New James LaBrie Interview at Bravewords

[ubit]

I will admit that I am excited for this album.  The thought that Portnoy was the main force behind the heavy direction that the band took has crossed my mind many times prior to his departure, and has worried me greatly since his departure.  I was never concerned about replacing his skills on the drum kit.  I have always been worried that his musical contributions would be missed the most sorely.  I feel that this album will exacerbate that notion.  Hopefully I won't be too distressed once I hear it.  

The way I see it, this album will make or break DT's future for me.  Not that I'd ever stop listening to their future work, but I will be sincerely less excited for future releases if the material makes a drastic turn for the "worse" (which for me, personally, would mean favoring the progressive elements over the heavier ones consistently and continually).  

Anyone else feel similarly?

[Slain]

 

[chrisbDTM]

i always imagined portnoy more as an arranger and a 'yea play that again but maybe do this' kind of a writer

[JasonScandopolous]

"It all comes down to what the listener interprets. To me it's a classic album of great progressive moments. I think we've really gone back to some of our classic glory, and at the same tine there's still some of that progressive metal Dream Theater in there, but in a more controlled and less bombastic sense. It's harnessed in a more complimentary direction that maybe Scenes From A Memory or Images And Words was. Progressive, but with those heavy elements in there, and not having one side overshadow the other."

I interpret this to mean that there will be less "wankery" (excessive solo sections that go on for too long) on this album... that description certainly applies to I&W, kind of to SFAM, as compared to the last few albums.

[Pettor]

Really excited for this release! Like many more of you I hope they balance the experience more with their metal and prog side.

I really wish Rudess play more piano like SFAM!!

[bloop]

I really wish Rudess play more piano like SFAM!!

I definitely agree with this. 

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Everything James said in the interview was, selfishly, exactly what I wanted to hear about the new album. I saw no bias in the questions, but then again I'm not the biggest Portnoy fan, so maybe I'm overlooking something.

[Adami]

Everything James said in the interview was, selfishly, exactly what I wanted to hear about the new album. I saw no bias in the questions, but then again I'm not the biggest Portnoy fan, so maybe I'm overlooking something.

Questions were fine, I think it was the snide little comments he made between questions.

[eosforum]

I love what I'm hearing so far. Relaxed composing, no rushed ideas, JM lyrics and much more musical contribution, JLB being present in the writing process and having his feedback taken seriously as well as contributing to the melodies and controlled heaviness instead of bombastic metalcore-like riffs. Couldn't ask for more. The last remaining ingredient I want is JR lyrics and backing vocals in a couple spots. If this recipe fails nothing will work.

[nikatapi]

Portnoy is out. Mangini is in. Deal with it.

[Jamesman42]

Fantastic interview.

[Raziel666]

Probably the interview a lot of DT fans desperately wanted to read for years.

Well done JLB and DT! I hope Sept. 13th comes faster!

[King Postwhore]

What James said in his description of the album is how I love DT.  I can't wait to hear it!!!

[TAC]

What James said in his description of the album is how I love DT.  I can't wait to hear it!!!

Same here. I can get my metal from other bands. Classic DT gave me all of my guilty pleasures disguised as a hard rock band.

[ariich]

Everything James said in the interview was, selfishly, exactly what I wanted to hear about the new album. I saw no bias in the questions, but then again I'm not the biggest Portnoy fan, so maybe I'm overlooking something.

Questions were fine, I think it was the snide little comments he made between questions.

This is pretty much how I feel. The questions themselves were really good, but some of the narrative definitely had a bias.

Cool interview, definitely more and more excited about the album!

[Groundhog]

Wow! Now I'm really excited about the new album. JLB is describing all I was hoping for DT to sound.

[GasparXR]

James certainly gives the best interviews. He really sounded like he was speaking truthfully and without hiding major details, like about Mike's controlling personality, but in a respectful way. I mean, that's just the way Mike was, and you can't change it, and I still think he is one of the most interesting and crazy characters out there.

