Terry's Reviews
Page
|
||
| Movies | Music | Books |
Music Reviews: |
||
|
The Essential Ozzy Osbourne Epic/Legacy – 2003 If you would have told me 20 years ago that the lead singer from Black Sabbath would have a successful Television series about his family, I would have thought you’d be nuts. I wouldn’t have said that you were crazy if you said that there would be a CD with the greatest hits he would go on to create as a solo artist. This is that CD. |
|
| "Crazy Train" is a classic Ozzy tune
that could symbolize the artist who once bit the head off a bat for a joke. We get to hear
an unreleased live recording of "I Don’t Know" with Randy Rhoads on guitar.
Rhoads startling talent is on display throughout the first CD of this 2-CD set, with
tracks like "Suicide Solution" and "Over The Mountain." The ease in
Rhoads plays in "Flying High Again" makes you wonder what he would have
accomplished had he not died so early. I think "Diary Of A Madman" is one of the
most important Randy Rhoads tracks on this CD because it shows the kind of range he had
and would have expanded upon. He plays soft, atmospheric guitar parts, mixed with
explosive solos and huge heavy rhythms. Randy Rhoads was a gifted guitar player and a
giant reason Ozzy succeeded as a solo artist. "Bark At The Moon" proves that Ozzy has a real knack for picking talent. This was the first album Jake E. Lee played on and is one of the most under appreciated guitarists to ever play. I think Lee’s rhythm ability is extraordinary and it makes you wonder where the heck he is today. For my money "Rock ‘N’ Roll Rebel" may have the most catchy guitar riff ever recorded. It’s that damn good. I’d put it up there with Ritchie Blackmore’s "Smoke On The Water" riff. I did feel that it is an injustice that not one song is here from the album ULTIMATE SIN. I don’t know if Ozzy likes that album or the record company doesn’t have the rights but Jake E. Lee performed some amazing guitar work on that album. It is sorely missed and makes this collection not quite complete. "Crazy Babies" ushers in Ozzy’s next guitar phenom Zakk Wylde. Wylde is in some ways like Randy Rhoads but even more aggressive. Zakk brought his now legendary squealing guitar thunder to the 1988 album NO REST FOR THE WICKED. "Miracle Man", "Fire In The Sky" and "Breakin’ All The Rules" are selected off that potent album. The second disc begins a "Mama, I’m Coming Home" which is the first of a series of power ballads ("Time After Time", "Road To Nowhere", "See You On The Other Side" and unreleased live version of "I Don’t Want To Change The World") that Ozzy created with Zakk. "Desire" has a wicked riff by Zakk, which is accomplished with a supercharged distortion tone. "No More Tears" has one of the best-constructed guitar solos I’ve ever heard. In the middle of the song there is a soft section that features violins that give way to Zakk playing this really slow, but soulful guitar part that builds in speed and volume to where is just a blur of notes. It gives you a truly exhilarating feeling. There is something kind of funny about listening to hard distorted guitars and Ozzy singing "Perry Mason." Zakk creates a memorable riff in "Gets Me Through." The mellowest track off both CDs would be "Dreamer." |
||
