Ozzy Osbourne - Live & Loud

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2007. Album Description

Worthy addition to any serious fan's collection

Any fan of his knows that John Michael Osbourne loves making live albums. After all, in the year 1990 (a decade after departing from Black Sabbath), he already had a solo career which had three of them to its name! And he hammered out yet another one, "Live And Loud," three years later. But, when considering the fact that, at the time, only one new studio album (1991's "No More Tears") had came out in the time that had passed since the last live release (1990's "Just Say Ozzy"), only a few new songs were brought to the table this time around. Thus, few would argue that "L&L" was essential, necessary, or even sensical.

With that said, though, let it be known that this is one of the best live albums The Godfather of Metal has ever been associated with (that includes going back to his his days with Black Sabbath). Twenty-one songs are represented here over the course of two discs, and every one of those songs is a keeper. The result is one really solid, memorable, feel-good, perfectly executed, and hard-rockin' good time which will likely be tattooed to your brain for a nice, long while. Ozzy's singing is are very catchy, vibrant, and well-defined, and Zakk does a truly amazing job with the guitar parts. The crowd noise is always kept at bay, even though Ozzy frequently (after almost every song) tells them to "stand up and clap", "make some noise", and "I can't hear you!" In fact, if it's one thing that drags this album down, it's that Ozzy's banter with the crowd quickly grows old, tedious, and repetitive. But even when the crowd is heard (like when it sings the chorus to "Paranoid"), the song is far from being ruined, and the song's momentum isn't at all damaged.

After a brief (and skippable) intro, the first disc opens up with "Paranoid", which is executed perfectly here, and features a terrific, long solo by Zakk. Next, "I Don't Want To Change The World" is one of the faster songs you'll find here, and includes more stellar guitar shredding. "Mr. Crowley" is another glowing highlight, mainly because this live version is much longer than the original and includes two new, wailing solos and an added sing along of "Oh-woah-oh," which is very catchy. Other standouts on the first disc include a smoking rendition of "Flying High Again", the album's sole slow song, "Goodbye To Romance" (a very melancholic piano ballad), and track nine, which is just one VERY long, melodic, wailing, and infectious guitar solo. This track is dragged down a bit because Ozzy partakes in annoying crowd banter about halfway through, but still, the solo is downright godly!

One of the main highlights of the second disc is the drum solo. This solo, which was performed by Randy Castillo and is well over two minutes long, is very impressive (it becomes increasingly fast and heavy near the end). Other recommended songs include the absolutely great and irresistibly catchy third track, "Miracle Man", "War Pigs", the swift and blistering recreation of "Bark At The Moon" (which features still more superb guitar work), "Mama, I'm Coming Home" (an unexpected but delightful inclusion), "Crazy Train" (of course!), and the next-to-last song, "Black Sabbath", which features the original Black Sabbath line-up (guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Terrance "Geezer" Butler, drummer Bill Ward, and you-know-who doing the vocals) from the Costa Mesa Reunion shows.

Be reminded that "Live And Loud" doesn't present anything new -- you have surely already heard almost all of the songs on this album at least once (if not several times) before. Thus, it isn't as unique, inspired, or jaw-dropping as, say, 1987's "Tribute" (Ozzy's first live album, which came out in 1987, and featured Randy Rhodes on guitar. However, in no way should that imply that it is sub-par, either, because it's still an indisputably great performance -- Zaak is no-less of a talent than Randy was, and the Ozzman's voice is still as strong as it ever was. In sum, this record is certainly not an essential purchase, but it is certainly well done, enjoyable, and entertaining enough to be a worthwhile listen for all true heavy metal enthusiasts. July 6, 2008

Ozzy - Great Live Album

This is a two disc live album from Ozzy and company recorded on the "No More Tears" tour in 1991 / 1992. His band at the time consisted of Zack Wilde, Randy Castillo, Michael Inez and Kevin Jones. Ozzy has done numerous live albums over the years, and I think this one ranks up there with his best ones. At the time this tour was billed as Ozzy's "farewell" gig. I don't remember the exact circumstances, but he is still out there on the road today. Overall this album is great. Pretty much every Ozzy classic you could want is here along with several Sabbath tunes. Ozzy is in fine voice throughout the whole thing, and Zak Wylde is a maniac on guitar. The energy is high and the band smoking through the whole set. Good stuff. November 24, 2007

Ozzy At His Best!

