The Phoenix Network:
 
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
CD Reviews  |  Classical  |  Live Reviews  |  Music Features
FallGuide2009

OZZY OSBOURNE

UNDER COVER | Epic
By Matt Ashare  |  October 27, 2008
2.0 2.0 Stars

Anyone who’s ever sat through one those Ozzy solo sets that leads up to a big Black Sabbath climax at an Ozzfest will appreciate the logic of this all-covers disc: without “Iron Man” and the rest of Sabbath’s catalogue, the Ozman’s own songbook is mighty thin, give or take a “Crazy Train” or two. Of course, fans have every reason to be cynical about this single-disc repackaging of material from the Prince of Darkness four-CD box warmed over with a couple of outtakes that were likely left out for good reason. Not even guest appearances by Jerry Cantrell, Leslie West, and Ian Hunter can make up for a “Go Now” that’s thoughtlessly overworked with strings and background harmonies, or Ozzy’s odd robotic delivery of the ballads “Woman” and “In My Life.” (Is he sounding out the words as he reads them off a Teleprompter or what?) “Rocky Mountain Way,” “Mississippi Queen,” and “21st Century Schizoid Man” are more his speed — slow, sludgy, and granite-hard in spite of too much studio goo. Give Ozzy, Sharon, or whoever’s making the decisions here credit for a “War Pigs” reworking of “For What It’s Worth,” and let’s just say Under Cover’s “Sympathy for the Devil” puts Axl’s to shame, even if Ozzy delivers “What’s my name?” in a tone that suggests he doesn’t know. As that chorus of what sound like a bunch of Kellys in the Mott cover repeat over and over again until you’re certain Ozzy’s just not hearing them, “All the young dudes/Carry the news.”

Related: Send in the clowns, The Big Hurt: Attention whoring and headline parsing, Heaven and hell, More more >
  Topics: CD Reviews , Entertainment, Music, Pop and Rock Music,  More more >
  • Share:
  • Share this entry with Facebook
  • Share this entry with Digg
  • Share this entry with Delicious
  • RSS feed
  • Email this article to a friend
  • Print this article
Comments

ARTICLES BY MATT ASHARE
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   SEND IN THE CLOWNS  |  July 02, 2009
    The New York Post got to resurrect its priceless "Wacko Jacko" headline. Barbara Walters scored Super Bowl-level ratings without having to lift a pretty little finger. And Michael Jackson, well, no matter how you slice it, he got screwed royally.
  •   ARRESTING DEVELOPMENTS  |  September 16, 2008
    Lack of talent, charisma, and/or personality can prevent a good band from achieving greatness — but too much of a good thing can also be a problem.
  •   ROCK THERAPIES  |  July 22, 2008
    A little over four years ago, the Boston music scene lost one of its cuter couples when singer-songwriter Blake Hazard and guitarist/producer John Dragonetti left town for LA.
  •   FORTUNATE ONE  |  July 07, 2008
    It was no surprise to find Chris Brokaw in Hawaii last week, just two Saturdays before he’s due back in Cambridge to pull a double shift upstairs at the Middle East.
  •   BOSTON MUSIC NEWS: JULY 11, 2008  |  July 08, 2008
    The New Year, a band the Kadanes started with Chris Brokaw on drums a decade ago, are still a going concern.

 See all articles by: Matt Ashare

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group