I am pretty lucky, because this is the first DT album I have to look forward to, as I started listening to them after BC&SL was out. And holy shit did this interview make me that much more anxious.

[Metabog]

I don't know, I thought the narrative pretty much said it straight.

Can't wait to hear this album. 

[Vajra]

I highly doubt this album is going to sound like classic DT or I&W like James said in the interview. I'm not saying he's wrong, but usually the makers of the music view the songs a lot differently than the way the fans view the songs, and I don't expect any fan to listen to this album and think "Wow this sounds like I&W and Awake!"

[Elaitch]

I highly doubt this album is going to sound like classic DT or I&W like James said in the interview. I'm not saying he's wrong, but usually the makers of the music view the songs a lot differently than the way the fans view the songs, and I don't expect any fan to listen to this album and think "Wow this sounds like I&W and Awake!"

Still... there's no reason to distrust the man

[KevShmev]

Cool interview.  Thanks for posting it!

And I saw nothing wrong with the questions and/or comments.  Nothing was said that pretty much isn't common knowledge already.

[Global Laziness]

Great interview, the anticipation for the new album definitely rose quite a bit.

Same here. I'm surprised people aren't smiling in their pants a bit more about Myung's increased musical contributions.

[Faustusmedea]

I might be wrong, but I don't think the band has ever actually addressed Mike's reasons for wanting the hiatus. I mean, they say they wanted to keep the momentum going, etc. but I've not seen any interviews which address the possibility the music had become a little stale and formulaic. Obv a dramatic turn of events such as Mike leaving should probably breathe new life into the creative process but is that enough to sustain? The concept of a 3-4 year layoff seems kooky, but I've always felt the issues Mike was addressing were legitimate.

[Elaitch]

I might be wrong, but I don't think the band has ever actually addressed Mike's reasons for wanting the hiatus. I mean, they say they wanted to keep the momentum going, etc. but I've not seen any interviews which address the possibility the music had become a little stale and formulaic. Obv a dramatic turn of events such as Mike leaving should probably breathe new life into the creative process but is that enough to sustain? The concept of a 3-4 year layoff seems kooky, but I've always felt the issues Mike was addressing were legitimate.

Since Mike seems to have been very involved with the song structures, I've become quite sure over time that it was actually he who was the cause of why Dream Theater has slowly become more "stale and formulaic" over the course of the last two albums.

[bosk1]

but I've not seen any interviews which address the possibility the music had become a little stale and formulaic.

Probably because nobody in the band has said anything that even hints at them feeling the music had become stale and formulaic.

[Arch Benemy]

I will admit that I am excited for this album.  The thought that Portnoy was the main force behind the heavy direction that the band took has crossed my mind many times prior to his departure, and has worried me greatly since his departure.  I was never concerned about replacing his skills on the drum kit.  I have always been worried that his musical contributions would be missed the most sorely.  I feel that this album will exacerbate that notion.  Hopefully I won't be too distressed once I hear it.  

The way I see it, this album will make or break DT's future for me.  Not that I'd ever stop listening to their future work, but I will be sincerely less excited for future releases if the material makes a drastic turn for the "worse" (which for me, personally, would mean favoring the progressive elements over the heavier ones consistently and continually).  

Anyone else feel similarly?

Don't think you're gonna get many people to agree with you on that point man. Without assuming too much, most of us prefer DT's more progressive side over their metal side (with a few exceptions, The Glass Prison for example) and so more of a focus on that aspect is exactly what many of us want to hear. DT always had a good balance of heavy and mellow until the last couple of albums when the scales starting tipping in favour of metal, so a little shove back in the other direction is a great thing as far as I'm concerned.

Personally, I feel that whilst there are hundreds of bands who can make great metal music, there are far fewer who make great progressive music, so I would rather have DT stay prog and go elsewhere for my heavy fix. Again in my opinion, I also don't think DT are that great at straight up metal. Their heavy songs that I do love (TGP, Home, Lie, to name a few) still have a very progressive feel to them, whereas tracks like A Rite of Passage which are more straight-ahead, just aren't that exciting to me.

