Ozzy Osbourne Live At Budokan CD

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel includes: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals); Zakk Wylde (guitar); Robert Trujillo (bass); Mike Bordin (drums).
Recorded live at Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan on February 15, 2002.
This is a (multi-channel) Super Audio CD, playable only Super Audio CD players.
Personnel includes: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals); Zakk Wylde (guitar); Robert Trujillo (bass); Mike Bordin (drums).
Recorded live at Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan on February 15, 2002.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals); Zakk Wylde (guitar); John Sinclair (keyboards); Mike Bordin (drums).
Audio Mixer: Thom Panunzio.
Recording information: Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan (02/15/2002).
Photographer: Ross Halfin.
After Speak of the Devil, Tribute, Just Say Ozzy, Live & Loud, the Ozzfest collections, and both Osbourne-fronted Black Sabbath live discs, one would think that Ozzy had exhausted his concert-album appeal. But due to the success of his reality TV show, Osbourne once again decided it was time for another live album. Although Osbourne's live performances were still rock-solid during the recording of this tour, Live at Budokan seems mighty excessive. The only positive thing about yet another one is to hear the intense live work of Zakk Wylde, who has been the cornerstone of Osbourne's sound longer than any other sideman he has ever worked with. His squealing leads and chunky guitar sound great here, displaying a talent for pure heavy metal that few other players could live up to in 2002. But at the same time, you can hear his amazing guitar work on at least two other Ozzy live discs, and the songs that are new to this environment (i.e., most of the first half of the album) are all taken from Down to Earth, which he plays on in the first place. This album sounds fine, is packaged nicely, and would make a nice addition to any Ozzy completist's collection. But Tribute has an equally brilliant guitarist showcased in one of his finest moments, and Live & Loud has the emotional burden of Ozzy thinking it was his last tour, making either of them preferable to this disc. Live at Budokan is nothing to avoid, but there are much better collections available featuring the same rock & roll madman in more spirited days. ~ Bradley Torreano
Fans fretting that Ozzy's reputation has been transformed into that of a distaff Robert Young thanks to the runaway success of the MTV reality show The Osbournes can breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing the fire-breathing performance rendered on LIVE AT BUDOKAN. Fronting a quartet that includes longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde (latest in a long line of hot-shot guitarists dating back to the late Randy Rhodes), Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo, and Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin, the Ozzman is in ferociously fine form.
Hop-scotching through his considerable canon with Wylde providing molten riffs throughout, Ozzy delivers scalding versions of classics ranging from "I Don't Know" and "Crazy Train" to an over-the-top reading of "Mr. Crowley" juiced up by John Sinclair's ominous keyboard intro. Ozzy shows his range with the prog-metal psychedelia of "No More Tears," the heartfelt emoting that defines the smash power ballad "Mama I'm Coming Home," and the soaring semi-autobiography "Road To Nowhere." Although the only Sabbath number included in this set is the overplayed "Paranoid," the rest of LIVE AT BUDOKAN crackles with the kind of energy that you're not going to find on a re-run of Father Knows Best.Rolling Stone (8/8/02, p.78) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...His best performance set since 1987's TRIBUTE..."