On a 'Calm' day I got 30 minutes of free time, hope that explains my absense.
On a 'Calm' day I got 30 minutes of free time, hope that explains my absense.
Member since:05.04.2008
Reviews:24
Members who trust:17
----Writers Notice---- I do not hold any copyright on either the lyrics, the songs or the albumart. This review was purely written to tell you about the artist and the album, and my opinions are based on personal experiences. They hold no legal or universal ground. I can not and will not take responsibility for any part of the lyrics NOR quotes NOR my personal opinions. If however you want me to change something, send me a private message and I will consider your point.
----Intro---- I decided to get this album because of the cover and the fact 'Mama I'm Coming Home' is on it. I will be honest, except for that song and 'Dreamer' I did not know any of Ozzy's songs, I do not even know a song by Black Sabbath ( I know, its horrible ).
My father went away for the weekend, and my sister was out of the country, leaving me home alone, with alot of tasty food, A big TV, and a 'The Osbournes' MTV weekend break. If you are wondering, did he really watch 12 hours of the osbournes? Yes, I did, first because I said to myself: 'Gosh this is stupid', and later it kind of grew on me, and the episode where his leg is broken, but he is going onstage and starts jumping anyway, made me think, gosh this is a cool guy. Did not really do anything with that, until I came across this album.
----Artists Personal History---- Well, hardly knowing the guy or what he was about, I thought it was time to research him. John Michael Osbourne, as he was called when he was born, was born the third of December 1948, in Aston, he turns 60 this year.
As head vocalist of 'Black Sabbath' he gained alot of fame, and even got a reality show. He had a hard schooltime being supposedly dyslexic, and started to play in a schoolband. In 1979 he got kicked from Black Sabbath, because even though they all did drugs, he became unreliable because he used way more than everyone else. He got replaced by Ronnie James Dio.
In 1982 band member and good friend Randy Rhoads died because the pilot carrying him was on coke, and crashed with his wing through a tree into a house, killing himself, Randy and the hairdresser called Rachel. The Label gave him time to mourn, but he hardly made use of that, and was back up within a week. When the tour went on they found another guitarist, Bernie, but he could hardly take the pressure of having to learn the song and replacing the still widely missed Randy, he was gone within a month. In the end of 1986 they got sued for 2 boys killing themselves over his song.
However, the judge ruled that Ozzy was not responsible for the actions of his listeners. In 1988 he spoke his famous words: "sobriety fucking sucks." Stopping with touring in 1995, but soon ( also in 1995 ) he decided to go on, with a tour called 'Retirement sucks' Under influence of alchohol and drugs way to much, he could not control himself anymore.
"My wife found me under the piano in a white suit, a shotgun in one hand and a knife in the other" He had then shot all 17 cats. in 1989 he got to the top of his trouble, when he became violently drunk and tried to strangle his wife Sharon.
----Artists Discography----
-- With Black Sabbath 1970 Black Sabbath 1970 Paranoid 1971 Master of Reality 1972 Black Sabbath, Vol. 4 1973 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 1975 Sabotage 1976 Technical Ecstasy 1978 Never Say Die! 1998 Reunion 2002 Past Lives
-- Solo 1980 Blizzard of Ozz 1981 Diary of a Madman 1983 Bark at the Moon 1986 The Ultimate Sin 1988 No Rest for the Wicked 1991 No More Tears ~~~~~~This album is the review about. 1995 Ozzmosis 2001 Down to Earth 2005 Under Cover 2007 Black Rain
---Forword--- But hey, now you know what kind of mental state he was in, having faced ALOT of problems, he brought out this album I am reviewing. This album is the 15th he worked on, and its obvious
they know what they are doing.
This is the set up for this album: Ozzy Osbourne - vocals Zakk Wylde - guitar Bob Daisley - bass Mike Inez - bass and Musical Direction Randy Castillo - drums John Sinclair - keyboards
----Tracks---- Track 1. ~ 'Mr. Tinkertrain' ~ 5:58 ~ 8/10 Starts of with childrens chatter while you hear some kind of bell, that slows down at about 33 seconds, and then you get a drumming, the guitar wakes up, and the songs starts at about 1 minute with a great guitar and drum line, and after a few seconds you get him singing. I like the lyrics, the way the music and his voice play together, the song is a great song to start with, and it gave me the feeling I made a great purchase. Especially the solo at 4 minutes is really great to listen to. However, this song is sung from a pedophiles point of view, which stirred up the emotions quite bad in some places. see under here.
