73. Ozzy Osbourne - 'Ordinary Man'

(Apparently) the final solo album from the Prince of Darkness. Now Ozzy albums are a rather good barometer of where Metal is at the time of release. “Ultimate Sin” is slick commercial eighties Metal, “Ozzmosis” and “Down to Earth” are both a mix of Nu-metal and Industrial while the truly terrible “Black Rain” is a stab at alt-metal. Well, recent years have seen a resurgent in classic heavy rock and what do you know, Ozzy has made a bonafide traditional heavy metal album. After decades of chucking out “will this do?” records, this is his best solo effort since 1991’s “No More Tears”. It feels like he gives a fuck once more. “Ordinary Man” is deeply autobiographical. It sees the Ozzmeister contemplating his mortality and looking back on six decades of hellraising. This confessional tone gives the album a real genuine feel. For the first time since the early solo albums, we are actually seeing the real Ozzy Osbourne, rather than a synthetic caricature designed to sell records. Yes it has flaws and yes I never want to hear the bonus track again (a hideous second Post Malone collaboration that is as bad as ‘It’s a Raid’ is good) but overall this is the sound of the legend letting his hair down and just enjoying being Ozzy.