Just listened to A Change of Seasons for the first time.

[54_diplomats]

I could understand almost everything he says or screams as you say. Sorry to hear you didn't like his vocals back then, but I think they're absolutely amazing and I wish he could still hit those notes/have that range again. It's one of the main reasons why I&W and Awake are my two favorite albums, his voice is just godlike on those and now that I've listened to ACOS I can say his voice is godlike on there as well.

[Pols Voice]

Hey manticore, you've been critical of JLB several times on the forum, so I'm just wondering what singers you like.

[manticore999]

Hey manticore, you've been critical of JLB several times on the forum, so I'm just wondering what singers you like.

Roy Khan, Russell Allen (except for AMOB and SX songs where he screams), Michael Eriksen, Casey McPherson, Steve Walsh ... The list is endless.  Older stuff like Greg Lake, Jon Anderson, Steve Perry, Dennis Deyoung.   The point is, singers that know and respect their range.  If you have to scream it, you can't sing it. 

[Pols Voice]

It's interesting that you list Steve Walsh, because he and James LaBrie are my two favorite singers.

[hefdaddy42]

Lyrically and musically it's ok, but James' vocals are too hard to take on this. I don't think I've ever made it through the whole song without having to hit the 'skip' button.  I'm wondering if I'm listening to the same version everyone else is?

'cmon, seriously?  You like the screaming?  Really?  He can't hit a note, so he screams, and it's good? If you don't have the lyric sheet in front of you you have no idea what he's singing ... but that's good!?  You know, when he sings in his range he's not bad.  Not really good, but not bad.  When he has to go out of his range, which was common on a lot of the albums, he's absolutely horrible. I do like a lot of DT's stuff, and ADTOE is awesome, but there's a lot that makes me embarrased for them. ACOS is one of the embarrassing ones, as far as I'm concerned.

Well, what you have to learn to deal with is that your opinion on this matter is an extremely low minority.  In fact, I've been a DT fan since 1992, and I don't recall anyone ever reacting like this to ACOS.

[SeRoX]

Lyrically and musically it's ok, but James' vocals are too hard to take on this. I don't think I've ever made it through the whole song without having to hit the 'skip' button.  I'm wondering if I'm listening to the same version everyone else is?

I'm beginning to wonder when I can read something from you without criticizing James LaBrie in every song based on your personal taste. This is not being minority on that subject, this is almost WTF statement for everyone on this forum. I can't imagine people don't like ACOS vocals at all. Probably James' one of the best.

[BlobVanDam]

I don't see what's so controversial about the statement in this case, even though I don't agree with it.
It was his first studio vocal after the food poisoning, and it's far from one of his best, and a step down after Awake's vocals. I don't think the vocals are bad, especially to the point of hurting the song, but it's far from "godlike", as someone else described it. I'd say they're "good".

[SomeoneLikeHim]

I&W and Awake are my two favorite albums

Whoa, Don't make too hasty comments before you hear SFAM 

[manticore999]

Lyrically and musically it's ok, but James' vocals are too hard to take on this. I don't think I've ever made it through the whole song without having to hit the 'skip' button.  I'm wondering if I'm listening to the same version everyone else is?

I'm beginning to wonder when I can read something from you without criticizing James LaBrie in every song based on your personal taste. This is not being minority on that subject, this is almost WTF statement for everyone on this forum. I can't imagine people don't like ACOS vocals at all. Probably James' one of the best.

Well, to judge a song (or anything, for that matter) based on everyone else's tastes would just be stupid.  You love his voice - that's cool.  I think he's mediocre but love the rest of the guys and can take his voice when he stays in range.  I'm not gonna say I love him just because everyone else does 

[SeRoX]

Well, I can honestly say that your anti-Jamesism makes you judge some of his vocal performance unsolid.  Man, it's completely understandable you don't love his voice. Even though I adore his voice, there are some songs that I don't like his vocal lines. But come on, this is ACOS and saying that his vocals on that song is out of range and repulsive kinda funny. 

[darkshade]

Lyrically and musically it's ok, but James' vocals are too hard to take on this. I don't think I've ever made it through the whole song without having to hit the 'skip' button.  I'm wondering if I'm listening to the same version everyone else is?

'cmon, seriously?  You like the screaming?  Really?  He can't hit a note, so he screams, and it's good? If you don't have the lyric sheet in front of you you have no idea what he's singing ... but that's good!?  You know, when he sings in his range he's not bad.  Not really good, but not bad.  When he has to go out of his range, which was common on a lot of the albums, he's absolutely horrible. I do like a lot of DT's stuff, and ADTOE is awesome, but there's a lot that makes me embarrased for them. ACOS is one of the embarrassing ones, as far as I'm concerned.

[MoraWintersoul]

2cents: Screaming is quite an old metal "thing", and DT IS prog metal.

