JLB vs other prog. metal singers

lithium112 · February 13, 2011, 08:48:10 PM

Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on February 13, 2011, 08:16:02 PM
It's more so directed at the newer ones.

Hm, interesting. Who do you think sounds similar to Russell out of curiosity? I can't really think of anyone, but I admit my knowledge of prog metal bands is not super extensive.

abydos · February 13, 2011, 09:15:51 PM

The first singer for Adagio sounds a lot like RA at times. Or was it the second one? Don't remember.

floppa · February 14, 2011, 01:19:42 AM

I am shocked no one mentioned Ray Alder as a great vocalist. I personally like his voice the best.

As for JLB, well I was never blown away by his voice, but he certainly turned the corner as a live singer. Watching Another Won on Score proves that. By far his best vocal performance IMHO.

Lowdz · February 14, 2011, 01:50:35 AM

Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on February 13, 2011, 07:08:14 PM
Also, am I the only one who thinks Russell Allen has one of the most boring, stereotypical voices in prog metal?

Having heard him live and on the Star One dvd I'd say he is a great singer who is not served well by the material in his day job. I like SX but they lack melody in the vocals for me.
These other singers mentioned IMO do not have to deal with the different voices JLB is called upon to use. These guys have one style and stick to it. JLB has several "voices" he has to use, sometimes in the same song. The other guys have it easy.

Zook · February 14, 2011, 03:08:33 AM

How does Symphony X lack melody?

Aquila Chrysaetos · February 14, 2011, 03:10:09 AM

Quote from: Lowdz on February 14, 2011, 01:50:35 AM
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on February 13, 2011, 07:08:14 PM
Also, am I the only one who thinks Russell Allen has one of the most boring, stereotypical voices in prog metal?

Having heard him live and on the Star One dvd I'd say he is a great singer who is not served well by the material in his day job. I like SX but they lack melody in the vocals for me.
These other singers mentioned IMO do not have to deal with the different voices JLB is called upon to use. These guys have one style and stick to it. JLB has several "voices" he has to use, sometimes in the same song. The other guys have it easy.

This exactly.
I also thought he was truly awesome on Star One.
In SX it's, as you say, lacking melody and especially on the last album way too forced to sound aggressive.
He's capable of so much more IMO.

Perpetual Change · February 14, 2011, 03:24:26 AM

I thought his vocals sounded awesome on the last album.

Anyway, he's not under utilized. Let's just remember Arjen seems to bring out the best performances in everyone. Except for 01011001.

Nekov · February 14, 2011, 05:45:52 AM

I want to mention Nils K. Rue from Pagan's Mind. I think he is a good singer but what strikes me as good about him is his natural voice. I find it to be quite unique.
As for JLB it's the opposite to me. He is a great singer but his voice gets annoying to me after listening to him sing more than 4 songs. Thanks god DT has such great instrumental sections.

lithium112 · February 14, 2011, 07:00:48 AM

Quote from: Aquila Chrysaetos on February 14, 2011, 03:10:09 AM
In SX it's, as you say, lacking melody and especially on the last album way too forced to sound aggressive.
He's capable of so much more IMO.

I would have to amend that statement to: RA's vocals only somewhat lack melody on the last album, as compared to the other albums he's done. I've always found his vocal parts to be incredibly melodic - that's like what he's known for in my eyes, and I think it's represented well on each album. Listen to Wicked - that song blows my mind. But yeah, on Paradise he's kinda gone for a rougher sound. It was a little shocking on first listen, but if that's the direction the band is going, I'm OK with it. As long as we still get old Russell in the choruses.

Lowdz · February 14, 2011, 08:07:55 AM

Quote from: abydos on February 13, 2011, 09:15:51 PM
The first singer for Adagio sounds a lot like RA at times. Or was it the second one? Don't remember.

Are you refering to the very excellent David Readman of Pink Cream 69? Great singer and the PC69 Thunderdome album is a top 10 album for me. He sang on Sanctus Ignis and Underworld.

Aquila Chrysaetos · February 14, 2011, 09:57:55 AM

Quote from: Lowdz on February 14, 2011, 08:07:55 AM
Quote from: abydos on February 13, 2011, 09:15:51 PM
The first singer for Adagio sounds a lot like RA at times. Or was it the second one? Don't remember.

Are you refering to the very excellent David Readman of Pink Cream 69? Great singer and the PC69 Thunderdome album is a top 10 album for me. He sang on Sanctus Ignis and Underworld.

And they're easily the best albums by Adagio.

DarkLord_Lalinc · February 14, 2011, 10:10:48 AM

Quote from: abydos on February 13, 2011, 04:24:21 PM
James is also my absolute fav vocalist and I think that in his prime (before food poisoning) and if he hadn't suffered that incident he would have still been light years ahead of anyone else. I also absolutely adore the sound of his voice, not just the range.

