Ordinary Man

by Ozzy Osbourne

Overview

A decade passed between metal icon Ozzy Osbourne's 2010 album Scream and its follow-up, Ordinary Man. His 12th solo studio effort is charged with an unexpected crackle of life that hasn't graced an Ozzy album in a long time. In the time since his last solo endeavor, Osbourne reunited with Black Sabbath for touring and the recording of 13, the first Sabbath studio album he'd sung on since 1978. Possibly rejuvenated by his time back at the helm with one of the most foundational metal bands ever, there's a new level of heaviness throughout Ordinary Man. There have been Sabbath-isms scattered throughout much of Ozzy's solo output, but rarely as blatantly as the sinister riffing and cosmic metallic breakdown of songs like "Under the Graveyard" and the demented "Straight to Hell." Ozzy even goes so far as to reprise the "Alright now!" first heard on Sabbath's 1971 pro-pot anthem "Sweet Leaf" to open "Straight to Hell." Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Guns N' Roses alum Duff McKagan, and guitarist Andrew Watt (who produced the album after first working with Osbourne during his cameo on a Post Malone song in 2019) serve as the backing band, and turn in powerful performances that move from full-force metal attacks to quickly shifting grooves. The album recalls the raw power of Black Sabbath, but also channels Black Album-era Metallica on the creeping, oozy "Today Is the End" and the unhinged punk thrash on the Post Malone-assisted "It's a Raid." While Ordinary Man is surprisingly strong, it's not a grand slam. The by-the-numbers piano ballad title track is largely without character, wasting an odd duet of Ozzy and Elton John on a song that takes no risks and attempts nothing new. Less-inspired tracks like "Eat Me" and "Scary Little Green Men" would fit as filler anywhere in the Ozzy discography between 1986 and 2020, with stock riffs and Osbourne's patented maniacal laughter both feeling a little phoned in. Despite a few weaker spots, Ordinary Man contains some of Ozzy's best solo work in years. The production is huge but the energy is spontaneous, sounding like it was as fun to make as it is to listen to. 71 years old at the time Ordinary Man was released, Osbourne's voice in in great shape, sounding more or less like he always has. How he's making music this strong after riding the crazy train for more than half-a-century is anyone's guess, but the better songs here rank among his best. ~ Fred Thomas

Product Details

Release Date:	02/21/2020
Label:	Epic
UPC:	0194397184518

Tracks

1. Straight to Hell
2. All My Life
3. Goodbye
4. Ordinary Man
5. Under the Graveyard
6. Eat Me
7. Today Is the End
8. Scary Little Green Men
9. Holy for Tonight
10. It's a Raid

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ozzy Osbourne   Primary Artist,Vocals,Harmonica,Featured Artist
Post Malone   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Peter Lale   Viola,Vocals
Slash   Guitar
Everton Nelson   Violin
Patrick Kiernan   Violin
Kelly Osbourne   Vocals (Background)
Michael Dore   Bass
Susan Dench   Viola,Vocals
Chad Smith   Drums,Percussion
John Bowen   Tenor (Vocal)
Duff McKagan   Bass
John Bradbury   Violin
Mark Berrow   Violin
London Voices   Choir/Chorus
Tom Morello   Guitar
Deborah Widdup   Violin
Sarah Eyden   Soprano
Chris Worsey   Cello,Viola
Jo Marshall   Alto
Boguslav Kostecki   Violin
Elton John   Piano,Vocals,Featured Artist
Lizzie Ball   Violin
Nick Cooper   Cello,Viola
Ian Burdge   Cello,Viola
Ben Parry   Choir/Chorus
Richard Pryce   Double Bass
John Evanson   Bass
Clara Sanabras   Alto
Grace Davidson   Soprano
Julia Knight   Viola,Vocals
Nicholas Garrett   Bass
Vicky Matthews   Cello,Viola
Christopher Hann   Tenor (Vocal)
Happy Perez   Keyboards
Perry Montague-Mason   Violin,Strings
Richard Eteson   Tenor (Vocal)
Stacey Watton   Double Bass
Peter Snipp   Bass
Christopher Tombling   Violin
Tom Pigott-Smith   Violin
Holly Laessig   Vocals (Background)
Wil Malone   String Conductor
Terry Edwards   Choir/Chorus
Jess Wolfe   Vocals (Background)
Dorina Markoff   Violin
Hannah Cooke   Alto
Ali Tamposi   Vocals
Gareth Treseder   Tenor (Vocal)
Travis Scott   Featured Artist
Joanna Forbes L'Estrange   Soprano
Caesar Edmunds   Synthesizer Bass
Andrew Watt   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Steve Morris   Violin
Charlie Puth   Keyboards
Gaby Lester   Violin
Jackie Hartley   Violin
Amy Lyddon   Alto
Louis Bell   Keyboards
Sara Davey   Soprano
Andy Parker   Viola,Vocals
Charlie Schein   Guitar

Technical Credits

Kevin Peterson   Assistant Mastering Engineer
Chad Smith   Composer
Duff McKagan   Composer
Ozzy Osbourne   Composer
Matt Still   Engineer
Manny Marroquin   Mixing
Andrew Dudman   Engineer
Alan Moulder   Mixing
Chris Galland   Mixing Assistant
Paul Lamalfa   Engineer
David Kutch   Mastering
Andrew Wotman   Composer
Mike Bozzi   Mastering
Happy Perez   Programming,Instrumentation,Additional Production
Jeff Schulz   Design,Art Direction
Wil Malone   Choir Arrangement,String Arrangements
Ali Tamposi   Composer
Dominik Gryzbon   Engineer
Caesar Edmunds   Assembly,Assistant,Programming,Instrumentation,Mixing Assistant,Synthesizer Programming
Jacques Webster   Composer
Andrew Watt   Composer,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation,Choir Arrangement,Executive Producer,String Arrangements
Amy Stewart   String Contractor,Strings Contractor
Matt Jones   Assistant Engineer
George Oulton   Assistant Engineer
Austin Post   Composer
Robin Florent   Mixing Assistant
Tom Herbert   Assembly,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Scott Desmarais   Mixing Assistant
Billy Walsh   Composer
Louis Bell   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Producer,Instrumentation
Jeremie Inhaber   Mixing Assistant
Jon Contino   Illustrations
Sam Taylor-Johnson   Photography