I was disappointed by Black Sabbath. I usually find first-of-a-genre albums charming - that cuteness of having some of the sound of the genre they give rise to, but not having the style down yet. Hailed as the first heavy metal album, Black Sabbath has that innocence musically - over-driven riffing guitar, doomy and oppressive production - and I loved it for some of those instrumental parts, but I think I have a problem with Ozzy.

I was introduced to Ozzy as a bumbling, drug-ravaged, shaky, pitiful, shell of a caricature of an aging rocker in his reality TV show, The Osbournes. I assumed that in his younger days, he must've had more vitality and menace - an Alice Cooper/Marilyn Manson-type figure. I can't imagine these lyrics ever sounding as threatening or scary as they're trying to be. And his voice is woefully flat. I'm really surprised that he wasn't a way greater singer and presence.

It's a shame because, like I said, I really liked much of the album when Ozzy wasn't bleating over the top. Liked it quite a lot, actually. I know Ozzy's a huge Beatles fan - Wizard sounds like a heavy metal Can't Buy Me Love. Not just on account of the harmonica, but also the beatiness of it. There's a bunch of really strong, simple songs here. Hopefully I can get over my beef with Ozzy on one of the other couple of Sabbath albums in 1001....