Sums it up quite nicely

Tomislav95 · February 14, 2011, 10:24:45 AM

James is for me best ever.Really.His voice sucked about '06-09 but now he's great again.His voice is perfect for DT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0XK0AhyUxo

rumborak · February 14, 2011, 10:45:11 AM

I can't fully subscribe to the "James is the perfect voice for DT" statement. In my opinion, he was the perfect voice for them in the 90s, but has been struggling to fulfill his role in the much more metal-oriented band of the new millenium. To a good degree DT has been writing for a singer they don't have. MP's desire to do backing vocals obviously showed that he wanted more "grit" in the vocals than James could provide.

rumborak

FretMuppet · February 14, 2011, 10:57:16 AM

Who knows, maybe we'll have more youthful-sounding JLB vocals in the new album? It seems he's capable of doing it so why not...

Tomislav95 · February 14, 2011, 11:01:25 AM

Quote from: FretMuppet on February 14, 2011, 10:57:16 AM
Who knows, maybe we'll have more youthful-sounding JLB vocals in the new album? It seems he's capable of doing it so why not...

I rather want growl

Nekov · February 14, 2011, 11:11:46 AM

Quote from: Tomislav95 on February 14, 2011, 11:01:25 AM
Quote from: FretMuppet on February 14, 2011, 10:57:16 AM
Who knows, maybe we'll have more youthful-sounding JLB vocals in the new album? It seems he's capable of doing it so why not...
I rather want growl

I rather not. Unless it's Devin, in which case growling is more than welcome.

Tomislav95 · February 14, 2011, 11:19:01 AM

Quote from: Nekov on February 14, 2011, 11:11:46 AM
Quote from: Tomislav95 on February 14, 2011, 11:01:25 AM
Quote from: FretMuppet on February 14, 2011, 10:57:16 AM
Who knows, maybe we'll have more youthful-sounding JLB vocals in the new album? It seems he's capable of doing it so why not...
I rather want growl

I rather not. Unless it's Devin, in which case growling is more than welcome.

I'm just joking.I like James in songs like Wither

DarkLord_Lalinc · February 14, 2011, 11:37:12 AM

Quote from: rumborak on February 14, 2011, 10:45:11 AM
I can't fully subscribe to the "James is the perfect voice for DT" statement. In my opinion, he was the perfect voice for them in the 90s, but has been struggling to fulfill his role in the much more metal-oriented band of the new millenium. To a good degree DT has been writing for a singer they don't have. MP's desire to do backing vocals obviously showed that he wanted more "grit" in the vocals than James could provide.

rumborak

It's more of this "his voice is now attached to DT's music" feeling than the actual music. It would be strange to listen DT with another voice, for real.

rumborak · February 14, 2011, 11:42:01 AM

Yeah, but that's a very different argument than saying he's the perfect voice for the music. To me, his voice was almost custom-tailored for I&W (not surprisingly, given they auditioned him for singing on the album).

rumborak

jdprsaga · February 14, 2011, 11:43:37 AM

Quote from: Bolsters on February 12, 2011, 10:31:30 PM
Russell Allen

Yeah i agree.. my favorite must be russell allen... he is in another league... amazing voice.

Orion1967 · February 14, 2011, 11:51:54 AM

Has anyone mentioned Roy Khan of Kamelot? Not sure if you consider them prog metal or not, I kinda do tbqh but his voice (at least on albums as I have never heard them live) is very unique, and NOT a high pitched whiney sounding voice. Very baritone and masculine.

linkage for a sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZASY2Kxwvsw - Mellow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW7FlSwxLhE&feature=related - harder

DarkLord_Lalinc · February 14, 2011, 11:54:41 AM

I love Roy Khan's voice. His low and deep voice is what makes Kamelot such an amazing band. Without Khan, they would not have been as good (IMO).

Tomislav95 · February 14, 2011, 11:56:11 AM

Quote from: Orion1967 on February 14, 2011, 11:51:54 AM
Has anyone mentioned Roy Khan of Kamelot? Not sure if you consider them prog metal or not, I kinda do tbqh but his voice (at least on albums as I have never heard them live) is very unique, and NOT a high pitched whiney sounding voice. Very baritone and masculine.

linkage for a sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZASY2Kxwvsw

Yes, I listened to Kamelot several months ago.He is great but I can't compare him with JLB.They are too different.

DarkLord_Lalinc · February 14, 2011, 11:59:40 AM

Roy Khan was a breath of fresh air compared to most prog metal bands. As lots have already pointed out in this thread, prog metal seems to be about the pseudo-operatic-high-pitched type of voice that needs to be virtuostic to match the instrumental madness going on.

