Ozzy Osbourne - Live At Budokan

Hey, remember when Ozzy was better known for his music than his fathering? Maybe this live “best-of” can serve as a reminder to the hordes of Osbournes fans that big poppa raised hell way before he ever raised any kids, and can still rock with the best of them years later. The 13 brisk tracks – recorded in Japan’s legendary Budokan sumo arena – cover all bases of Ozzy’s metal pedigree, from early Sabbath (“Paranoid”) to the dove-decapitating, 80s era Randy Rhoads hits (“Bark at the Moon” and “Crazy Train”), even throwing in some of latter-day power ballads (“Mama I’m Coming Home”) for good measure. Oz and co sound tight as hell – perhaps a bit too slick for a “live” album, some might argue – and they certainly get the job done, as far as capturing legacies is concerned. Zakk Wylde’s ridiculously high-pitched metal solos are a particular treat, a reminder of a bygone age when Ozzy’s notorious drug intake didn’t include cholesterol medication. While this disc isn’t going to win any new converts to the Church of Oz, Live at Budokan will certainly remind everyone that Mr. Osbourne ain’t just a sitcom. Throw your devil horns in the air now. [www.ozzy.com]