Search - Ozma :: Pasadena

Ozma return and they haven't missed a beat

Jeff | Ohio | 05/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As teenagers, Ozma recorded the perfect geek rock album in Rock and Roll Part Three. It grabbed the attention of Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo, and they gained a number of fans by opening for Weezer on a nationwide tour. Ozma followed up that album with two more excellent records, The Doubble Donkey Disc and Spending Time on the Borderline, but sadly, they broke up in 2004. To the delight of their fans, the power pop quintet reformed in 2006 with a new drummer. Does their first post-reunion album (named for the band's Southern California hometown) live up to the high expectations of those diehard fans? For me, the answer is a resounding yes.



Oddly, two songs, "No One Needs to Know" and "Eponine," are re-recorded versions of tracks from previous albums. This was due to pressure from management, who believed these songs would make ideal singles. They're both great songs, and the new versions sound tighter than ever, although "Eponine's" shortened outro is a disappointment. On the nine new songs, Ozma branch out their sound considerably from their earlier records, and it pretty much all works. Some of the new stuff is good, like the quirky pop rock of "Lunchbreak (Cobras Theme)." Some is great, like the beautiful acoustic ballad "I Wonder." Some is so amazing it makes me giddy, like "Heartache vs Heartbreak," the first Ozma song to feature shared male/female lead vocals. Other highlights include the incredibly catchy "Incarnation Blues" and the cathartic-sounding "Underneath My Tree." If you like anything Ozma have done in the past, or if you just like great power pop, buy this album now."

The reason why Ozma got back together

D. Gladden | Muskegon, MI | 07/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is it. Ozma took a short break, but this music simply has to be heard by everyone. Ozma can't escape comparisons to Weezer, but if they would have come released an album first then everyone would be saying that Weezer sounds a lot like Ozma. Neither is stealing each other's sound, they just both happen to be from soCal and have similar fanbases. It doesn't matter.



If you have been searching for the raw essence that Weezer captured on their first two albums, don't buy the last 3 Weezer albums, buy the last 3 Ozma albums. I always hope that the next Weezer release will be my favorite, and I love them all for the first few listens, but they never stick with me as classic Weezer did. The sometimes stomach-turning glossiness of recent Weezer productions is what Ozma avoids, trading it in for a more live-show feel. The best thing about Ozma's music is that you can never predict what the next chord will be.



Now that my Weezer rant is over, just buy this album and play it loud. The catchiest song is the opener, "No One Needs to Know". Some other personal favorites are "Fight the Darkness", "Incarnation Blues", and "Underneath My Tree". Perfect summer recording. Plus Star Wick is hot."

Great come back album.

Doug Hathaway | 06/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For new and old fans of Ozma, this CD will keep you rockin'. Two of the 11 songs are newly recorded versions of older classics ("Eponine" and "No One Needs to Know"). The majority of the songs have up-tempo rhythm and lyrics that are a blast to jam out to. Some songs will jump out as Ozma style songs, but they do branch out a little (i.e Straight Flush). While their previous CD had lackluster sales due to poor marketing, this new album should do decent.



I highly recommend this CD to anyone who is interested in Ozma, or just looking for some real music with heart in it."