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Ozzy hasnt done anything worthwhile in about a decade(Down to Earth is the first Ozzy album I didnt play out.....let's be honest, it FUCKING SUCKED!), and I absolutely DESPISE his public persona now. However, since I consider myself an Ozzy die-hard I picked up this 4 disc set today for 28 bucks. It comes with a buy one get one free Ozzfest 2005 ticket offer, which of course they're doing to pump up attendance. The booklet is decent, with lots of photos(though I've seen 90 percent of them) a message from Ozzy, lyrics, song by song recollections etc. The set is geared more for the hardcore Ozzy fan which I think is cool........most of the stuff is live, demo's etc. The first disc covers the 81-83 period(Blizzard, Diary, and Bark...) and about half of it is live versions of songs from that period(albeit previously released ones). We all know about the controversy surrounding Bob Daisley, Lee Kerslake, and their parts being re-done on the first 2 albums. I have purposely NEVER listened to these new bastardized versions......and let me say I STILL wish I wouldnt have. The studio versions of "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" sound all mucked up IMO........the drums and bass drown out Randy's guitar (AAAHHHH!!!) and Ozzy's vocals. Dont get me started on the studio cuts from Diary.........Robert Trujillo's overplaying butchers these classics, period. The disc features one cool B-side(SPiders).........but where's the rest of the b-sides and/or unreleased material?!
The second disc (the best of the set)covers the rest of Ozzy's solo career, and is mostly made up of demo's and, again, previously released live stuff("Thank God For the Bomb" live I'd never heard before though). I'm sure most of the demo's can be found on the net, but it's cool having them on this disc.
Disc 3 is a pointless piece of shit. It features Ozzy's collabarations with other artists......90 percent of it is pure crap(Psycho Man, NIB, and a couple other tracks are great.....but again previously released.) Did he really need to stick on his duet with Miss Piggy?
Disc 4 is a brand new album of Ozzy covers.........it's hit and miss here......some are really good.........a couple are decent........and the rest Ozzy should NEVER have attempted. Killer cuts here-21st Century Schizoid Man and Mississippi Queen. "Changes" with Kelly is included on this disc..........I'd rather stick a steaming poker in to each eye while singing "Don't stop believin', than EVER listen to this again) My major beef with this album is this.........if Ozzy was gonna include demo's and ton's of live stuff instead of the studio versions, where the fuck are all the b-sides and unreleased material??!!!!! Disc 3 should have filled with that shit, instead we literally get shit like "Stayin' Alive" featuring Dweezil Zappa. If you're an Ozzy die-hard, pick this up for the bargain price like I did. I applaud the attempt to make the Box set with the Ozzy fanbase in mind, and not just pad it with studio hits etc......but it wasnt executed properly. If you're not a big Ozzy fan stay away from this set.
The second disc (the best of the set)covers the rest of Ozzy's solo career, and is mostly made up of demo's and, again, previously released live stuff("Thank God For the Bomb" live I'd never heard before though). I'm sure most of the demo's can be found on the net, but it's cool having them on this disc.
Disc 3 is a pointless piece of shit. It features Ozzy's collabarations with other artists......90 percent of it is pure crap(Psycho Man, NIB, and a couple other tracks are great.....but again previously released.) Did he really need to stick on his duet with Miss Piggy?
Disc 4 is a brand new album of Ozzy covers.........it's hit and miss here......some are really good.........a couple are decent........and the rest Ozzy should NEVER have attempted. Killer cuts here-21st Century Schizoid Man and Mississippi Queen. "Changes" with Kelly is included on this disc..........I'd rather stick a steaming poker in to each eye while singing "Don't stop believin', than EVER listen to this again) My major beef with this album is this.........if Ozzy was gonna include demo's and ton's of live stuff instead of the studio versions, where the fuck are all the b-sides and unreleased material??!!!!! Disc 3 should have filled with that shit, instead we literally get shit like "Stayin' Alive" featuring Dweezil Zappa. If you're an Ozzy die-hard, pick this up for the bargain price like I did. I applaud the attempt to make the Box set with the Ozzy fanbase in mind, and not just pad it with studio hits etc......but it wasnt executed properly. If you're not a big Ozzy fan stay away from this set.
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