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Product Description
Review
Rock's own Prince of Darkness has been living on borrowed time for so long that each new album he somehow manages to grind out is viewed as some sort of valedictory reckoning. With a loyal fan base, widespread public sympathy and the formidable power of the Ozzy brand working in his favour, we all cut the guy some slack. After all, this is probably gonna be his final album again, right?
Since his short-lived 'retirement' in 1994, Ozzy has issued just three studio albums, none of them anything to write home about and all pale shadows of his 1980s heyday. Despite a new line-up in his backing band and considerable effort expended to make up for 2007's abysmal Black Rain, Scream is yet another disappointingly mediocre effort. You can cut all the slack you like, but a spade is a spade.
A key element of Ozzy's long-term strategy has been periodic transfusions of talent. New rhythm sections are regular occurrences, new guitarists less so, but the six-string mantle does change hands occasionally. Ditching long-term axeman Zakk Wylde in favour of Greek guitar genius Gus G should have signalled a decisive dumping of the wannabe-contemporary Black Rain formula, but with producer/co-writer Kevin Churko still in place and all the material written before his arrival, Gus effectively had no creative input. While his real test as a suitable sidekick for Ozzy is still to come, he probably still feels like he's won the lottery. And it's good timing too, given the parlous state of his home nation's finances. None of this, of course, changes the fact that Scream is a deeply ordinary showcase for the new guitarist's prodigious skills.
In truth, all of Ozzy's solo albums are patchy, but Scream lacks the killer that drowns out the filler. When lead-off single Let Me Hear You Scream is the most dynamic song on offer, you know you're in for an uneventful ride. Surely the rock'n'rollercoaster that Ozzy has ridden for over four decades can't flat-line on its final stretch?
Stitched-together songs, overproduced vocals and mountains of mid-tempo sludge; this is what happens when musicians decide they need to sound 'relevant'.
--Greg Moffitt
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Product Description
The Ozzman cometh again in 2010 with new axeman Gus G in tow. Fts " Let Me Hear You Scream"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I heard this album first on a plane, I was never running to a CD shop as fast as when I got off the plane that day. The CD cover would imply that you'll be listening to an over-engineered set of songs by someone who is slowly becoming a parody of himself. But don't judge too quickly. This is a great album. And Ozzy is a great songwriter.
Another surprising thing is the musicianship of the entire band. There is no weak link. Ozzy is in top form and so is the rest of the guys. I was getting irritated by Zakk's repetitive guitars, the change in guitarist is very refreshing. And the new line-up sounds like they've played together since forever.
The album has just the right balance of melodic and heavy songs, dark and emotional lyrics, references to Ozzy's past music and new ideas.
From the latest albums I love Down to Earth and don't like Black Rain, I love all of Ozzy's older albums. I won't be telling you that Scream is similar to any of the previous albums. I'm learning to accept what an artist creates and let it influence me - I will listen to it the odd time or often. And this album I listen to very often.
Get it, listen to it, enjoy it. And big WELL DONE to Ozzy for this masterpiece.
Another surprising thing is the musicianship of the entire band. There is no weak link. Ozzy is in top form and so is the rest of the guys. I was getting irritated by Zakk's repetitive guitars, the change in guitarist is very refreshing. And the new line-up sounds like they've played together since forever.
The album has just the right balance of melodic and heavy songs, dark and emotional lyrics, references to Ozzy's past music and new ideas.
From the latest albums I love Down to Earth and don't like Black Rain, I love all of Ozzy's older albums. I won't be telling you that Scream is similar to any of the previous albums. I'm learning to accept what an artist creates and let it influence me - I will listen to it the odd time or often. And this album I listen to very often.
Get it, listen to it, enjoy it. And big WELL DONE to Ozzy for this masterpiece.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Ignore the BBC review above. The BBC have never been big endorsers of anything other than mainstream.
This is a really good album. The songs are really well crafted and catchy as hell.
This is Ozzy's first outing with new guitar player Gus G, and it produces arguably the best Ozzy Osbourne album since 1991s 'No More Tears'.