'So come along and play my game You'll never be the same Close the curtains and turn out the lights Beneath my wing it's gonna be alright A little secret just for you and me I've got the kind of toys you've never seen Manmade and a bit obscene Little angel come and sit upon my knee'
Track 2. ~ 'I Don't Want To Change The World' ~ 4:06 ~ 8/10 Quite a heavy intro, if you think about the fact it is a 17 year old track. I personally experience this as a feel good song, you can sing along, and then enjoy the music as Ozzy shuts up, they work together well, but they give plenty of time for the music, which I am personally quite happy with, because the guitars and drums are on a freaking roll, especially around 1:40, the guitar, and then a solo following on that, this really is a feel good track which shows the skills of the guitarist. ( Zakk Wylde )
The calm part does not come as a surprise, because this song is a little predictable, but thats good, you get pumped as you feel more awesome music coming up. 'I don't want to change the world, I don't want the world to change me' is being chanted around the end, and I personally feel really strongly about that.
'Tell me I'm a sinner I got news for you I spoke to God this morning and he don't like you You telling all the people the original sin He says he knows you better that you'll ever know him'
Track 3. ~ 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' ~ 4:12 ~ 9.5/10 A well known ballad, usually people that hardly know Ozzy refer to this track and the 'bat-incident' Dedicated to his 'Mama' Sharon, as he calls his wife.
The song sounds like a country song the first 2 seconds, then its just calm. He sings really calm, with a soft backing guitar and drum, but its acoustic up untill about a minute, untill the guitar slightly wakes up. The text touches me deep. The drum and guitar really wake up around 1:30, but do not distract too much from the text, because he starts to sing a little louder and more swaying ( I started singing along, and I can not get it out of my head lol )
The solo around 2:30 is calmish, it rocks, it is really really enjoyable, but it does not tear the calmth of the song, which I find good, because this song is more about the message then the music, even though the message is brought really well because of the music, so I would say it is this commercial for a reason.
'Lost and found and turned around By the fire in your eyes'
Track 4. ~ 'Desire' ~ 5:46 ~ 5/10 Following track 3, it has quite big footsteps to follow. The intro is quite a wake up, since track 3 fades out, this wakes you up. The guitar and drums build up for 40 seconds, to have a 10 second burst, after which Ozzy starts singing. It hardly sounds original, the singing is not that good, and he somewhat disturbs the melody at times, making this song just a little off, which is a shame, because the guitar and drumline are enjoyable. The music is too much in the background, even the times they are not supporting him it pretty much sounds repeatative, I am really not that impressed.
It is really a background song, its not a song you would put on to listen to, even though the solo at 3:26 is the reason I wanted to buy a guitar, only to realize I would not be able to play like that when I checked how it was played. But the music has quite alot of time before he starts singing, I pretty much think they should have used that 1 minute of awesome music and the chorus that pretty much keeps repeating like 10 times once, you would have a song of 1.30 that rocks, instead of a song that you can't dislike, but you do not feel like waiting 3 minutes untill it stops sucking either.
Track 5. ~ 'No More Tears' ~ 7:24 ~ 7/10 Title carrier AND longer then 7 minutes, quite a gamble. However, the intro makes you forget about track 4, and makes you focus on the upcoming 7 minutes of this track. The guitar and drum and bass do their work, and you really get to hear the deep rough side of the guitar, the 'Don't tread on me' by Metallica kind of guitar.
The singing is enjoyable, but you do not really feel the 'No More Tears', I am not convinced by the singing of the lyrics, even though the singing on itself is good. The instruments and teamwork keeps being awesome. At 3:40 they just stop and seem to start a new song. Only piano with some radio broadcasting vaguely in the background. Then the guitar starts to swell and you hear the drum now and then, but not in a melody, but its being patted.
Until 4:40 and they start building up, creating one of the best solos I have heared in quite a while, and I can hear some tricks they do here that Mudvayne used in their 200? album. He starts singing again after letting his band play some, and the music ties down again. All in all a pretty awesome track, but not THAT impressed with the way he sings the title.
