Under Cover

Here we go again, yet another band does a covers album. The main difference is that this is Ozzy Osbourne, who throughout both Black Sabbath and his Solo career has caused many bands to cover his OWN work.

'Rocky Mountain Way' starts off the album well, as although different from his own style he sings it well and the musicians convert it to a more modern sound without ruining it. 'In My Life' is also another good cover, especially if you prefer slower songs, but it is followed by the lacklusture 'Mississippi Queen', which does not suit Ozzys vocal style at all. Normally, every time someone plays me 'Go Now' I automatically turn it off as I cannot stand it. Ozzys version however is actually rather good, and I was quite impressed by his version. 'Woman' and '21st Century Schizoid Man' are also both strong songs, '21st' especially being a highlight of the album, but it's a shame they're followed by 'All the Young Dudes', which is normally a good song. This however, is not a good song. The music sounds lazy and Osbourne's Vocals are uninspired.
'For what it's Worth' and 'Good Times' are decently done, while not brilliant they're not bad either, and 'Sunshine of your Love' falls into the same category, albeit slightly better.
We then come to the last three songs, starting with Arthur Browns 'Fire', which is done so admirably by Ozzy, that it could be the best song on the album. 'Working Class Hero' is also one of the better covers, and it does quite well, a very good attempt at a brilliant song.
'Sympathy for the Devil' though, is the opposite. It sounds like any other cover, it does not add any of Ozzy's normal flourish into it, it is just a bad end to a decent album, which, apart from a couple of half-hearted peformances and filler

First of all Ozzy's new album,titled "Under Cover" is just an adaptation by Ozzy's favourite songs - including "In My Life" from The Beatles and "Working Class Hero" from John Lennon - so we shouldn't rate it as an original studio album.

The opening track,"Rocky Mountain Way" is more dynamical and energetic than the original Joe Walsh-version,however,it's no wonder after more than three decades,considering the evolution of the metal genre."Mississippi Queen" has the same flavour,and the progressive lyrics of King Crimson's "21st Century Shizoid Man" perfectly match the dark Ozzy-style, reminding me the classical Black Sabbath-era, which I fell in love with his sound because of. "All the Young Dudes" from Mott the Hopple doesn't appeal to me. "For What It's Worth" is one of the worst songs of the album I think, altough "Good Times" is at least as bad, if not worse, than Worth is. Much to my astonishment Ozzy levels up his album at the end, after hearing "Sunshine of Your Love","Fire" is the very redemption for me, maybe just because I listened off my ass with the classic rock cd which it is on. The next song," Working Class Hero" is Osbourne's personal favourite. The song is really excellent,but not from Ozzy's mouth. It's not his style. And the joke in the whole thing, he's singing "a working class hero is something to be",however Osbourne, the Godfather of Heavy Metal, the Prince of Darkness has sold over 50 million copies of his albums worldwide and ranked #485 in the 'Sunday Times Rich List' in 2005; even though more than half a hundred official releases during 35 Years behind his back he produced one of the most successfull career in the history of heavy metal, but now he has to sing songs written by another musicians.What happened? "No More Tears", No more Ideas?

All in all the new album is listenable,but if you haven't bought it yet, I advise don't do it."Under Cover" is not a masterpiece,not a milestone in the metalhistory, it is just an evanescent laconicity for a die-hard metal fan.

Ozzy Osbourne-Under Cover
By: Ruben Mosqueda

The self-proclaimed prince of darkness returns with Under Cover an all covers record. If you’re thinking that this disc was part of the box set he issued a number of months back, you’re right! Well sort of, in typical Sharon Osbourne fashion, they have dug up four tracks that didn’t make the disc on the box set! Imagine that? And just in time for the holidays? Well, like her or not, she’s a great business woman.
There are a total of 13 tracks on Under Cover, while it’s odd hearing Ozzy take a stab at songs like; “Woman,” “Go Now,” “Good Times,” they sound like they could have been lifted from the Ozzmosis sessions, but they were actually recorded specifically for the box set. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell shines on these rock classics, as does the rhythm section, Mike Bordin is the man. Ozzy sounds worse for ware but he still shows some spark on “Rocky Mountain Way,” “Mississippi Queen,” “All the Young Dudes,” “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Sympathy for the Devil.” By the way, Leslie West makes a guest appearance on “Mississippi Queen.” If you’re lucky enough to score the dualdisc edition, you’ll get an interview with Ozzy a number of his friends. Among the friends is Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead, there’s some funny stories shared, some you’ve heard numerous times, others might be new, In addition to the interview you get the complete disc in 5.1 surround sound and the video clip for “In My Life.” While tribute records are a novelty that people might not take seriously,Under Cover isn’t bad at all. We’d still like to hear a new Sabbath record.