No matter how old he is, this proves that Ozzy is the true Godfather of Metal. The accompanying dvd is just as good. September 22, 2007

Let's compare Zakk to Jake E Lee...

It's a bit off topic, but read a different review if you want. This review will discuss who was the best Ozzy guitarist? It is a good question. I feel Randy was the best. Classical compositions, hammer ons/pull offs, speed, decent heavy metal tone, pretty good rhythm guitar player, too. Randy was the best. But who was number two? Everyone is pretty quick to say Zakk, but I beg to differ. Zakk has the Les Paul and perhaps that kind of grungy look that is really in right now, but how is he better than Jake? Let's look at it. Zakk is great, don't get me wrong, but he doesn't have the same speed that Jake had. Just because Ozzy never released a live CD with Jake doesn't mean he wasn't able to play Randy's stuff well. He actually played that stuff better live than Randy himself did at times. I have heard that report from several people who were there... Jake NEVER made a mistake live (or hardly ever). He was not only consistent in the studio, but you could take him to the bank live, as well. Can you say this about Zakk? No. Jake was also KILLER at four finger tapping... Probably just as good as Eddie Van Halen. It was kind of funny when I got back from my five year "Sabbatical" from heavy metal music to find the world fussing over Zakk Wylde so much. Yeah, he's good, but sorry, he is no Randy and he is no Jake E Lee. September 27, 2006

A halfway descent if not applaudable effort.....

I would usually do a quick review of an album if it is rated 3 stars or less, but there are alot of really good songs on here there are just some that get extremely butchered in the process (almost every Randy Rhoads era song except Mr. Crowley and MAYBE Suicide Solution). The best tracks on here in my opinion though are the ones from No More Tears and the Black Sabbath songs(I still don't understand Ozzy's reasoning behind alway putting like 3 BS songs in there but I really really liked the ones on this album).
Track Listing: (remember 11 is louder than 10)
CD 1:

1.Intro: Just a highlight reel or something of Ozzy's career with tune samples from Black Sabbath, Blizzard of Ozz (the band that made Blizzard and Diary), and his solo career.
2.Paranoid: The most amazing version of Paranoid I have ever heard, even the ones from the Tribute and Speak of the Devil albums! I was a little annoyed when at the 1:20 mark or so Ozzy just started talking to the crowd and there was no Zakk solo to accompany the sudden loss of vocals. Other than that if you want Paranoid you have to buy this album, don't buy Paranoid or any other BS album with Paranoid on it, just buy this! 11/10
3.I Don't Want to Change the World: One of the new songs from NMT during this tour; I believe it was even nominated for a Grammy for the best metal performance in 1993! I think they meant this version cause it kicks the absolute crap out of the studio version. 10/10
4.Desire: Another Lemmy cowrote song! They should thank god that Lemmy helped write this album because without Bob Daisley they were screwed! Okay, he wrote the lyrics for like 4, but still! Anyway, this is a crazy good song to begin with but this version is just that much better except for that part in the beginning where Ozzy starts screaming: "hey!hey!heyoh!" or some weird British crap like that. 11/10
5.Mr. Crowley: Perhaps the only Rhoads era song that Wyldeboy didn't screw up (I'm still undecided on Suicide Solution). In fact it almost is as good as the Tribute version. It is hilarious how Ozz introduces it: "this is a song called Mr. Crowley" hahaha! very funny! I really don't like how they have a 30 second pause after the keyboard intro but the band makes up for it big time. Although Wylde doesn't have the neoclassical edge that Rhoads did he makes up for it with "Wylde riffs" that make the song a more harder rocking song then when it was done by Rhoads (although not as virtuosic). Inez has some very noticeable bass riffs throughout the song which is very odd considering this is Ozzy. The only downside in this version is the drumming. It is great but not up to par with the legendary Tommy Aldrigde's heavy bass drumming in the Tribute or afterhours show. He makes up for the lack of loud drums by doing extremely fast tight sounding drums. An extremely awesome song that is done here with very little blemishes. Rating: off the F#$%ing scale!
6.I Don't Know: Otherwise known on here as a classic heavy metal tune gets butchered. I do not like Wyldie's thrash-like riffs on this song, it totally destroys the original guitar scheme behind the original song! What made I Don't Know a hit was Rhoad's intense Ritchie Blackmore meets LA guitar style not a melody section that sounds like the guitar break from an early Metallica song (I believe it was Phantom Lord or No Remorse?). An absolute bomber. Half the quality equals half the rating: 2/5
7.Road to Nowhere: In my opinion the greatest track on this whole album. I thought the original version was the most amazing song when I first heard it back in '92 and I thought it would be impossible for Ozzy to come up with something that would blow this track away. Well, I was 'F#$%in' wrong!' This live version is absolutely "f#$%in' great' as Ozzy gets to perform this as it was originally intended to instead of in some half-@ssed studio. I love it after he say "I guess i'd do it all again" and then adds "you better f#$%ing believe it man!" as he believes every word he says. I was surprised at the greatness of this version compared to the studio. Rating: Blows the f#$%ing crap out of every other song on here, even Randy Rhoad's Guitar Solo!
8.Flying High Again: A classic song that gets butchered part 2: Flying High Again. The drum solo in the beginning was assexual at best, what is this a friggn NBA game?! The riffs from Wylde are actually on par with the original until they get to the solo where he just 'straight out F#%#ed it up!' This sounds like a friggn Slash solo not Zakk, what the crap?! The only track from Diary and this is the best they can come up with?! at least it is better than I Don't Know: 5/10
9.Guitar Solo: I find it weird that they put the solo before Suicide Solution instead of during it(which they did in Blizzard of Ozz) or after it (they aslo did that in Blizzard and when Ozzy went solo with Jake E. Lee on guitars). I very very good track. I have no idea what this guy was playing but it was WACKED! Simply put it was WYLDE guitar! After awhile I got it: it was Zakk's solo piece from "Fire in the Sky", his greatest riff to date next to "No More Tears". Unbelievable metal riffs that only the WYldeman himself can dish out. 11/10
10.Suicide Solution: A good take on the original but not as good. There I said it: it is good. Still a little too thrashy in places. 7/10
11.Goodbye to Romance: What was once a classic metal ballad that became an arena metal classic with Tribute becomes an arena rock song that has sing-along with the crowd. Not the greatest thing in the world. 6/10

CD 2:
1.So What?: Just kidding!
1.Shot in the Dark: This version is better than the original as it has the extended guitar solo at the end that is just WYLDE! However Ozzy's sober and aged voice weakens the song at critical moments taking away from the high points on the track. If you want to hear Shot in the Dark I would recommend Just Say Ozzy instead as it not only makes it better overall but almost comparable to alot of the trax on Blizzard and Diary and sound like it came from No Rest for the Wicked, which is a good thing. 9/10
2.No More Tears: I was very disappointed, I was expecting an unbelivable 9:32 version of this song with an inhuman guitar solo in the middle and end of it but all I get is the same as the studio version all except that Ozzy screams at some parts "let me see your cigarette lighters" or "going f#$@ing nuts!" Still a great song though. 10/10
3.Miracle Man: Despite the fact that Zakk originally played on this song they find some way to botch up his guitar parts by making them sound more rockish and upbeat than the dark, creepy, almost emotionally powerful riffs from the Just Say Ozzy version that made this song so awesome live. This is the only track from No Rest for the Wicked and I feel that since this is the case they should make an accurate representation (hey, they did it for Shot in the Dark!). 6/10
4.Drum solo: read between the lines. I aint tellin you how great this track is; just go down to the nearest secondhand CD store and buy this album!
5.War Pigs: When I saw this song on hear I thought about just skipping this record because I heard the Speak of the Devil version an hated it. However a friend of mine talked me into hearing the JSO version and then I heard this one and if you have JSO you aren't really missing much except 57 more seconds of music. The guitars on this track blow the crap out of Iommi's original riffs. 11/10
6.Bark at the Moon: February 2, 2006

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