Track 6. ~ 'S.I.N' ~ 4:47 ~ 10/10 Starts with a weeping guitar, and the way I feel hearing the guitar makes me want to rate it 10/10 anyways. The music is so awesome throughout the track is so great I love this song the best of all the 6 track I reviewed untill now. The singing is enjoyable, he uses alot of different ways to sing, and you hear a little bit of 'Crazy Train' parts in the guitar. The solo at 2:20 is just another bonus to a song already worthy of a 12/10.. The bass, the guitar,the singing, the lyrics, the drum, the combo, it just all works, definate 10/10.
And I was not even talking about the second solo in the track lol, THATS right, there are 2 solos in this track, the second one lasts untill the end, it slowly fades together with the rest, and after about 5 minutes one of the most amazing tracks I have listened to today ends.
'Will the voices ever set me free I can hear 'em, I can hear 'em Someone wake me when it's over In my head I hear the voices scream I need someone to tell me what it means...
...Shattered dreams lay next to broken glass I wonder if tonight will be my last I need an angel who can rescue me To save me from my mental symphony'
Track 7. ~ 'Hellraiser' ~ 4:53 ~ 9/10 Well, with this intro I forget my sorrow and the fact I miss track 6. The singing is not too bad, I like the lyrics and the music really just rolls on, and you can guess, at 3:15 a awesome guitar solo is born, sadly only lasting 16 seconds. The music ties down, solid drumline backing his vocals. The music is not that extreme or whatever, but it really is enjoyable, even though after track 6 no track can satisfy me anyway, even though the outro really rocks. One thing though, for a song called 'Hellraiser' you miss the evil music, its great, but does not really fit a 'Hellraiser' like title.
Track 8. ~ 'Time After Time' ~ 4:21 ~ 9.5/10 Now THATS calm for a intro. Ozzy opens his mouth at 20 seconds, and it really is calm, starting with good lyrics and nice singing, together with some people. Wondering where the drums and guitar are at?
Lurking in the shadows of the Prince Of Darkness untill like 45 seconds. This sounds again like a track with great music, but with the mainfocus on what he is saying, just like in track 3. The solo at 2:10 is so great, again it does not rip the song, it sways along with the drums and the vocals before and after the solo. The solo has a drummed outro that lasts quite long. I love this song, its not perfect, but comes pretty close. The outro is experimental ( it was 17 years ago ) but suits fine.
'Day after day I watched love fade away I wanted love to stay Day after day The games we played The foolish things we say The pain wont go away Day after day'
Track 9. ~ 'Zombie Stomp' ~ 6:14 ~ 3.5/10 Instrumental slightly experimental intro, with some other instruments then usually, including bells, and some African instrument and even a synthesizer, and if you think this is a short intro, after 2 minutes the drums and guitars finally take over, and a few seconds later the singing comes. 'Hey hey, do the Zombie Stomp'.. I personally find the lyrics horribly lame, sort of Iron Maiden rip off, with their heroic texts. The 2 minute intro, the other instruments and the guitar are all great, but it just does not make up for what I think is about the lamest text they ever wrote? In the background its okay, but you feel stupid singing along, its like a childrens song with those lyrics. So as a track you actually listen to I can not do anything else then rate it low.
'Hey, hey, do the Zombie, Zombie Stomp Hey, hey, do the Zombie Stomp Hey, hey, do the Zombie Stomp Hey, hey, do the Zombie Stomp Hey, hey, do the Zombie Stomp'
Need I say more?
Track 10. ~ 'A.V.H.' ~ 4:13 ~ 8/10 Calm snareplucking, I like how this song starts off. And as you expect, but it still rocks, the music starts, and personally I find the way the music flows really cool. The lyrics are alright, the song just flows on, its not really that special, but it all works well together and its just a enjoyable song to here, but it is not the kind of song that you hear what song it is. The solo rocks, but on this album are so many great guitar solos that you have to be a die hard fan to be able to see what track this is. Nontheless a pleasure to listen to, don't get me wrong. Love the ending by the way, but listen for yourself.
'I'm riding on a train that I can't control'
I do not know why, but he sings it 4 times throughout the song, maybe its about his addictions? I do not know the meaning behind this.
Track 11. ~ 'Road To Nowhere' ~ 5:10 ~ 9.5/10 Get your flashlight people, the sweeping guitar and weak drumline make you feel like this is a ballad, and when he starts singing, this is the sentence he starts with: 'I was looking back over my life..' The music is really taking me away, I do not know how it would work for you, but I get carried away with the guitarline and the lyrics.
