No Rest for the Wicked - Premium Gothic Home Decor for Dark Aesthetic Lovers | Perfect for Halloween, Gothic Weddings & Vampire-Themed Parties

I’m going to stray from the usual music reviews. Ozzy has been making albums throughout most of my life. I won’t delve into the Black Sabbath years, and am not going to compare any of his releases with each other (it wouldn’t be fair to Ozzy.) I like artists and bands that can consistently churn out unique and different sounds and songs with each progression through time. I don’t want an artist who repeats the past. So for this review I am strictly going to explore Ozzy through each of his works under “Ozzy Osbourne” and will not mention any of his ballads (which there are many memorable.)To start with, his eerie use of haunting keyboards, heavy guitar riffs, unique vocal style, choice of lyrics and willingness to stray outside of the box is one of the reasons I find all if his work amazing. Include a choir here, piano there, some strings, orchestration, while consistently supplying catchy riffs and choruses… he can’t seem to go wrong. Maintaining freshness throughout a career is an art form not many rock artists can pull off. I don’t think you can find a single release that doesn’t offer at least one gem. Many band members have come and gone over the years, and comparing guitarists, producers, and other differences to each other to me is meaningless; each have brought something unique to the table.Blizzard of Ozz (1980) – Many consider a classic (and rightfully so.) But to compare everything he does to his first album is insane. Sure, “Crazy Train” is what launched his career as a solo artist in the ‘80s and is an excellent piece of work. I can’t argue with that (as it is a great tune), and the album is a cult classic chock full of hits. But comparing everything he does to the past isn’t going to work for me. He progressed onwards and with fury.Diary of a Madman (1981) – “Flying High Again” is another classic. You can hear him evolving from more than just another rock icon of the era. “Over the Mountain” is another memorable tune. There are elements of his past in this release, but you can hear him moving forward in direction.Bark at the Moon (1983) – The title track became a radio hit, and justly so for the time period. Once again, he provides a solid framework from which he will build upon in the future. All the elements are here.The Ultimate Sin (1986) – “Shot in the Dark”, another radio hit, brings him that much closer to his fans and new audiences alike. Variety is the key that keeps him alive for me. Some casual fans may have trouble with this one, but again he is evolving.No Rest for the Wicked (1988) – “Miracle Man” just demonstrates how he can still change things and sound great. “Breakin’ all the Rules” is another fantastic tune that demonstrates his unique abilities in providing variety. Despite the continual changes in lineup, he still produces solid rockers with flair.No More Tears (1991) – The title track is great. Well produced, and again Ozzy has shown a refreshing change by including even more keyboards, an orchestra, dubbed voices, and a fantastic break from the routine that so many other artists fell under. “Hell Raiser” is another amazing track. The uniqueness of this release is what kept me interested in what Ozzy was doing. Fantastic production and execution.Ozzmosis (1995) – When “Perry Mason” came out, I was blown away by the intro and bass line in the middle. Despite the reference to an iconic character of years past, the song is just as fresh as it should be. Give it a few listens, you’ll be hooked. Another example of excellent production and freshness.Down to Earth (2001) – Many hardcore Ozzy fans trash this release. I can’t understand why. He has evolved again, and continues to amaze me. I can appreciate the changes throughout the years, to me it is just another example of his ability to morph new ideas into his repertoire. “Gets Me Through” is a great song. “Junkie” is another one.Black Rain (2007) – Once again, Ozzy has pulled more tricks out of his hat. “Not Going Away” is phenomenal. Again, unlike his previous releases he has demonstrated that he can adapt and kick out a winner. Not all of the tracks are special, but he has something for everyone in every release he does. I think many fail to understand him.Scream (2010)– “Let it Die” and “Diggin’ Me Down” are worth the purchase even if they were the only songs on this release. Again, he puts together a wonderful collection of rocking tunes. I hope Ozzy keeps true to himself and continues to experiment and release new music.In summary, if you are looking for Ozzy to repeat himself over and over, you probably won’t like all of his releases. But if you can appreciate the way he has evolved over the years, you are sure to enjoy at least one track from each. After all, he has something for everyone. It is hard to have everything for someone, but with his changes in band members, sounds, lyrics, and topic choices, I have to give him due credit. If you are looking for Black Sabbath in everything he does, you will probably be disappointed in some of his releases. If you have a hankerin’ for a particular guitarist, you may be disappointed as well. But if you are someone like me (who appreciates the changes in musical direction while still maintaining true to his image), I can’t think of many artists who have continually churned out winners in the bunch. Do yourself a favor and preview the tracks I have listed and you may be surprised that he really does provide something for everyone. Take your picks from there. And no, I don’t work for any of his labels and I have never even met the man (although I would love to shake his hand for consistently supplying me with great music over the years.) His marketing has upset a few fans (see other reviews), but set aside the corporate game and just listen. That’s what music is really about.