Hmmmmmmmmm i think my hair back combed and gelled itself just listening to that.
Im in agreement about his voice on there, sounds way more like the dude we all know and love.
However, whislt not *condoning* what was done after i can see more than simple commercial reasons for the idea to change the mix. There was a definite backlash against the percieved *grandeur* of a lot of rock records. And, if i may be so bold as to say, rock had v become formulaic and hidebound by a certain *style*,
The irony of course being, we have now entered a phase where it is repeating exactly the same problem. That is, guitarists have become well, for want of a better phrase, merely *generic cyphers*.
In te 80s it was dial a sqeuaky pointy headstock tone, the 00s are dial a generic humbucker *punky* tone.
Nio matter how superbly produced there is that awful feeling in your gut that , "Hang on we've been here before so many times ,can someone please breakout of this straight jacket we have zipped ourselves into"?.
At what point do you look up from the desk and wonder.?? There has to be something fresh somthing that makes me think.......OMFG Yessssss this is what i got into this for.?
Did that Ozzy album really stretch you artistically, or as i suspect , was that another day at the office time? Its all there, each carefully contsructed sound, it fair rolls over you like a steamroller stuck in turbo going downhill. But, and forgive me my forwardness but i dont get that many opportunites to ask these questions openly. even now do you listen to it and think shame that wasnt 1985?
And there lies the quandry, at what point did Oz become routine rather than slightly out there? As perfect a recording as it is, this to my ears is the Ozmeister by numbers. I'm minded of the poem by Browning about that renaissance artist who was consdiered to have *perfect technique* but no heart.
Part of his charm was that always slightly shambolic side to his output. He's like the talented kid who rushes his homework in the morning in bed before school. The teachers know he's doing it but you can never quite pin anything disaterous on the guy so he always gets away with it. And thats maybe why his fans love him he is them, they can relate to him.
Personally, and this is totally my own take. Oz should be working with the likes of M Mansun and Trent Reznor, not trying to ape Soundgarden or prolly right now, Green Day. There i believe he might find something truly of his own heart, something dark yet witty, something that is truly him.
Anyway, thanx a lot for letting us in on this piece of rock histroy Mike, Its a true privilege t o get to hear it. Finaly ,if i might be so bold might i PM you with a question?