Instrumental versions make you appreciate James!

[johncal]

What I said. You don't realize just how much he adds until you listen to the instrumental versions. Earlier album instrumental versions (eg. SC) kind of sucked because they didn't include lead instruments, but the new album does and it still really misses James. There's not one instumental version song I like more than the vocal version on this album. I just doesn't sound like DT without him. Say what you want, but he's every bit as much signature DT as Petrucci. Just as irreplacable IMO.

[KISS 76]

What I said. You don't realize just how much he adds until you listen to the instrumental versions. Earlier album instrumental versions (eg. SC) kind of sucked because they didn't include lead instruments, but the new album does and it still really misses James. There's not one instumental version song I like more than the vocal version on this album. I just doesn't sound like DT without him. Say what you want, but he's every bit as much signature DT as Petrucci. Just as irreplacable IMO.

I agree... Plus I also would not want to ever see him replaced with another singer as he is just as important to the DT sound as the core instruments.

[E.S.]

James makes me appreciate James.

[Madman Shepherd]

Sometimes I wonder who they would have gotten if James was kicked out in 02-03.  Would it be someone like Russell Allen?  If so, so much would have been lost.

[senecadawg2]

Dream Theater would sound so different without him

[Tis BOOLsheet]

LMFAO @ labrie is just as irreplaceable as petrucci. that is completely absurd. this is basically petrucci's band. he writes most of the lyrics, most of the riffs, NEVER MIND THAT THIS IS A GUITAR DRIVEN BAND, and now oversees the production. labrie has a particular sound that is a big part of DT now but to say hes as irreplaceable as labrie is insane. petrucci and rudess basically run the show.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

LMFAO @ labrie is just as irreplaceable as petrucci. that is completely absurd. this is basically petrucci's band. he writes most of the lyrics, most of the riffs, NEVER MIND THAT THIS IS A GUITAR DRIVEN BAND, and now oversees the production. labrie has a particular sound that is a big part of DT now but to say hes as irreplaceable as labrie is insane. petrucci and rudess basically run the show.

Talk about missing the point. Replacing a band's vocalist is the hardest thing, because naturally the vocals are what stay in most people who listen to music.  We're talking about a man who's been 20 years in the band and has printed his voice in the music. If LaBrie left DT, the thing would probably be over.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

LMFAO @ labrie is just as irreplaceable as petrucci. that is completely absurd. this is basically petrucci's band. he writes most of the lyrics, most of the riffs, NEVER MIND THAT THIS IS A GUITAR DRIVEN BAND, and now oversees the production. labrie has a particular sound that is a big part of DT now but to say hes as irreplaceable as labrie is insane. petrucci and rudess basically run the show.

Talk about missing the point. Replacing a band's vocalist is the hardest thing, because naturally the vocals are what stay in most people who listen to music.  We're talking about a man who's been 20 years in the band and has printed his voice in the music. If LaBrie left DT, the thing would probably be over.

False. there are many many many MANY fans who have not been a fan of labrie's singing over the years. his voice has been enormously controversial and for good reason. if they got a better vocalist i think most fans would embrace that. there would of course be a few hold outs, but far less than there were with mike portnoy. labrie for sure has left his print on this band. im just saying that it hasnt been what makes this band special for most fans. in fact, its something that a lot of fans wish would have changed. i do NOT believe that for the majority of fans of a band like DT the "vocals" are what stay in most people. this is a guitar driven band end of story.

[johncal]

LMFAO @ labrie is just as irreplaceable as petrucci. that is completely absurd. this is basically petrucci's band. he writes most of the lyrics, most of the riffs, NEVER MIND THAT THIS IS A GUITAR DRIVEN BAND, and now oversees the production. labrie has a particular sound that is a big part of DT now but to say hes as irreplaceable as labrie is insane. petrucci and rudess basically run the show.

Talk about missing the point. Replacing a band's vocalist is the hardest thing, because naturally the vocals are what stay in most people who listen to music.  We're talking about a man who's been 20 years in the band and has printed his voice in the music. If LaBrie left DT, the thing would probably be over.

Yeah, I 100% agree. It's already been proven you can change the keyboard player and drummer in this band. I'm sure JM if necessary (can you say Tony Levin). I mean JP does write most of the music and his playing is irreplacable, but that said, people really remember the vocalists. There are a ton of bands that never recovered when their vocalists left. What people forget is that DT was ready to call it quits by the time James auditioned. They were ready to pull the plug. Anybody that knows the history of DT knows that finding a great vocalist was huge problem for their staying together..... at least by their own accounts in interviews. All that was all told in the Score DVD. The fan base scrutiny would be unbelievable if James were replaced. Besides, how many bands have a vocalist that has a fork truck license! Really.......

