est1978's Full Review: Down to Earth by Ozzy Osbourne
It's been six years since Ozzy's last album. And the metal world has been waiting patiently ever since. And sadly, Down To Earth is just not that great. In 1996 Ozzy started Ozzfest and it was a very bold venture for him in his personal and professional career. Ozzfest is a yearly concert which showcases the nations up and coming heavy metal bands in action. Then in late 1997, the first lineup of legendary metal band Black Sabbath reformed along with Ozzy (of course) as their singer. The band toured heavily for the next three years and then finally Ozzy started on his new album which I am reviewing right now.
Zakk Wylde is once again back on as the lead guitarist. Sadly, he does not impress very much, and that comes as a shock to me. His guitar solos are very respectable, but the actual riffs are uninspired and flat. He usually gets to write a few tracks on the records that he apears on, however most of the writing on this album was not even done by Ozzy himself. A lot of the material was written by outside musicians and it shows.
Osbournes voice is still in prime form. Although that is the only thing this album has going for it. The production is off as well. The drums have a weird dry sound too them. The guitar tone is nice and heavy, just the way I like it. But something is missing. "Gets Me Through" is the first track on Down To Earth. It can all so be considered the album best song, which is not saying much. The subject of the song is very stale and old. It centers around Ozzy's "love" of his fans and how they help him get through the tough times in his life. "Facing Hell" is another song with a rather old formula going for it as well. Not to mention it's cheesy title and cheesy lyrics that sound like something out of a B movie. Great guitar solo however, but it can not save the song itself.
"Dreamer" and Running Out Of Time" are the records two ballads. The former features yet another set of stale lyrical ideas about the horrors of war. Blah blah blah. The latter is just another song for Ozzy to cry and moan about people's ils and that kind of crap. Come on Ozzy. What happened to you? You used to be such a crazy madman biting the heads of doves. Now you are crying and moaning about soceity.
"Junkie is another stale formula about drug abuse and the junkies who supply them. The riff is nothing special and once again the subject matter has been done thousands of times before. And it has been done a hell of a lot better and to the point. "Black Illusion" features another weak and uninspired riff with some more stale lyrical ideas about horror movies I guess. But who cares by this point anyway.
So, as you can see by now. Down To Earth is a rather old and stale formula of heavy metal music itself and is kind of a self parody all at the same time. The only person who I can recommend this album to is the hardcore Ozzy fan. But not anyone else.
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