Technical Ecstasy - Why Such a Disappointment?

[Zzzptm]

With 6 amazing albums one after the other, Technical Ecstasy seems to be Sabbath's first foul. 

It's not just that after SBS and Sabotage that it would be hard to make something as awesome, it's that TE is *easy* to single out as not up to the standards of the other Ozzy-era landmarks.

So let's break it down - were there some major factors in play here, or just a series of small choices that added up?

[Typhon]

I wasn't all that disappointed.  The thing I did not understand is 3 of the 8 songs are of the "light" variety.  Namely - You Won't Change Me, It's Alright, She's Gone.  2 would have been plenty, preferably 1.  I'm very happy with the rest of the album.  Favorites are:

Back Street Kids
All Moving Parts (Stand Still)
Rock 'n' Roll Doctor

[Zzzptm]

About all I can stand is Back Street Kids. If I want a second song from the album I'll either use RnRD or change my mind and go with the one.

Even then, it's all muddy, compared to the sound from SBS or Sabotage.

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

[Axefiend]

Not disappointed in TE at all. Granted, it's Sabbath being influenced by their American contemporaries and was a departure from their anger and despair kind of sound, but what else are rock stars of Sabbath's magnitude going to sing about? I love the clean polished production for these particular songs and Sabbath, along with Tony's masterful leads, are really branching out into different shades of dark and light. It's too bad (IMO) that they didn't release a double live album (Asbury Park?) in 1976 to cap off the first 6 albums, I think it would have absolutely blown them into the stratosphere, popularity wise, and TE could have been like a new beginning or something. I'd have to say that my favourite song off of TE today would be, It's Alright. Bill's haunting vocals make this song for me an absolute classic and it once again showed that Sabbath weren't afraid to branch out even more and keep experimenting. I can understand why a lot of people who are fans of Sabbath don't like it, but I don't care, it's fucking awesome!

[BOGBLAST]

This album holds a lot of memories for me. 17 years old, a big ole' 1967 Buick LaSabre 400, an 8-track player, friends, a lot of 420 action and TE in the deck. Good Times. I saw them on this tour as well. I immediately liked it. I think the problem a lot of people have with this album is that the keyboards are way up front in a few songs. Again, progression, which includes a serious upgrade to Tony's solos. The only song I can do without is She's Gone, maybe It's Alright.

My favs in no particular order are Gypsy, All Moving Parts (Stand Still) and Dirty Women. This album is great, no major complaints.

[Charger]

I think TE took the side B of Sabotage just bit further. This was the time when they started abandoning all things heavy and attempting to move into a more commercial rock which ofcourse was doomed effort from the start.

That being said, I do enjoy this album more than NSD. Back Street Kids, All Moving Parts and Dirty Women are all good tracks...even if the lyrics are rather horrible but atleast they are better than on NSD.

It would be interesting to know why they wanted to change their sound so much and abandon all their heavy roots. After all this was the time when Heavy Metal started raising it's head so with all reasoning Sabbath should have started going heavier not lighter. I guess they wanted to do more radio friendly stuff and see if they could break the bank...which ofcourse they didn't.

[Typhon]

...even if the lyrics are rather horrible but atleast they are better than on NSD.

Check out the lyrics of Over To You, for starters.

[Charger]

...even if the lyrics are rather horrible but atleast they are better than on NSD.

Check out the lyrics of Over To You, for starters.

Meaning they're better? Not in my humble (but ofcourse meaningless) opinion.

[Typhon]

...even if the lyrics are rather horrible but atleast they are better than on NSD.

Check out the lyrics of Over To You, for starters.

Meaning they're better? Not in my humble (but ofcourse meaningless) opinion.

I do value your opinion, when it's correct. 

[Charger]

I do value your opinion, when it's correct. 

Well you shouldn't....waste of energy. There is no one in this world with less value than me.