[Tomislav95]

ACOS is great song, maybe my favorite song of all time. And I don't hear screaming on ACOS

[Cedar redaC]

ACOS is great song, maybe my favorite song of all time. And I don't hear screaming on ACOS

Maybe "I'm sick of all you hypocrites, holding me at bay. And I don't need your sympathy to get me through the day

[hefdaddy42]

Which are appropriate lyrics to be screamed, if any ever were.

[MoraWintersoul]

Which are appropriate lyrics to be screamed, if any ever were.

Indeed.

[Tomislav95]

That's my favorite part of ACOS

[jonnybaxy]

Errmm guys.... https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=Y38tfrbFU7U&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DY38tfrbFU7U%26feature%3Dyoutube_gdata_player&gl=GB

[wasteland]

If you think that ACOS how it is todat is a screamy song then you really should watch these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAKlvNKlR3A&t=1115
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQk_kYpjWPA

[seasonsinthesky]

ACOS is great song, maybe my favorite song of all time. And I don't hear screaming on ACOS

Maybe "I'm sick of all you hypocrites, holding me at bay. And I don't need your sympathy to get me through the day

singing with a bit of growl/scratchiness in an appropriately emotional part of a song isn't screaming. it seems like you are interpreting it as straining due to inability, which clearly isn't the case.

[manticore999]

Right around 9:30 - it may not exactly be 'screaming' but he's clearly not able to hit those notes and it sounds terrible.  Not to mention the fact that he's struggling so bad that I have no idea what he's actually singing. That's about the place I have to hit 'next'.

[DebraKadabra]

ACOS is great song, maybe my favorite song of all time. And I don't hear screaming on ACOS

Maybe "I'm sick of all you hypocrites, holding me at bay. And I don't need your mercy fuck to get me through the day

FTFY

[Orbert]

Right around 9:30 - it may not exactly be 'screaming' but he's clearly not able to hit those notes and it sounds terrible.  Not to mention the fact that he's struggling so bad that I have no idea what he's actually singing. That's about the place I have to hit 'next'.

He can hit those notes -- they're not even very high -- but he's singing them with a roughness in his voice as a stylistic choice.  There's no struggle, and I think it's kinda weird that you even hear one.  There's no question that's he is singing these lines this way quite intentionally.  This is the last time he's going to see her, and neither of them know it.  It's a very emotional moment.  Perhaps the "struggle" you hear is the drama inherent in the character struggling to deliver such powerful lines.  You understand what the song is about and what's happening at this point in the song, right?

[theseoafs]

JLB is not struggling to hit those notes.  He has easily hit much higher notes.

[manticore999]

Sorry, but I think your 'fanboyism' is kicking in here.  I've played this song for a few friends and  they're, like ' dude ... This guy can't hit those notes for shit'.  It's almost embarrassing, because there are times when they're just so perfect it's awe inspiring.  Face it, we're just gonna have to agree to disagree.  At leat with ADTOE they're finally getting back on track after the last few duds. 

[Orbert]

Wait, what?

The notes are not out of his range.  He's hit much higher notes, and does so within this same song.  You can't understand the concept of a singer choosing to sing notes a certain way, so you play the "fanboy" card?

[SeRoX]

Man, this is getting ridiculous. I don't even know what he is talking about? Not hitting high notes on ACOS? Well, they are not even high by considering James' standarts. No way he is struggling, to be honest he is not even trying.

[Ħ]

I always thought ACOS was the song that uses James's song the best, personally.

[Adami]

I always thought ACOS was the song that uses James's song the best, personally.

.........hm?

[Ħ]

Er, his voice. I guess song works in that context, though.

[Adami]

Er, his voice. I guess song works in that context, though.

It doesn't.


But yea, ACOS is their best song by far. I have no idea what you're hearing in JLBs voice. Perhaps your ear drums are defective?

[Ħ]

Idk, he might just not like good things.

[hefdaddy42]

Sorry, but I think your 'fanboyism' is kicking in here.  I've played this song for a few friends and  they're, like ' dude ... This guy can't hit those notes for shit'.  It's almost embarrassing, because there are times when they're just so perfect it's awe inspiring.  Face it, we're just gonna have to agree to disagree.  At leat with ADTOE they're finally getting back on track after the last few duds.

Dude, you're crazy.

[marlencrabapple]

Sorry, but I think your 'fanboyism' is kicking in here.  I've played this song for a few friends and  they're, like ' dude ... This guy can't hit those notes for shit'.  It's almost embarrassing, because there are times when they're just so perfect it's awe inspiring.  Face it, we're just gonna have to agree to disagree.  At leat with ADTOE they're finally getting back on track after the last few duds.

I was about to register just to reply to this insanity, but it turns out I already had an account, so lucky me, I guess.

Either way, there's no way ACOS would provoke your friends to say something like that. If you wanted to pick a song where his vocals were questionable, you would've been much better off using a song from Falling Into Infinity or SDOIT. His vocals on ACOS are great even when compared to I&W and Awake.

[Dream Team]

Manticore999 - your posts are so out of touch with reality that if it wasn't you, I would suspect transparent trolling.