Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest For The Wicked
1988 Epic
by Uncle Meat

Quick Summary:
Ozzy’s last good album.  That might be saying too much, or too little, but for myself, this was the last time Ozzy made a great album.  And it is a real shame because No Rest For The Wicked is so good and offered so much promise for a future album.  Jake E. Lee had left the nest and was replaced by Zakk Wylde in what would be the first of a long partnership.  While not a radically different player from Lee, or in that case Randy Rhodes, Wylde’s playing was different enough to put his stamp firmly in Ozzy lore. 

Since leaving Black Sabbath, Ozzy’s solo career has been built around short, catchy, non-complicated metal songs.  Ozzy’s songs, all of them, follow a similar pattern.  Intro + verse + (pre) chorus + verse + (pre) chorus + solo + etc.  So then it all boils down to the music/riffs, and Ozzy has a habit of surrounding himself with some excellent musicians.  On No Rest For The Wicked, Ozzy and Zakk create some incredible riffs/hooks, some of the best of his career.  The opening of Miracle Man and Crazy Babies and the verse of Bloodbath In Paradise are just a few examples of classic Ozzy that should be put in a time capsule.  The success of No More Tears overshadows, to this humble writer, the better album.

Website:  www.ozzynet.com

Song Summaries:

1. Miracle Man - Great opening hook.  Almost a “homage” to Symptom Of The Universe.  The video for this song is funny with all of the pigs.  A
2. Devil’s Daughter - Mid-tempo rocker that picks up nicely when the solo kicks in.  The middle section with the crying is nice, but unnecessary.  B-
3. Crazy Babies - Another great opening.  Ozzy’s voice changes in this song are a nice touch to an otherwise average song.  B+
4. Breaking All The Rules - I can still remember seeing the video for this song on MTV, I think it was Full Tilt or something.  I was like “WOOAH’ Ozzy.  The best thing about this song is the grove laid down by Mr. Daisley during the verse section.  It’s also great to hear Zakk’s playing, especially all of his note bends.  B+
5. Bloodbath In Paradise - The beginning of this song, with backward talking, freaked me out when I was a kid.  A bit faster than the above songs.  Some nice drum patterns as well.  A-
6. Fire In The Sky - This used to be my least favorite song on No Rest For The Wicked (It still is, but I can appreciate it more now).  I know people who think this is the best song, but this is my review.  I know that having a ballad along with all of the other songs was a good idea, however this ballad is just kind of a place holder.  Keyboards, chanting, light picking guitars, acoustic guitars.  Also is it a rule that ballads have to be longer than ever other song on the album?  C-
7. Tattooed Dancer - Another great rocker, taking a page from Miracle Man.  Zakk’s solo is a mish mash of too many ideas.  A
8. Demon Alcohol - Like Devil's Daughter, but with out the terrible mid section breakdown with misplaced wailing.  B
9. Untitled - Opens with a mellow keyboard passage before the song comes crashing in.  Mid tempo rocker, nice but forgettable.  D

Average Song Rating:  B
Overall Album Rating:  B-

Also be sure to read:
Nativity In Black:  A Tribute To Black Sabbath by Shev