Which Dream Theater album has the best vocals?

[Jaffa]

I feel like the results of this will be pretty predictable, but I'm still curious. 

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Awake. Systematic Chaos was close, though.

[senecadawg2]

It's got to be either I&W or Awake. I give Awake the nudge for having a bit more edge to the vocals. JLB has a sort of raw delivery, but also very dynamic. Of course, I can't argue against his first album either...

[Lucien]

Falling Into Infinity.

[krands85]

I&W by a long way. I much prefer the way James sounds there to the grittier vocals on Awake. And there are far more individual standout moments in the vocal department on Images than on any other album.

This is why I can't see DT ever making an album I like as much as I&W - even if they were able to match it musically, there's no chance of a vocal performance that gets anywhere near.

[Laich21DT]

Awake. Raspy vocals ftw.

[Tom Bombadil]

Awake by a long shot. Labrie dominates that album.

[Mladen]

Awake

Images and Words, ADTOE and Systematic chaos are also among my favorites, though.

[Flacracker]

While I think that all of Labrie's vocals with Dream Theater are great, before his accident Labrie just slays everything and everyone. I am going to go with Images and Words because of the F#.

[SeRoX]

Awake, without even thinking.

[senecadawg2]

  a the BC&SL vote

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Eh, he sounds good on Black Clouds.

[senecadawg2]

He definitely does. But is it in the same league as pre-food poisoning incident?

[Mosh]

Has to be Awake. Though he usually sounds pretty good in studio, Scenes being the only exception really.

[hefdaddy42]

I voted I&W, but it could just as easily have been Awake.

[TAC]

I&W easily for me.

Great to seethe love for SC. James was outstanding. 

[Voices]

If we speak about his singing capacity, obviously is I&W. Awake is great too, but I think that it is too harsh.

I voted for I&W, but I got to point out that Systematic Chaos sounds awesome to me too. He is more mature, balanced and do his job very well.

I like ADTOE too, even JLB being a bit "safe" in it.

[Lolzeez]

I&W

[Sycsa]

It would be more interesting to only judge the post-food poisoning albums.

[chrisbDTM]

Awake.

Still has those high notes, but he totally added some balls to his voice.

[Mosh]

I like ADTOE too, even JLB being a bit "safe" in it.

Interestingly enough, as safe as that album was I thought JLB was the opposite. Lots of power and aggression (when needed). One of his best vocal performances, I'd almost go as far as to call him the MVP of that album.

[tiagodon]

The Best of Times - his worst performance ever. Lazy vocals. Is James really singing this one?

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

[JRuivo]

Awake. That is the album that truly showcases JLB's vocal low to high range, and emotional singing to raspy aggressive vocals.

[darkshade]

Awake for me. It's JLB's shining moment, because of his delivery, lots of high notes, and the general production values on that album.

Eh, he sounds good on Black Clouds.

He sounds good on BC&SL, but 95% of the time, he's following the guitar or keyboard phrases, or vis-versa. He never really has his own melody to sing. Something I always noticed since the album came out, not that it lowers my enjoyment of the album, in fact, BC&SL is still around the 6th best DT album, which is a good ranking.

[54_diplomats]

Awake easily. Then I&W and ACOS.

[LBC.]

[Jaffa]

Okay, yeah, so far the results have been every bit as predictable as I thought they'd be.     Not that I'm complaining; I myself was torn between I&W and Awake, so.

Love that WDADU has a vote, by the way. 

[FracturedMirror]

I'm probably the only one that will vote for WDADU.  For some reason that album has grown on me.  There was a time that I would have said it was easily my least favorite DT record, and I rarely ever played anything from it (Ytse excepted).  But a while back I was listening to the reunion show and it struck me that I was really enjoying the tone of Dominici's voice.  That prompted me to give WDADU another shot, and now I love it.  And I had to be the oddball that would vote for it.

It's funny how our perception of an album can change over time.  Octavarium is another one that took a long time to click with me.

For James' albums I think I would have to pick Awake.  Everything they've done has had some great performances from him though.

[Infinite Cactus]

Images and Words James is untouchable. But Awake James is a very close second. I actually had to debate which one I would vote for.

[showdonttell]

Awake, without even thinking.

[namgalsipsclar]

Awake, but Images and Words is vocally the second best album of all time 

[BlobVanDam]

I voted I&W, but it could just as easily have been Awake.

That. But I gave IaW the slight edge because he sings slightly higher.


And it looks like my vote evens it up between the two. As Jaffa expected, a predictable result, but with good reason.

It would be interesting to see the poll results with IaW and Awake excluded, because that one would be less predictable, I think.

[atmyne]

Awake for sure. from 6:00, lifting shadows on a dream, all of the tracks have pretty amazing vocals! in fact I'm going to listen to this now....

[Voices]

I like ADTOE too, even JLB being a bit "safe" in it.

Interestingly enough, as safe as that album was I thought JLB was the opposite. Lots of power and aggression (when needed). One of his best vocal performances, I'd almost go as far as to call him the MVP of that album.

I agree with you, one of his best vocal performances. But if you had the opportunity to hear ADTOE live, you would've noticed that James was even better...he add some higher and powerful notes sometimes, that really takes the performance to another level...in studio he's great to, but way safer in the melodies he sings. That's what I mean.