RATINGS:
1.BLIZZARD OF OZZ (EXCELLENT) Released in 1981, This album marks the beginning of the short but
brilliant relationship between Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads. Ozzy's vocal are
perfectly complemented by Randy's lightning quick power chords and machine-gun-like
solo bursts. This album contains classics like "I Don't Know," "Crazy Train," and "Mr.
Crowley." Randy's classical guitar comes out with stunning beauty in "Dee." His speed
metal guitar work is dazzling on his solo in "Revelation (Mother Earth)."
2.DIARY OF A MADMAN (EXCELLENT) Released in 1981, Diary of a Madman picks up right where the last
album left off. Guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoads again provides a nonstop attack of
sometimes subtle, sometimes flashy guitar work. "Flying High Again" symbolizes the lofty
altitudes this album reaches. This album offers unyielding excitement from start to finish.
It is the best of Ozzy's solo albums. Unfortunately, after the death of Rhoads in 1982, it
would be some time before Ozzy reached this high of a level of music again on his studio
projects.
3.BARK AT THE MOON (FAIR) Released in 1983, this album clearly lacks the excitement that Ozzy could
produce when matched with Rhoads. While "Waiting for Darkness" and the title track of
this album are top quality songs, the remainder of this album does not stand up to the high
standards of the first two Ozzy albums.
4.THE ULTIMATE SIN (POOR) Released in 1986, the Ultimate Sin has the best cover art of all of Ozzy's solo
efforts, but the art is probably the only exciting feature of this album. "Shot in the Dark"
is probably the only strong song here. This album is the worst offering of Ozzy's
solo work.
5.TRIBUTE (EXCELLENT) Released in 1987, this album was a posthumous tribute to Ozzy's former
guitarist Randy Rhoads. I usually don't review live albums, but this live album is one of
the best live albums I've ever heard. This 1982 concert material shows Ozzy and Rhoads
in their highest form. It is a definitive live album from the heavy metal pioneer and his late
guitar genius. It's certainly worth checking out for fans of live albums.
6.NO REST FOR THE WICKED (EXCELLENT) Released in 1988, No Rest for the Wicked shows a renewed vigor that
had been lacking in the last two studio offerings. Ozzy makes good use of the downfall of
certain television evangelists in the song "Miracle Man." "Devil's Daughter" and "Crazy
Babies" are two hard-rockin' masterpieces. "Fire in the Sky" is a superb ballad. Be sure
to check out the untitled and unlisted song at the end of this album after "Demon
Alcohol."
7.NO MORE TEARS (EXCELLENT) Released in 1991, This album features some of Ozzy's best work. It is also the most diverse in its blend of music. Ozzy deftly moves back and
forth from soft songs like "Mama, I'm Coming Home" and "Road to Nowhere" to hand-bangers
like "Mr. Tinkertrain" and "Hellraiser." The title track is an absolute masterpiece. It is one of Ozzy's finest songs.
8.OZZMOSIS (FAIR) Released in 1995, Ozzmosis isn't as strong as Ozzy's last two albums. It's a more
pensive and subdued album than the others. It doesn't have quite the thrill one would
expect from an Ozzy album. Ozzy's take on the O.J. trial makes for a good song in "Perry
Mason." "Tomorrow" is also an enjoyable selection.
9. THE OZZMAN COMETH (GOOD) Released in 1997, The Ozzman Cometh is the long anticipated Ozzy best hits album. It features some prime selections from Ozzy's solo work. The first album in this double set contains two previously unreleased versions of the Black Sabbath hits "Black Sabbath" and "War Pigs." It also features one or two hit songs from each of his solo albums. The second album contains two more old Sabbath pieces and an Ozzy interview. The Ozzman Cometh will be enjoyed by long time Ozzy fans, although the album does lack a certain amount of coherency as you move from old Sabbath "basement tapes" to studio songs to live pieces back to studio songs. It does however make a good starting point for new Ozzy fans.
© 1997 t-specht@students.uiuc.edu
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