Ozzy Osbourne

Live at Budokan
Epic Records
www.epicrecords.com

Neutered by reality television and robbed of his schtick, what's a prince of freakin' darkness to do? Rock Budokan, of course! Gone are the days when playing Blizzard of Ozz could seriously endanger your immortal soul, but he of the Ozzfest still knows how to put on the Big Rock Show. Live at Budokan doesn't quite stand up to 1983's Speak of the Devil (see? evil), but all of the comforting elements are present: “Paranoid,” “Crazy Train,” and even the new single, “Gets Me Through.” Of course, no Ozzy show would be complete without guitar solos out the wazoo, courtesy of Zakk Wylde. Enamored with the weedle-weedle guitar soloing from days of yore, Wylde tosses in harmonic squeals circa 1983 between every chord. Heavy metal, duuude!

▪ Rating (out of 5): 2

Ringo Starr

Ringo and His New All-Star Band
King Biscuit Flower Hour
www.kingbiscuit.com

There's something, well, wrong about a live CD that combines songs by Supertramp, Howard Jones, and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Ringo Starr's latest band of classic-rock third-stringers sinks below the level of good taste into the realm of state fairs and cutout bins. On Ringo and His New All-Starr Band, Ringo sleepwalks through his solo hits, sounding disinterested as he warbles through “Photograph” and “The No-No Song.” Sheila E. (yes, Sheila E.) injects a bit of trashy '80s fun with “Glamorous Life,” which showcases her considerable skills as a percussionist, but that's not enough to stave off the staleness and boredom that ooze from this performance.

▪ Rating (out of 5): 1

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