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Posted on 10/19/2001 6:41:35 PM PDT by StoneColdGOP

All right rock and roll fans, if you're looking to pick up somw new music this weekend, I have a great suggestion: the newly released album from the godfather of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne. "Down to Earth" is the Madman's first new solo album in six years, since the release of "Ozzmosis". Rumors prior to release abounded that this would be Ozzy's best solo effort since "No Rest for the Wicked", and I agree.

After six years of his schedule being dominated by Ozzfest and other matters, the album was put together earlier this year in about 4 months, with final touches done in August at the conclusion of Ozzfest 2001. Analysis:

Track 1: "Gets Me Through"
The first single off the new album is a great song, opening with the soothing, forlorn piano. In the liner notes, Ozzy describes the song this way, "I wrote the song 'Gets Me Through' as a tribute to all of you. Saying thank you doesn't seem like enough. I owe my life to you....Ozzy" It's a sort of biopical song, certainly one in which Ozzy recognizes his fans as being the most important factor in his success. Fantastic, mesmerizing. Blistering guitar solo by Zakk Wylde.

See the video for "Gets Me Through": Windows Media Player - Real Video

Track 2: "Facing Hell"
A number of fans have ranked this as a favorite on the album, and were stunned at rumors it might not make the setlist for Ozzy's upcoming "Merry Mayhem Tour" (more on that later). Only song on the album that includes the famous maniacal laugh of Ozzy!

Track 3: "Dreamer"
OK - this song immediately reminded me of John Lennon's "Imagine", which makes me want to jump off a cliff rather than hear it. (But is not altogether surprising, Ozzy often credits the Beatles as his biggest musical influence and the reason he came a singer.) But, I noted that "Dreamer" contains no implications or hopes for moral ambiguity and relativism that "Imagine" does. This is the song which I find myself setting on "repeat" and listening to over and over, one of Ozzy's "soft songs" (if such a thing could exist) right up there with "Mama I'm Coming Home". Although the song was written earlier this year, in several pre-release interviews, Ozzy has stated that this songs is a great embodiment of his feelings after the events of September 11, 2001 (Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon were in their hotel room in NYC a few blocks away from the World Trade Center and saw it all happen). Very inspirational and emotional song, I'm hoping for a video.

Track 4: "No Easy Way Out"
Strong song, in my opinion fantastic from a lyrical perspective, strikes a chord as a favorite for me. Could be a sleeper hit as a radio single if they give it a shot, I'm not sure how "Gets Me Through" is doing. Love the bass here, too.

Track 5: "That I've Never Had"
All right now, this song just outright rocks, your neck will ache from headbanging after a few listens.

Track 6: "You Know... (Part 1)"
I don't know what to make of this one, all of one minute and six seconds long. It goes like this:

TRIED TO BE YOUR FATHER
THINGS JUST MADE IT HARDER
SORRY IF I MADE YOU CRY
YEARS TURNED YOU AGAINST ME
HEART WAS ALWAYS ACHING
AND I NEVER THOUGHT YOU’D SAY GOODBYE
I COULD HAVE BEEN WRONG
YOU KNOW…
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN STRONG
YOU KNOW….
(THAT’LL DO…HA HA HA!)

I have heard rumors about what this might be about. One is this, in the album notes Ozzy thanks his wife and four of his children except eldest daughter Jessica (she and eldest son Louis are from Ozzy's first marriage). Word has it Jessica and Ozzy have been on the outs in recent times and this is Ozzy's way of trying to reach out. Perhaps Part 2 will seal the rift?

Track 7: "Junkie"
From his years as a junkie par excellence, Ozzy was certainly in a postion to write a sort of ode to the addict. His unique perspective gave him a place from which to write this with great junkie accuracy.

Track 8: "Running Out of Time"
Great song, slower paced, reminds me of "Diary of a Madman". Kinda the same topical theme too, insanity, paranoia. For some reason, that also appealed to me and made this song a favorite too. Hey, I can only imagine the sort of mind Ozzy has to come up with such fantastic work, I wish I had a fraction of that ability.

Track 9: "Black Illusion"
Hee hee, this is one of those wicked, sinister kind of songs that you can tell Ozzy had fun with, and I enjoy it on that level, too. One of those songs that would have freaked your parents out and made them call him a devil worshipper or some such nonsense.

Track 10: "Alive"
Maybe the Ozz Man meant this spooky little tune to be more of the bio nature than we think, but I see a lot of him in the song. It rocks!

Track 11: "Can You Hear Them?"
The final song on "Down to Earth" is a rocking, smashing close to the album, another favorite of mine on the album. Personally I love it when an artist can create a song that you connect with, this is a great example of that. "They freak me out!"

Find the lyrics for "Down to Earth" songs right here.

Ozzy will launch the "Merry Mayhem Tour" to support his new album on October 31st in Tucson, Arizona and end it December 29th in San Diego, California, supported by Rob Zombie and Mudvayne.

For more info and resources visit:

Epic Records' Ozzy Site
Ozzy.com
Mitch's Ozzy Webpage

Musicians:

Vocals: OZZY OSBOURNE
Guitars: ZAKK WYLDE
Bass: ROBERT TRUJILLO
Drums: MIKE BORDIN

Produced and engineered by Tim Palmer and Mark Dearnley for Epic Records.

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