へヴイ・メタルの帝王=オジー・オズボーン 10年ぶり11作目となる待望のニュー・アルバム『オ―ディナリー・マン』
タイトルトラック「オ―ディナリー・マン」は、エルトン・ジョンとのデュエット曲!

BLACK SABBATHのデビューから50周年、そしてソロ・キャリアの幕開けとなった名盤『ブリザード・オブ・オズ～血塗られた英雄伝説』から40周年。オジーの実に10年ぶりとなる待望の11thオリジナル・アルバムが遂に完成した。GUNS N' ROSESのダフ・マッケイガン(B)とRED HOT CHILI PEPPERSのチャド・スミス(Dr)がリズム隊を務め、2ndシングル「ストレート・トゥ・ヘル」ではスラッシュ(G)が、3rdシングルの表題曲「オーディナリー・マン」ではなんとヴォーカルとピアノでエルトン・ジョンが参加!美しい壮大なバラードをデュエットで披露している。プロデューサー兼ギタリストとしてアンドリュー・ワット(2019年9月に世界15か国でアルバム・チャート1位を獲得したポスト・マローンのプロデューサーで元カリフォルニア・ブリードのギタリスト)を迎えて制作された本作は、過去幾度となく死にかけてきたオジー復活劇の始まりか、それとも渾身のラスト一撃か!?
「おそらく『ノー・モア・ティアーズ』以来の重要な作品になりそうだ。このアルバムは崇高なる力からの贈り物だった。俺が全身全霊を注ぎ込んだこのアルバムを、みんなが聴いてくれることを心から願っているよ」。― オジー・オズボーン

発売・販売元 提供資料 （2020/01/17）

A decade passed between metal icon Ozzy Osbournes 2010 album Scream and its follow-up, Ordinary Man. His 12th solo studio effort is charged with an unexpected crackle of life that hasnt graced an Ozzy album in a long time. In the time since his last solo endeavor, Osbourne reunited with Black Sabbath for touring and the recording of 13, the first Sabbath studio album hed sung on since 1978. Possibly rejuvenated by his time back at the helm with one of the most foundational metal bands ever, theres a new level of heaviness throughout Ordinary Man. There have been Sabbath-isms scattered throughout much of Ozzys solo output, but rarely as blatantly as the sinister riffing and cosmic metallic breakdown of songs like Under the Graveyard and the demented Straight to Hell. Ozzy even goes so far as to reprise the Alright now! first heard on Sabbaths 1971 pro-pot anthem Sweet Leaf to open Straight to Hell. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Guns N Roses alum Duff McKagan, and guitarist Andrew Watt (who produced the album after first working with Osbourne during his cameo on a Post Malone song in 2019) serve as the backing band, and turn in powerful performances that move from full-force metal attacks to quickly shifting grooves. The album recalls the raw power of Black Sabbath, but also channels Black Album-era Metallica on the creeping, oozy Today Is the End and the unhinged punk thrash on the Post Malone-assisted Its a Raid. While Ordinary Man is surprisingly strong, its not a grand slam. The by-the-numbers piano ballad title track is largely without character, wasting an odd duet of Ozzy and Elton John on a song that takes no risks and attempts nothing new. Less-inspired tracks like Eat Me and Scary Little Green Men would fit as filler anywhere in the Ozzy discography between 1986 and 2020, with stock riffs and Osbournes patented maniacal laughter both feeling a little phoned in. Despite a few weaker spots, Ordinary Man contains some of Ozzys best solo work in years. The production is huge but the energy is spontaneous, sounding like it was as fun to make as it is to listen to. 71 years old at the time Ordinary Man was released, Osbournes voice in in great shape, sounding more or less like he always has. How hes making music this strong after riding the crazy train for more than half-a-century is anyones guess, but the better songs here rank among his best. ~ Fred Thomas

Rovi