[lumpy33]

the only way d.t. ever folds because of a member leaving is if petrucci leaves.  the band would still make records if any other band member left.  including james.

however, i used to think the same thing but included portnoy along with petrucci in this thought...

[VioletS16]

LMFAO @ labrie is just as irreplaceable as petrucci. that is completely absurd. this is basically petrucci's band. he writes most of the lyrics, most of the riffs, NEVER MIND THAT THIS IS A GUITAR DRIVEN BAND, and now oversees the production. labrie has a particular sound that is a big part of DT now but to say hes as irreplaceable as labrie is insane. petrucci and rudess basically run the show.

Talk about missing the point. Replacing a band's vocalist is the hardest thing, because naturally the vocals are what stay in most people who listen to music.  We're talking about a man who's been 20 years in the band and has printed his voice in the music. If LaBrie left DT, the thing would probably be over.

This, and Johncal's post too. James IS irreplaceable. Forget his range--the emotion in his singing is astounding.

[deslock]

The instrumental versions of most tracks on BCASL are better than the regular versions, but mostly because of Portnoy's vocals and weak lyrics.

With ADTOE, things are different.  The vocals and lyrics are stronger, and I find the regular versions of tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8 to be superior to the instrumental ones (but even the instrumental version are awesome). 

IMO, the rest of the ADTOE songs suck all around.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank DT for combing the annoying singing and music into the same tracks so I don't feel like I'm missing out by skipping them (every time I pull out Rush's T4E, my teeth gnash when I remember how much of a travesty it is that Viruality has the album's best music and its worst lyrics and singing).

Anyway, I think replacing LaBrie would be problematic... he has range and passion, as others mentioned his voice is a DT trademark, and his singing is *usually* good (let's ignore Awake).  He's not as irreplaceable as Bruce Dickinson was/is for Iron Maiden, but I almost think DT would be better off becoming an instrumental band if ever presented with moving on without LaBrie (IMO, not all that scary a thought as LTE was awesome).

Speaking of Dickinson, here's a tangential factoid that I read many years ago: While DT was recording Awake, Bruce Dickinson swung by and gave LaBrie some tips (a couple years earlier, Dickinson had been very impressed with DT's demos and had supposedly even told Harris that IM should sound more like them).  Since Dickinson had been in his own growling period just before (Gods, his voice was horrible on most of NPFTD and FOTD), I always wondered how much better Awake might've sounded had Dickinson never spoke to LaBrie.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

there are plenty of examples of bands who have replaced much more beloved vocalists than labrie and have survived and thrived. and in almost every case, the vocalist was more critical to that band than a vocalist is to a band like dream theater which is known for the ability of its instrumentalists.

[SystematicThought]

Losing LaBrie would be the final nail in DT's coffin.

[Pols Voice]

With ADTOE, things are different.  The vocals and lyrics are stronger, and I find the regular versions of tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8 to be superior to the instrumental ones (but even the instrumental version are awesome). 

IMO, the rest of the ADTOE songs suck all around.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank DT for combing the annoying singing and music into the same tracks so I don't feel like I'm missing out by skipping them

...

Anyway, I think replacing LaBrie would be problematic... he has range and passion, as others mentioned his voice is a DT trademark, and his singing is *usually* good (let's ignore Awake). 

[MajorMatt]

Losing LaBrie would be the final nail in DT's coffin.

I agree, but why are we discussing such negative things which have been covered a million times before. JLB is in the band, the band are happy, the fans seem happy, all is good, chill.

[SystematicThought]

I have no idea really. It just started somewhere in the thread

[namgalsipsclar]

Anyway, I think replacing LaBrie would be problematic... he has range and passion, as others mentioned his voice is a DT trademark, and his singing is *usually* good (let's ignore Awake).  He's not as irreplaceable as Bruce Dickinson was/is for Iron Maiden, but I almost think DT would be better off becoming an instrumental band if ever presented with moving on without LaBrie (IMO, not all that scary a thought as LTE was awesome).

Speaking of Dickinson, here's a tangential factoid that I read many years ago: While DT was recording Awake, Bruce Dickinson swung by and gave LaBrie some tips (a couple years earlier, Dickinson had been very impressed with DT's demos and had supposedly even told Harris that IM should sound more like them).  Since Dickinson had been in his own growling period just before (Gods, his voice was horrible on most of NPFTD and FOTD), I always wondered how much better Awake might've sounded had Dickinson never spoke to LaBrie.

Hang on whaaaaa...??!!?
JLB is outstanding on Awake, I'd go as far as to say that vocally, it is my favourite album ever