There are a whole slew of hard rock/metal albums that are turning 25 this year. It would be impossible to cover all of them but what I am doing is picking some choice album from back then that I loved as a kid and doing a song by song breakdown of the album to see how they hold up after 25 years.
This year, Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears album turns 25. How is that even possible? It’s fucking insane just how fast times flies but just for a moment, let’s try and put this in. When No More Tears was released, albums that came out 25 years before that included Revolver by The Beatles, Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan, and Freak Out by The Mothers of Invention. Feel old yet? Yeah, that’s what 25 years looks like. So how did No More Tears hold up? Let’s break it down and see.
Mr. Tinkertrain (4/5)
I remember LOVING this song when I first heard it and hearing it now at 43 years old, I have to say that this song is still fucking creepy. Basically Ozzy is playing the part of a child molester. Obviously, this is Ozzy brand shock value but honestly, this is just fucking creepy. Actually, this is the Ozzy that I loved lyrically. This is the Ozzy that shocked us and made us all uncomfortable and it’s actually kind of fun to feel that again after so many years. As a whole, I found myself digging this song more than I thought I would in this context.
I Don’t Want to Change the World (2/5)
In 1992, I loved this song so much. It was definitely a kind of anthem of sorts and it resonated with me as a young person. Now though it just sounds kind of silly. It’s hard to believe that this was co-written with Lemmy Kilmister (RIP) but I love that it showed what a great and versatile writer Lemmy was. This is a pretty fluffy song. It’s got a catchy chorus but as a whole it’s just not all that good.
Mama I’m Coming Home (5/5)
Ok, call me crazy but this is a fucking beautiful song and it’s easily one of Ozzy’s greatest vocal deliveries. Hearing this song gave me chills. Zakk Wylde’s guitar solo in this song is really great and overall, this song is just such a well written, well executed song. It’s a really timeless song and this is probably one of his greatest pieces. Love this song.
Desire (4/5)
This really is such a great song. It’s actually a song that I totally forgot how much I liked. The music is so good and it’s got such a good, driving vibe to it. This really is just a fun song. Not too deep but not too stupid or brainless. I really enjoyed the hell out of this song and this is definitely one I would add to my Ozzy playlist.
No More Tears (5/5)
This has to be one of Ozzy’s most epic solo songs. I mean, that opening bass line, the keys, and as much as I hate to say it, Zakk Wylde’s guitar work. This song is such a great song. Lyrically, it doesn’t make any sense but I love the abstract nature of it. It’s kind of thought provoking and evokes a lot of mental imagery which, as a lyricist myself, I really appreciate. Can I also talk about that fucking epic guitar solo? That very well be the best thing Zakk Wylde has ever done in his role as Ozzy’s guitarist. All in all, it’s a flawless song and I still love it to this day.
S.I.N (4/5)
So I’m not sure why but when I hear this song, it somewhat reminds me of something that could’ve been on Diary of a Madman. Zakk really channels elements of Randy Rhoads and the overall structure is pretty fucking great. It has a great hook to it and Ozzy’s vocals are pretty fucking fantastic. Not sure what S.I.N is or what it has to do with this song but I’m guessing that it’s something like N.I.B or S.A.T.O where it really has absolutely nothing to do with the song and is just there to make us talk about it.
Hellraiser (5/5)
I always loved this song. Yeah, again, kinda corny but I love that once again Lemmy stepped up to write a song that you could actually hear him singing. As a matter of fact, I love the Motorhead version of this song but in all honesty, this is an Ozzy song through and through. It’s almost as if Lemmy knew Ozzy so well that he could write a song like this and make it sound as if Ozzy wrote every word himself. Wait, isn’t that the case with ALL his songs? Hm, I’ll digress on that one but yeah, this song kicks a bunch of fucking ass.
Time After Time (1/5)
Ok, so this must be where the decline starts. This song is so fucking bad. Seriously, even Ozzy himself sounds absolutely bored to death singing this song. I could barely make it through this song. Ughhh, so fucking boring. I’m going to the bathroom and then getting coffee. Hopefully it’ll be done when I get back.
Zombie Stomp (0/5)
Wow. What an absolutely atrocious song. “Hey Hey do the Zombie Stomp”? Really, Ozzy. This is probably a good example of a song that Ozzy DID write without help. I mean, this song is so bad. It’s not even b-side material. This is like total recycle bin material. This song actually made me change “Time After Time” from a 0/5 to a 1/5 because there’s no way that any song on this album is this fucking bad. Gross. Next!
A.V.H (1/5)
There Ozzy goes again with the fucking abbreviations. This song is definitely not anywhere near as bad as Zombie Stomp but it’s pretty bad. Actually, it almost sounds like they took “Desire” and “S.I.N” and combined them to make a song that was this. It’s easily one of the most un-interesting songs I’ve ever heard Ozzy do and I just can’t wait for this to be over.
Road to Nowhere (2/5)
For some reason, I really thought I loved this song more than I did but hearing it in this context, it’s just pretty much “meh.” Honestly, the lyrics are so contrived and seem to lack in any kind of authentic depth and it really didn’t move me at all. Musically it also seems to lack the consistency
Final Score: 33/55
FINAL NOTES:
Looking back on this album, now I know why Ozzy may have come out of retirement. If I left the game and left this album as the last of my legacy, I would probably want a do over also. The only problem is that every album since that one was pretty awful. All in all, No More Tears has some truly great moment that are playlist worth but for the most part, No More Tears is a pretty forgettable album.
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