Admittedly, Ozzy's vocals aren't as strong as they used to be, but in some instances, this enables him to use more emotion in his performance. The guitar solos aren't as melodic as previous guitar players'. However, don't let these factors deter you from what is a class album. One worth buying.
Brilliant riffs. Melodic hooks. Thought provoking lyrics. What more could you want?
This is a really good album. The songs are really well crafted and catchy as hell.
This is Ozzy's first outing with new guitar player Gus G, and it produces arguably the best Ozzy Osbourne album since 1991s 'No More Tears'.
Admittedly, Ozzy's vocals aren't as strong as they used to be, but in some instances, this enables him to use more emotion in his performance. The guitar solos aren't as melodic as previous guitar players'. However, don't let these factors deter you from what is a class album. One worth buying.
Brilliant riffs. Melodic hooks. Thought provoking lyrics. What more could you want?
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Put simply this album is way better than anyone could have expected: melodic, heavy, varied, contemporary.....and lots of songs. Not just screaming riffs, but songs! Despite personal reservations about Ozzy and Zakk parting ways it was clearly a wise move. As much as we all love Zakk, Ozzy was right: his solo material was becoming indistinguishable from BLS. So, it was critical that the replacement was right. Gus G has delivered. The guitar playing is exciting, melodic, brutally heavy but ....Ozzy; as in Rhoads-era Ozzy, early Zakk-era Ozzy and maybe even the best bits of Jake E Lee-era Ozzy.
But, perhaps more importantly so has Kevin Churko delivered. This album sounds like a labour of love. It's the songs, melodies and arrangements that make this album so repeatedly rewarding.
If you're a fan of well-constructed, exciting and heavy songs with blistering guitar work, buy this album. It'll make you smile and marvel in equal measure.....how does Ozzy do it?
But, perhaps more importantly so has Kevin Churko delivered. This album sounds like a labour of love. It's the songs, melodies and arrangements that make this album so repeatedly rewarding.
If you're a fan of well-constructed, exciting and heavy songs with blistering guitar work, buy this album. It'll make you smile and marvel in equal measure.....how does Ozzy do it?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
imbarrasing
time to pack it in ozzy if this is the best you can do really time to call it a day and if i am honest should have stopped recording after your second solo album you leaving black... Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Hallows
Great album!
the album itself is absolutely brilliant for a 60 od' man and Gus G can really shred. The Bonus CD songs are really cool and the live recordings are good too. Read more
Published 4 months ago by the hitcher
Good album that could of been great
I've been a fan of Ozzy for a long time and I hoped for a great return to form here.
I'm not entirely convinced he has managed that here, but it almost achieves it. Read more
I'm not entirely convinced he has managed that here, but it almost achieves it. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Miss K. Harding
Great except for one song
I love this cd, one of Ozzy's best. This is the first album with new guitarist Gus G from firewind, after Zakk Wylde left and the change is welcome in my opinion. Read more
Published 10 months ago by A. Dalby
Ozzy please return to your roots
I have followed Ozzy's career since his Black Sabbath days, I love him to bits and always will. However, this album 'Scream' is by far his weakest, with too much over dubbing,... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Blyth Bandanna
Awesome!
I have to advise the special edition is defenatly worth getting!!! The Extra tracks are awesome! Overall this album is awesome! Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mr. J. R. Burr
Whats with the mastering of metal albums latey?
I love Ozzy and have pretty much everything he's been involved with since the first glorious Sabbath album and I like this record a lot. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Stoker
I HATE OZZY OSBOURNE
Well, at least, I thought I hated Ozzy Osbourne....
Not having really listened to much of OO's music since his Sabbath and early solo days, I thought that he had very much... Read more
Not having really listened to much of OO's music since his Sabbath and early solo days, I thought that he had very much... Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. M. Green
Best since Ozzmosis
Wholly agree with most other reviews - this really is an excellent album. Gus G brings a freshness to proceedings that's been missing for a bit - much as I like Zakk's work, it was... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Simon Nicholas
Ozzy
I've had this playing in the car for over a month now, can't get enough of it. At least 3 great tracks "Let me hear you Scream", "Life won't wait" & "Time". Read more
Published 20 months ago by P. S. Haynes
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