James' vocals in the last chorus of Beneath the Surface

[Perpetual Change]

Do they sound... off pitch to anyone? I'm talking about the part where he sings the whole chorus an octave or so higher... When I first heard it, I was kinda blown back a bit because I thought he sounded off. Then I got used to it. Only now, I'm not really sure what to make of them. I feel like they sound a little bit off, but it also sounds like it might be intentional. I mean, when he's singing he sounds like his throat is kinda tight, as if he just got done a cry session or something.

These are just the scattered observations of someone who knows nothing about singing. Hoping others more informed than I will chime in.

[Global Laziness]

It struck me right away, too. His vocals have so much power there but the music doesn't swell to match. Easily the biggest disappointment for me on the album.

[djentlemen]

It struck me right away, too. His vocals have so much power there but the music doesn't swell to match. Easily the biggest disappointment for me on the album.

[eosforum]

That vocal part definetely sounds less "expressfull" than all the other vocal parts on the album. Too bad it's the last part and it kinda throws you off seconds before the end of the album...

[Global Laziness]

Too bad it's the last part and it kinda throws you off seconds before the end of the album...

This. :/

[Scrub206]

I still think he sounds phenomenal. I didnt notice it being "off pitch" or anything...

[Aquila Chrysaetos]

I agree it could've been better but I'm in no way thrown off about it.

[hefdaddy42]

It's fine.

[Mebert78]

I'll say it doesn't sounds as "perfect" as his vocals on the rest of the album.  But to me, that was the idea!  It's a vulnerable song and it's about showing you what's "beneath the surface," so they left it that way as sort of a symbolic thing.  I think it was meant to sound "real" and not spotlessly perfect like teh rest of his vocals.

[Jamesman42]

Whoa...i thought it was perfect and sung right. Still do.

[Chrissalix]

I think his voice sounded strained when he goes up that octave. It's a bit out of his comfort zone these days. Fits the emotion of the song though.

[Priest of Syrinx]

I'll say it doesn't sounds as "perfect" as his vocals on the rest of the album.  But to me, that was the idea!  It's a vulnerable song and it's about showing you what's "beneath the surface," so they left it that way as sort of a symbolic thing.  I think it was meant to sound "real" and not spotlessly perfect like teh rest of his vocals.

It's fine.

So much easier when other people do the talking.

[Metabog]

It just sounds like James' normal strained mid-range voice. I've gotten used to it, and I like that part quite a lot. It's like when he sings The Silent Man live sometimes and he goes an octave higher.

[XianL]

I'll say it doesn't sounds as "perfect" as his vocals on the rest of the album.  But to me, that was the idea!  It's a vulnerable song and it's about showing you what's "beneath the surface," so they left it that way as sort of a symbolic thing.  I think it was meant to sound "real" and not spotlessly perfect like teh rest of his vocals.

It's fine.

So much easier when other people do the talking.

[chrisbDTM]

I love that part. No problem for me

[Global Laziness]

To be clear - I think the vocals themselves are great, I just don't think they fit too well with the music.

[OsMosis2259]

I was really thrown off when I first heard it but the next few times I remember I got the chills a bit.

Even though he sounds a little "off" it still fits the mood.  At 4:50 when he says "TURNED" that's where I think was a little off.

[fibreoptix]

I'm with the people that feel the vocals don't suit the music. I don't really think that James needed to go up an octave there. The song would have been just as effective if he'd stayed in the range he had for the previous choruses.

[emindead]

To be clear - I think the vocals themselves are great, I just don't think they fit too well with the music.

A little bit with this, but I would go further and say that this song has no climax, and the octave higher doesn't respond to a more powerful part in the song... it seems like JLB went solo on that part. The fault lies mostly in the structure of this song.

[Global Laziness]

To be clear - I think the vocals themselves are great, I just don't think they fit too well with the music.

A little bit with this, but I would go further and say that this song has no climax, and the octave higher doesn't respond to a more powerful part in the song... it seems like JLB went solo on that part. The fault lies mostly in the structure of this song.

I agree with this completely.

[Scrub206]

Whoa...i thought it was perfect and sung right. Still do.

what james said

[Sixtease]

I was expecting a wave of glorification, judging from the topic. That part is fucking particular.

[Guitalguy]

I though it a bit out of place the first time, and I too thought it sounded a bit..well not perfect. But it gets better every time. I still think it could have been better, and that his voice sounds a bit like he's holding something back, but it's totally okay.

[Hal Incandenza]

I quite like the more strained and emphatic vocals there.

Where I think it doesn't feel quite right is that there's no general swell there to support it as a final climax to the song.  I mean, it does get louder right after he jumps the octave at "And began to forget", which makes me think that they were trying for a climactic swell, but louder just means the same level from ten seconds earlier, so it doesn't really feel like things are rising for a climax, it just feels like everything is at the status quo.  It's already been loud, so there's no room to go up.

[Liberation]

What?

It's hands down one of the most powerful moments of the album. It's absolutely incredible.

[Elite]

My bandmate said the same thing. Yes they are a bit weird, but no way would a band like Dream Theater release an album with a part that stick out so much like that thing, if they didn't think it was meant to be like that. If it's off pitch (which I believe it slightly is) it was meant to be like that. It's beautiful.

[Liberation]

Personally I couldn't care less how it sounds from a technical point of view. I know it sounds incredibly emotional and powerful.

[VioletS16]

Personally I couldn't care less how it sounds from a technical point of view. I know it sounds incredibly emotional and powerful.

[DeanTheater]

Personally I couldn't care less how it sounds from a technical point of view. I know it sounds incredibly emotional and powerful.

THIS

Reminds me of QR's ending to "Someone else no me" on PL.  Where Tate's voice strains abit for effect on that one line "Looking baaaaack........for somone else................ Chills for both.

[chrisbDTM]

i got chills the first time i heard that part. good ending

[pmahoney1337]

His entire voice kind of bothers me in this song. As beautiful as it is all the way through, it kind of sounds... over-produced. Same goes for Far From Heaven.

[sfam2112]

i got chills the first time i heard that part. good ending

This. I love it!

[Madman Shepherd]

I guess I understand what people were saying...I was surprised by it but it took no time at all to fall in love with it.  It's raw and full of emotion.  One of my favorite parts on the whole album.

[Jaffa]

After reading this thread, I went and listened to Beneath the Surface with the specific intent to listen to that part and see if I could hear the problems others were hearing.  By the time I actually got to that part, I was too busy singing along to notice anything wrong. 

So I still have no idea what flaws anybody's talking about. 

[Lynxo]

After reading this thread, I went and listened to Beneath the Surface with the specific intent to listen to that part and see if I could hear the problems others were hearing.  By the time I actually got to that part, I was too busy singing along to notice anything wrong. 

So I still have no idea what flaws anybody's talking about.

Me neither - I think it's a perfectly good way to end the song on a high note.