars to emphasise words. "Can you hear them? All the voices in my head? They freak me out! Can you hear them? They won't be happy 'til I'm dead! (They freak me out!)" is the song's chorus, pretty simple, but I find it very effective in which the tone it is sang by Ozzy. Also, accompanied by the rather "'psychotic' guitar riff on the chorus it really does give you the idea of a person with strange voices niggling at them in their head! The song goes soft and rather sad sounding towards the middle, however it soon picks up during a great sounding guitar solo which leads to some crazy guitar screeches and back in to the heavy main riff. A great way to end the album!

(However - if you are lucky enough to get your hands on an import CD, you will find that the album may also include "No Place For Angels" and the very rare 'Black Skies' - both great songs also and worth a listen!)

Do I recommend?

Well, it's hard to say really. If you know you like Ozzy's solo work then go for it. If you are a fan of Ozzy in Black Sabbath and Black Sabbath only, then I wouldn't bother - although I must be honest when I say you would definitely be missing out on some good songs. The album is more 'polished' than earlier works Ozzy has produced, however, that doesn't take away any of the hardness of the tracks.

I now await comments stating: I like "The Osbournes as a show, but not his music!" :P

Thank you for taking the time to read this review, which I had to do, because there is no chance that this album should be review less!

Interested in purchasing it? Well at www.cd101.co.uk you can grab it for Price £8.95 brand new (P&P free on Cds priced £8.95) or check out Ebay which often has copies available at very low prices.

Editorial reviews
3 stars out of 5 - ...Arguably his best work since 1981's DIARY OF A MADMAN...this is a subtle updating of his signature heavy rock...
Q (11/01/2001)

6 out of 10 - ...Osbourne vaults from semi-tender Diane Warren-like ballads to full-on arena screamers to environmentalist paeans...
Spin (01/01/2002)

3.5 stars out of 5 - ...Solid rock...the black-chrome edge in Osbourne's voice adds a layer of thrill to the album's chunky surging...He's never done it better.
Rolling Stone (11/08/2001)

3.5 stars out of 5 - ...Solid rock...the black-chrome edge in Osbourne's voice adds a layer of thrill to the album's chunky surging...He's never done it better.Spin (1/02, p.108) - 6 out of 10 - ...Osbourne vaults from semi-tender Diane Warren-like ballads to full-on arena screamers to environmentalist paeans...Q (11/01, p.126) - 3 stars out of 5 - ...Arguably his best work since 1981's DIARY OF A MADMAN...this is a subtle updating of his signature heavy rock...
Rolling Stone (11/08/2001)

 

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