Customer Reviews
One Of the Greatest Albums Of All Time!
It is simply a complete masterpiece. There is a reason why many people, fans and non-fans alike, put this album in their greatest albums of all time list. The truth is that the first six albums by Black Sabbath are all 5 star quality without a single weak song on any of them. However, "Paranoid" stands out as the best of that group.
1. War Pigs-5/5. Another one of those "everybody knows this one" songs. Excellent lyrics about politicians who make war for profit. Not exactly an anti-war song. The music is superb and the vocals by Ozzy are haunting. Perfect.
2. Paranoid-5/5. This is the classic rock radio song. It gets played on every classic rock station across the nation at least once a day. Fast paced rocker with great lyrics and vocals.
3. Planet Caravan-5/5. Beautiful atmospheric song with bongo drums and acoustic guitar. The vocal effects make this song very haunting. It is a totally unique listening experience. Pantera's version is also great.
4. Iron Man-5/5. The song that cemented Iommi's reputation as the ultimate riff-master, and he hasn't been dethroned yet. One of the wildest and heaviest guitar riffs ever. Weird sci-fi lyrics with great vocals.
5. Electric Funeral-4/5. Another great song. Excellent heavy riff with some great gloom and doom lyrics. The only downfall to this is Ozzy's vocals. They aren't as perfect as they are on the rest of the songs. Still great, though.
6. Hand of Doom-5/5. Great bass line from Geezer. Slow and soft in the beginning that quickly turns heavy and sinister with another spectacular vocal performance from Ozzy.
7. Rat Salad-3/5. The one and only weak link on the album. An instrumental that isn't particularly great, but not too bad either. Thankfully, it's very short, so there is no real need to pass it.
8. Fairies Wear Boots-5/5. An earlier reviewer said this song was about neo-Nazis. I've never heard that before. My impression was that this was about an LSD trip that Geezer had, but I don't know that for sure. Whatever the case, the lyrics are weird, but the vocals are perfect and the music is quite trippy.
All in all, this is one of those few albums that actually comes close to complete perfection. No one with any appreciation of music, especially rock, should be without it.
A Hard Rock Classic
The late 60s and early 70s were a great time for experimentation, and rock was heading all over the place as various groups pushed the limits of what rock could be and where it could lead. 30+ years ago "Paranoid" was unleashed upon an unsuspecting world, the second album for Black Sabbath after their debut album "Black Sabbath".
Paranoid remains a good album after 30+ years, a remarkable feat. "War Pigs" and "Iron Man" are considered primers for metal music, which we called hard rock in those ancient days, with a very basic bass, lead guitar, and drums sound, and the gritty, earthy voice of the Oz-man.
Of course some parents and many religious leaders pounced on the group's name and some of their lyrics. On the other hand, the current-day version of these same people complain that Harry Potter promotes witchcraft.
The lyrics in this album are mild, almost mainstream by today's standards. Furthermore, the lyrics are not all that breakthrough or novel, but when the lyrics are coupled with the music and Ozzy's voice, you have what was in 1971 a breakthrough album that sold very well, in spite of nearly zero radio play (except on the infamous, but not really, underground FM stations).
What else is on this album? "Planet Caravan" is a spacey tune that is a psychedelic rock holdover from the late 60s. I enjoy this song with its synthesized voice and mellow mood. "Electric Funeral" is another hard rocker in the vein of "War Pigs" and "Iron Man. " The transition in this song is solid hard rock, bridging a relatively slow beginning to a brief lead guitar solo that takes off into a screamer. . . and then back to the slow beat of the intro. Ozzy is nearly singing a dirge at the beginning and end of the song, but that's also the point of the song.
"Hand of Doom" starts with the bass, adding drums and then Ozzy's voice. After the intro the lead guitar thrusts into the song and Ozzy starts putting himself into the song. The song switches back and forth between the bass/drums/mellow Oz to heavy bass, lead guitar, drums and Ozzy's full voice. Then the song suddenly changes so that it's almost like a completely different song, another hard rocker that may be the most metal song on the CD. Then about two minutes from the end of the song the speed slows down in a reprise of the beginning. By the way, this song is about drugs; the images are not positive.