You can shout this along in your car, but yeah, when this song is finished and your CD has stopped you feel lonely, all of a sudden Zakk has left you, Ozzy has left you, and even though you might still have a little melody playing in your head, the silence after this track finishes is really noticeable. Especially after the great solo at 3: something. 'The road to nowhere leads to me' I want to take that road, I love this song, I love this album, and I find this somehow a really personal goodbye? I do not know, but its like he is saying bye and see you next album. I personally find this a great track to stop the album with, even though its sad this album/track has to end.
'I was looking back on my life And all the things I've done to me I'm still looking for the answers I'm still searching for the key
The wreckage of my past keeps haunting me It just wont leave me alone I hope we never have to say goodbye I never want to live without you
I hope we never have to say goodbye I never want to live without you'
----Album art--- Well, the front is a picture of him, but you can not see his eyes, because there is his hair in front of it, and he is looking sideways. The logo Glenn Parsons created is cool, but feels a little off with the picture and the title.
The picture, taken by Matt Mahurin is great, but the real work ( the faded part of his head, the angelwing on his shoulder, and keeping everything to be one part was done by Nancy Donald and David Coleman. Keeping in mind this was also done something like 17 years ago, its really greatly done.The back is faded, on the left it shows the tracklisting, who played what part of the song. Alot and I mean ALOT of copyright and creditblabber. 'Randy Castillo is endorsed by Tama Drums, Zildjian Cymbals & Drumsticks.'
Little over the top if you ask me, but hey, you do get to know that All the awesome solos are played on a Gibson, with GHS Strings. Ozzy thanks everybody, even the girls that poured the coffee at the canteen..Can be that I overlooked, but it seems he missed Sharon, which I find a little weird, but hey. The print on the CD is Black, the tracks said on the left ( Track 1 to 5, by name and who worked on it ( O. Osbourne, Z. Wylde, R.Castillo for example ) and on the right ( track 6 to 11 ).
At the top is the logo made by Glenn Parsons, in lightpink/purple. At the bottom are the 'Epic', 'Compact Disc' and 'Lc 0199' Logo. Under the logos are quite alot of numbers, and then the copyright blabber about Epic and Sony Music. 'Made in Austria, Original Sound Recording Made By Sony Music Entertainment.' They are sure to put their copyright on every part they own, but hey, of you are a little bit like me, you only look at the CD for a second before you shove it in the CD player.
All in all I guess its worth about a 8/10.
-----Rating----- 87/110 = 7.91/10 the art = 8.0/10 ---------------- Average = 7.96, Rounded off I consider this to be a 8/10 ~ 4/5 stars.
Even though this album has 2 or 3 weak links, it is still a really great album, with I think 12? guitar solos, in 11 tracks that is pretty awesome. The drums are consistently good, the guitar, well, I can not even say 1 thing negative about Zakk Wylde. After listening this album I put Firewind on because I just love strong vocals with sometimes a growl.
Ozzy was and still is great, but I get enough of that after about a hour, so I am in luck with a album that lasts 55:50 right? But to come back to track 3, even though its not the best, the message and the way he shows himself, standing naked in a busy town as it were, he does not care what other people say or think, its his message, and he has to and wants to say it. Keep in mind, this is 17 years old, it rocks now, but it rocked so much more and so much more extreme back then.
----Conclusion---- A great album with some really awesome tracks, and ofcourse some weak links. Number 3 ( 'Mama I'm Coming Home' ) touched me, and I think alot of people, but it is together with a few songs the best on this album.
The CD runs for 55:50, I would definatly recommend it, even if you are just going to put the cover out in the open, the picture and the retouching of the picture is really really great, and the music aswell. Ozzy has had horrible years before this album, and the fact he is still alive and out of jail to record this album is to be considered a miracle. Any Ozzy fan should have this album. I can not say whether this is better than other albums, since I only have this one, but this one rocks HARD.
This album is from september 1991, that is 16/17 years old, and guess what? It is better then about every album put on the market nowaydays if you ask me. And you may not be asking me, but you are reading my opinion, which is about the same.
Review by GerlofL, 16th of May 2008. Because of the length of this review, I put the writers notice down here again, to make sure you don't forget.
----Writers Notice---- I do not hold any copyright on either the lyrics or the songs. This review was purely written to tell you about the artist and the album, and my opinions are based on personal experiences. They hold no legal or universal ground. I can not and will not take responsibility for any part of the lyrics NOR quotes NOR my personal opinions. If however you want me to change something, send me a private message and I will consider your point.
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May 16th, 2008
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