Great interview too! Really excited for this record!

[Perpetual Change]

Great interview. I don't see a problem with it at all. In totally reflects what I already have guessed the reality of the situation between the band and Mike is at this point.

I'll take James' comments with a grain of salt, though. He totally sounds like he's been lurking here, and has figured out what all of us want to hear about the new album.  

And I agree with Benemy above. I love heavy music, but Dream Theater's version of that has never really done it for me. I'm glad they're steering away from that.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

but I've not seen any interviews which address the possibility the music had become a little stale and formulaic.

Probably because nobody in the band has said anything that even hints at them feeling the music had become stale and formulaic.

I think what he means is that Mike hinted at it on his forum, and no one has asked the current band members what they thought about that.

[Perpetual Change]

but I've not seen any interviews which address the possibility the music had become a little stale and formulaic.

Probably because nobody in the band has said anything that even hints at them feeling the music had become stale and formulaic.

I think what he means is that Mike hinted at it on his forum, and no one has asked the current band members what they thought about that.

Mike hinted that he agreed with it when someone suggested it as his forum, and Petrucci said that he's sick of at least the back to back soloing structure. Aside from that, I don't know. Jordan seems like too much of a "company man" to complain publicly.  James hasn't been involved, so he's only complained about that. And take John Myung's self-imposed reclusive-ness for what you will.

[chrisbDTM]

Portnoy is out. Mangini is in. Deal with it.

snip

your welcome for the picture. haha watch out people here dont like it



this is the only video i think about when thinking about a portnoy-less writing session.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBdinjpxO1o

[ubit]

Don't think you're gonna get many people to agree with you on that point man. Without assuming too much, most of us prefer DT's more progressive side over their metal side (with a few exceptions, The Glass Prison for example) and so more of a focus on that aspect is exactly what many of us want to hear. DT always had a good balance of heavy and mellow until the last couple of albums when the scales starting tipping in favour of metal, so a little shove back in the other direction is a great thing as far as I'm concerned.

Personally, I feel that whilst there are hundreds of bands who can make great metal music, there are far fewer who make great progressive music, so I would rather have DT stay prog and go elsewhere for my heavy fix. Again in my opinion, I also don't think DT are that great at straight up metal. Their heavy songs that I do love (TGP, Home, Lie, to name a few) still have a very progressive feel to them, whereas tracks like A Rite of Passage which are more straight-ahead, just aren't that exciting to me.

Great interview too! Really excited for this record!

I'm not sure where the ideal balance is for me personally, but I am sure it is slightly more in favor of metal than the majority.  But I don't need albums like ToT (in terms of heavy/metal feel). 

[antigoon]

I must admit; I'm getting excited for this.

[?]

Great interview! Nice to hear that they're not making another album focusing on metal. Of course I've heard many albums which are heavier than anything DT has done, but DT have never been that great at writing modern metal songs.

[tgstk2]

so less metal in DT it seems...hmmm more proggy or more balance....
that sounds to me like a 20 minute solo of JR on his ipad....

sorry im a metal dude, so i love the metal side of DT.....i do not hope they totally removed it or put it to the background.
but let me rephrase that..it's better that if they would do a metal section, that it will be "real" metal (define real) and not go for the nu-metal approach....., it would be great if DT would pull of a trash song on this album (like on JLB solo's albums).....but than DT style...

i'm excited about this one, but that mostly has got to do with MM drums on a DT record and new JP solos.....

[m0hawk]

This interview gives me high hopes for at least 2 or 3 songs in the same vein as Scarred and Learning to Live, where you have a LOT of different ideas thrown into one pleasant 10-minute package. Granted, those 2 songs took me a very long time to appreciate, but now that they've finally clicked, it's