I bought this CD this afternoon, figured it would be worth owning the real CD for the included documentary instead of burning the songs. I was wrong, the documentary blows. I’ve listened all the way through once, so it’s time for song-by-song reviews, followed by an overall review.
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Gets Me Through- The obvious radio biscuit on this CD. It’s pretty damn cool, dripping with Ozzy style, not new sounding, but good. You’ve probably heard it already, it’s the first single. Nice self-reference lyrical touch, too (I’m not the kind of person/ you think I am/ I’m not the antichrist/ or Iron Man) Later it becomes “confessions of a rock star” with tribute paid to his fans, along with the admission he’s nothing like his persona.
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Facing Hell- Starts sounding a little prog-rockish and goes on to some balls-out metal. Zakk’s guitar work is very solid on this song, with cool choppy crunchy sound. This song is a little uneven, feels a little overproduced because it changes tone so often, like a bunch of song ideas blended together a little too slickly. Still, classic Ozzy vocal sounds, and a sing along pre-chorus.
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Dreamer- This song is a surprise coming from Ozzy, but I really like it. I mean a lot. It’s soft, sounds amazingly like a mix of Pink Floyd and John Lennon. Absolutely great, if ever so slightly cliched. I want to listen to this over and over. It should be cheesy, but instead it just plain rules. Best song on the album.
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No Easy Way Out- Begins sounding like a mix of southern rock and hair metal. Next comes a Pantera-style metal riff, which works well. This song is not particularly special, there’s nothing wrong with it either. Kind of forgettable, but good.
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That I Never Had- The Pantera sound comes through strong in Zakk’s guitar work in this song. This song feels a little like filler on this album, but still solid rock. I would kill to be able to write stuff like this, so whatever that’s worth…
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You Know- Ozzy goes Lennon again on this acoustic song. Sounds whinier than Dreamer, but still good. It’s cool to hear the Ozzman go soft a little. Really short… hmm.
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Junkie- Good stuff! Really nice, pure rock. As often as Ozzy talks about his bout with addiction and self-loathing, it’s about time that this song came out. Lyrically tough, with a cool guitar background that compliments Ozzy’s voice. This is a great example of Ozzy and Zakk working together.
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Running Out Of Time- Another soft-rocker from the Ozzman! This song is way better than You Know, not as good as Dreamer. The chorus of this song is so catchy I felt like holding up a lighter right here in my room and rocking to the beat. More confessions (underneath my masquerade/ a simple man who’s so afraid/ I try to find a light to guide me home) of a rock star. Sounds kind of God-oriented. Did Ozzy get religion? Great chorus. Damn!
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Black Illusion- Back to the Sabbath sound. Thank you Ozzy! Thank you! Sounds like a mix of “Electric Funeral” with “Children Of The Grave”. Really good stuff, classic Ozzy rock. Bang your head, baby!
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Alive- The intro reminds me of “Get Your Gunn” by Marilyn Manson, then comes something like the sound of Orgy. Good stuff, brooding, goes from flanged out to heavy distorted stuff.
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Can You Hear Them?- Big drum intro, pounding muted crunch from the guitars. This is a fist pumper boys and girls. Classic! There’s not a whole lot I can say about this one, just that it’s really good. Sounds like a great encore song! My fist is in the air
A general review:
This is the best album since Ozzy left Black Sabbath. “Dreamer” damn near makes me cry. “Gets Me Through” rocks well, sounds like the quintessential Ozzy song. The rest of the album, with the exception of “You Know” is either good softish metal, or solid long-haired rock. Makes me alternately want to jump in a pit and tie flowers in my hair. Oh Ozzy, promise never to ever go away!!
4 out of 5 stars. Ozzy loses points for pretension and crappiness on “You Know” and having a couple songs that, while solid rock n’ roll, aren’t incredibly memorable. Gets points back for the rest.
LC