Down to Earth
For the first five minutes ofDown to Earth, one feels like cracking open the champagne to celebrate a triumphant return. To a deliciously dirty blues riff that sounds likeLed Zeppelingetting hot and sweaty with primeBlack Sabbath, "Gets Me Through" finds Ozzy deconstructing his showbiz persona in a Robbie Williams-turns-rock-god style: "I'm not the kind of person you think I am . . . I try to entertain you the best I can." It's a brilliant track that's at least partially a parody, yet it rocks like a bastard. The rest of the album, however, isn't quite up to the opener's high standards. "Facing Hell," while a fine foot-stomper, is stuffed with horror clichés. The same goes for "Black Illusion" and "Can You Hear Them." The album really goes off the rails, though, with "Dreamer" where Ozzy weeps about global warming and "You Know," in which our hero apologizes to his kids. But even at its worstDown to Earthdisplays enough eccentricity to keep one entertained and brimming with respect.--Ian Watson