Orion1967 · February 14, 2011, 12:01:16 PM

Quote from: Tomislav95 on February 14, 2011, 11:56:11 AM
Quote from: Orion1967 on February 14, 2011, 11:51:54 AM
Has anyone mentioned Roy Khan of Kamelot? Not sure if you consider them prog metal or not, I kinda do tbqh but his voice (at least on albums as I have never heard them live) is very unique, and NOT a high pitched whiney sounding voice. Very baritone and masculine.

linkage for a sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZASY2Kxwvsw
Yes, I listened to Kamelot several months ago.He is great but I can't compare him with JLB.They are too different.

Oh, well I was actually pointing him out as an antithesis to the steroetypical "whiney, high pitched" voices that the OP was talking about. Yeah they are very different but the quality of the vocals can be compared, each within their own sound (JLB and Khan) are equally gifted in my opinion. When it came to higher pitched vocals I think Geoff Tate used to be stellar (I have heard that he sounds like shit nowadays though, not sure why or whta the story is there but I kinda stopped folloing queensryche long about 1992 when I first heard Images and Words)

Tomislav95 · February 14, 2011, 12:03:39 PM

I forgot Mikael Åkerfeldt and Russell Allen, they are both great.Allen is only singer which I can compare with JLB.He got voice like James in his best day with little bit of growl.I really like him

i am fabio · February 14, 2011, 02:22:51 PM

Quote from: rumborak on February 14, 2011, 10:45:11 AM
I can't fully subscribe to the "James is the perfect voice for DT" statement. In my opinion, he was the perfect voice for them in the 90s, but has been struggling to fulfill his role in the much more metal-oriented band of the new millenium. To a good degree DT has been writing for a singer they don't have. MP's desire to do backing vocals obviously showed that he wanted more "grit" in the vocals than James could provide.

rumborak

This!!!! Plenty of singers would sound much much better with Dream Theater. The growl parts might actually work with somebody else like Russel (hate to keep bringing him up). Its true though I think. Anyways I still like Labrie though but when I imagine them with someone else I hear even more greatness.

LieLowTheWantedMan · February 14, 2011, 02:52:21 PM

Quote from: lithium112 on February 13, 2011, 08:48:10 PM
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on February 13, 2011, 08:16:02 PM
It's more so directed at the newer ones.
Hm, interesting. Who do you think sounds similar to Russell out of curiosity? I can't really think of anyone, but I admit my knowledge of prog metal bands is not super extensive.

Really, it's not the prog metal singers he sounds like to me, he more so sounds like a pretty normal power metal singer.

pmahoney1337 · February 14, 2011, 03:14:27 PM

It was definitely James' voice that got me into DT. I Don't know what, but his voice has something to it that I just love.

ZirconBlue · February 14, 2011, 05:06:31 PM

Quote from: rumborak on February 14, 2011, 10:45:11 AM
I can't fully subscribe to the "James is the perfect voice for DT" statement. In my opinion, he was the perfect voice for them in the 90s, but has been struggling to fulfill his role in the much more metal-oriented band of the new millenium. To a good degree DT has been writing for a singer they don't have. MP's desire to do backing vocals obviously showed that he wanted more "grit" in the vocals than James could provide.

rumborak

That's a flaw in their recent music/vocal melodies, rather than a flaw in JLB, IMO. I'm hoping that on the next album they will return to writing melodies that actually suit the vocalist they have, rather than the vocalist MP wished they had.

chrisbDTM · February 14, 2011, 05:11:00 PM

i hope they can really write to james' strengths on the next album. i have no problem with his vocals on BCSL, in fact i really like them. But listening to ayreon's human equation and JLB's newest solo album got me thinking

rumborak · February 17, 2011, 06:43:16 AM

It's always been a weird effect that JLB sounded better on non-DT recordings.

rumborak

Zantera · February 17, 2011, 07:48:02 AM

I like James.
He's a cool guy, he has a great voice and it really fits with DT's music overall.
Can't go as far as saying he's my favorite singer within the genre, because there are many other singers I really like, such as Tommy Giles Rogers (Between the Buried and Me), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) and lets not forget Mariusz Duda (Riverside).

Also, what's with comparing JLB to DG?
The title says "prog. METAL singers", and PoS certainly aren't metal.

jonny108 · February 17, 2011, 07:55:04 AM

Quote from: Zantera on February 17, 2011, 07:48:02 AM
I like James.
He's a cool guy, he has a great voice and it really fits with DT's music overall.
Can't go as far as saying he's my favorite singer within the genre, because there are many other singers I really like, such as Tommy Giles Rogers (Between the Buried and Me), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) and lets not forget Mariusz Duda (Riverside).

Also, what's with comparing JLB to DG?
The title says "prog. METAL singers", and PoS certainly aren't metal.

Maybe not as much nowadays but I'm pretty certain to my ears, I would class Entropia, OHBTCL, TPE and RL metal in one or way or another.

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JLB vs other prog. metal singers