 | Tracklist:
1. Not Going Away
2. I Don't Wanna Stop
3. Black Rain
4. Lay Your World On Me
5. The Almighty Dollar
6. 11 Silver
7. Civilize the Universe
8. Here for You
9. Countdown's Begun
10. Trap Door
11. Nightmare
12. I Can't Save You (Japanese Bonus Track)
13. Love to Hate (iTunes pre-order only)
| Ranking: #175 for 2007 | |
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On 1 Lists
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| Summary: Boring hard rock. |
3 of 4 thought this review was well written
Throughout the ages of Metal and hard rock there have been well known heros of the genre.
In 1980 John Michael Osbourne had released his first solo album and it was his biggest triumph in years. Yes Ozzy has come and gone many times but has returned with Black Rain. Unfortunately it's as great as his singing.
In itself Black Rain is an attempt to make an album with different songs, If only it was that easy to do.
The concept is decent but the main song writer is not, Zakk Wylde and Ozzy Osbourne rarely write the songs. The songs are boring and uninspired. And last, the lyrical things are incredibly stupid at times and make no sense.
With his experience with Black Label Society, Zakk Wylde has released several decent albums, The Blessed Hellride, 1919 Eternal, and Mafia. Yet with Ozzy he had only one good album No More Tears. Again this isn't any different, like most of his songs (Zakk) they include mediocre wanking, weak vocal melodies and driving bass and drums.
Guitar:
If you've heard the two singles "Not Going Away" and "I Don't Wanna Stop" then you've heard the best of this release.
In this album Zakk is in complete shred mode, he plays some impressive rhythm patterns, but never gives up on his annoying picking and pinch harmonic styles. The two singles make it seem that Zakk is only a wanker, but songs like "Lay Your World", "11 Silver", "Countdown's Begun", and "Here For You" show off his better side of guitar playing. Zakk is a decent soloist because, He can make a boring ballad sound smashing although, he ruins "Not Going Away" and somewhat "I Don't Wanna Stop". 2.5/5
Bass:
The bass on this album is not heard that much unfortunately, Rob "Blasko" is a good bassist and does back Zakk on solos very well. He is a session bassist so I won't have to go into depth on his performance. Blasko is is just a backing bass player his style is dependent on following the guitar. But I must say he is always playing easy lines. 2.5/5
Drums:
Mike Bordin is a great drummer and makes the music interesting with his excellent rhythms and fills ("Trap Door"). His drum soloing is also top notch. But like most drummers he is just slamming basic rock patterns. 2/5
Vocals/Lyrics:
Ozzy was a good singer, bad lyricist... after a couple songs. The vocals are rather bland and sound like a weak breath. In the harder tracks you can actually hear him breath. His style as you all know is odd, he is original, but is no Ronnie James Dio or Bruce Dickinson. There is never a true moment on this album he always relies on some trick to cover up the overall "cheesyness" of his singing. A last thing to add is that the lower octave style sound boring after a listening. 2/5
Harder songs like "Countdown's Begun", "I Don't Wanna Stop", "Not Going Away", and "Trap Door" are all worth a rating from 2/5 to 4/5.
The songs are all under basic structure like most Hard Rock and 80's metal. pentatonic scaled, solos and riffs plus bland structure are the roots of the bad in Black Rain.
Intro
Verses
(Pre Chorus)
Chorus
verse
Chorus
Solo
ect...
Softer, more melodic songs are not as great.
Zakk really shines here compared to the parts, "The Almighty Dollar" is a fair example of him taking it easy. Again the structure is predictable. But the soloing in "Here for You" and "Black Rain" are a breathe of fresh air in this sea of bland rock, but really nothing too special.
Ozzy, had his greatness with Randy Rhodes. He was an incredible frontman but his attempt here is poor. Dumbed down vocal melodies, and idiotic lyrics, and lack of harmonization that was in Black Sabbath. He relied on a key, the band would tune lower so he wouldn't have to fight his voice, in other words he would be in a pitch higher than the band. Here, the standard tuning does not help his now weak singing.
Through listening, Black Rain is an album where predictable structure, repetitive solos, recycled riffs, decent rhythm, are used is the song writing.
I researched further into the album and realized that the singles "I Don't Wanna Stop", "Not Going Away" along with "11 Silver", Black Rain, and "The Almighty Dollar" were written by producer Kevin Churko. Unfortunately those are the best songs off all the album, that shows that Osbourne and Wylde should really think about retirement.
My thoughts:
The lyrics are very uninspired.
Structure is predictable.
The Keyboard work is unnecessary.
Zakk needs to backup Ozzy's parts.
Drums need more depth and are too simple.
Overall rating 2.5/5
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Album Rating: 1.5
Yes short but I think gives a good idea.
Edit: sweet 555 commentsThis Message Edited On 08.12.07
Digging: Florence and the Machine - Lungs | | | Album Rating: 1.5
It's a pretty subpar review honestly, you barely described anything.
I hate this album.
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bad sub headings
Digging: Radiohead - OK Computer
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These songs are even worse live.
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ah i hate this album.
not a bad review, just could use a little more detail.
Digging: The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
I rewrote this, tell me what you think.
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