Lyrically, Ozzy’s music hasn’t changed. Black Rain is an album about hate, war, rock n' roll, and of course, his love for Sharon. It’s never going to be rocket science, but it’s pure Ozzy. To be honest, if he started singing about anything else, it may just scar his fans for life. One of the reasons they love Ozzy is because he has not changed in the 40 years that he has been in the music industry.
Naturally an Ozzy album isn’t an Ozzy album without the obligatory ballad about his wife, Sharon. In this case there are two- “Lay Your World On Me”, and “Here For You”. They're songs about Sharon’s battle with cancer, and see Ozzy reaching out to be her pillar of strength. It’s a move some would say is a role reversal, since Sharon has always been Ozzy’s strength.
It never fails to surprise me how easily Ozzy can sing a ballad, and do it as well as he sings heavier songs. His voice is at its clearest singing ballads, and he injects the right emotion, so that the pain and frustration he feels, is also your pain and frustration.
To me, it shows that while many may mock him for his distinct voice, and sometimes, incoherent ramblings, the man is as diverse as he is unique.
Ozzy reportedly confessed recently, that this is the first album that he has recorded sober. Considering his 40-odd career, it’s a scary thought but not a staggering one. If this is his first attempt sober, then it should be interesting to see what he does next.
Tracks not to miss: “I Don’t Wanna Stop” “Lay Your World On Me”, “11 Silver”, “Not Going Away” and “Black Rain”.
I give this album 4/5
Article comments
1 - Mike D'Orazio
Nice review!
2 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Sorry, but this kind of review for an album that lacks any kind of power or passion just shows how crappy the "metal" scene really is here in the US. Thia album is plain out Hard Rock...
With the over-the-top production values along with the cheesy lyrics & horrible sound affects this album sounds more like something his daughter could've released for all the "Goth/Emo" teeny-boppers out there.
And the only song on the album that has any kind of serious message,"Black Rain" gets lost in all of it's pretentious slickness. So much so, that it starts to sound like a Britney Spears track.
No wonder Black Sabbath,again,chose to work with Ronnie James Dio. Ozzy needs to retire...Remember No More Tours
3 - matt
This is easily Ozzy's best album since No More Tears. Like the review said who really knows what most of the songs are even about lyically on Down To Earth and Ozzmosis especially. Cheesy lyrics that last poster says? Try Lyrics that speak clearly of the mood and the time we're in. Fact is if Ozzy had never been around the last 40 years and burst onto the scene with Black Rain people would be in awe of a 59 yr old man with that voice and he would bigger than anything out there, we're just too used to him now and take hime for granted.