Next you've got "Rat Salad. " This song is an instrumental, the excellent drum work (turn up the bass!) setting you up for the last song.
I love "Fairies Wear Boots. " I realize the lyrics are borderline corny, but on the other hand here's Ozzy singing about somebody who's clearly having a trip (chemically induced). Fortunately for many of us, the song is all the trip we need and the chemistry set is not required. This song is fun and good and has excellent riffs and bass.
Music has changed a lot in 30 years. But some things remain the same. This album is one of them. I hope I enjoy it 30 years from now as much as I enjoy it today.
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Classic Album from the Darker Side of Metal
), Black Sabbath's second studio album
'Paranoid' was a work like no other at the time of its release. Paranoid (1970. The quartet of Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Toni Iommi (Guitar), Geezer Butler (Bass) and Bill Ward (Drums) after their self titled debut at the turn of the '70's put together this heavy-metal work of art. Black Sabbath are rightly credited as the main band which pioneered the heavy metal sound - their style was very revolutionary for its time. They were light years ahead of quite a lot of bands and their heavy, powerful style was something which only became more commonplace towards the end of the 70's/start of the 80's. Perhaps the only contemporary early 70's bands which came close to their style was Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin (with some of their more heavier stuff) and a handful of other bands.
You've gotta respect this band for the changing musical direction they started. At the time, they were heavily criticised by plenty of rather 'conservative' critics who really didn't know what to make of the band's music. Black Sabbath at the time were and sometimes still are misinterpreted as a band of devil worshippers when the reality is that the message they really portray in their music is that of a reaction to war, crime and plenty of other issues that trouble the world. People who often view Black Sabbath in a negative and suspicious light haven't listened to them (especially their lyrics) carefully enough and simply write them off. True, their style is quite dark on the whole but it is the ideal way to create the atmosphere for the lyrics. Atmospherics are definitely a strong point of Black Sabbath and you'll feel this when you listen to them and they have a very good knack at leaving gaps in their music (done to perfection in parts on Paranoid) which gives their music great suspense. There's very little to say about Ozzy Osbourne that lots of people haven't said, the man is a legend - unique as a vocalist. Couple this with the amazing power chords of Toni Iommi's guitar, the ever present bass lines from Geezer Butler and the great 'War Drums' style from Bill Ward and you have a much more than capable line up.
Onto the album music itself. 'War Pigs' is a powerful, moving 8 minute opener about the ills of war and the 'game like' attitude of politicians. There's plenty of memorable riffs in this tune alone, great effects too and rounds off at the end with a whirlwind finish. 'Paranoid' follows this, a track that even people who have the remotest intetest in rock have heard. For me, this track is equaled by at least 4 other tracks on the album but its stands still as a testament to the heavy metal sound with Ozzy's echoing vocals sounding around a great but remarkably simple guitar riff. 'Planet Caravan' follows this and we have a change of mood here - Ozzy's vocals are more mysterious here and it makes a very haunting track. The song rounds off with a brilliant guitar solo - I can't understand why a lot of people diss this track, it adds another dimension to a great album and has great atmospherics. If things couldn't get any better, 'Iron Man' follows this - you hear the thudding at the start, followed by that ripper of a guitar chord then 'I AM IRON MAN!' brilliant - a great riff (again) characterises the track from then on with great vocals.
The first half of the album is a monster start and then we have 'Electric Funeral', a bit downbeat in tone at the start but develops into another heavy rocker with some wailing guitar work in time to Ozzy's vocals. 'Hand of Doom' is more thoughtful but build into a good climax - listen out for the anti war references again - Ozzy makes his views heard on the Vietnam war, which was still happening at the time of the album. 'Rat Salad' is a drum showcase, reminiscent of 'Moby Dick' from Led Zeppelin II. A good break up track with some very good drumming from Bill Ward. 'Fairies Wear Boots' sounds out the album, a track which cleverly develops into different parts, a bit catchy - listen out for some great bass playing making a great thick texture to this track.
As you can see, I have plenty to say about this album - cos its so so good. Never pass off this band, like other 70's bands, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, these guys are pioneers of a changing direction in rock and you never get tired of listening to them. A must for any metal fan.
. You can see a complete list of all Black Sabbath discography, or go back to the Black Sabbath tabs
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