Which Dream Theater album has the best vocals?

[Theme Dreater]

It was a close contest between Awake and I&W for me, but the latter takes it for me.

[wolfking]

Awake, by far.

[Jaffa]

I'm still confused as to whether this question is referring to the best sounding vocals as far as the recording goes (sonically) or the best vocal performance.

The latter.  At least, that was my intention in making the thread. 

[Sacul]

Awake has the best vocal performances I've ever heard. But the best vocal lines are on 6DOIT. SFAM is very close though.

[Rodni Demental]

Now, I'm kind of surprised. Not at I&W or Awake, that was predictable and I guess says a lot about the appreciate for their earlier work.

Although it happens with a lot of bands, it's just crazy how many Rush fans get all upset about the new stuff and complain about the composition and vocals. I thought Clockwork Angels was one of their most refined and well constructed albums (it might actually be my favourite atm), and Geddys vocals have never been better (his early days had a fairly sharp sound, which probably came from that fairly harsh old school rock style vocals from bands like Led Zeppelin and refined into dying cat sounds by bands like Gun n Roses and ACDC  .

Similarly, I think DTs (James') vocals have gotten better than ever on the last 3 albums, even if it's just the modern production. I almost voted for BL&SL because the vocal melodies left a decent impression on me as it was my first DT album that I listened through properly, but that means I probably have nostalgic bias of sorts. (had heard bits of SC a few years earlier but I don't count it cause I couldn't remember it).

I voted for ADTOE because I think James was trying to prove something on that record. And the vocals and verse/chorus' started to become highlights of the songs, which was weird, because before that, the highlights of most DT songs to me where instrumental sections or solos.

And then on DT12 it's the same as ADTOE. The vocals are just fantastic, the only reason I'd pick ADTOE > DT12 is because DT12 sort of felt like an extension of what was started during ADTOE and it seemed like James reached into and found his comfort zone.

There are a few 'uncomfortable' albums for James (imo), FII and the MullMuzzlers are probably the roughest vocal period. (They're not bad, but he does go all out with a voice that was struggling to keep up with the energy he was putting into it, although I still give the MullMuzzlers a spin every now and then because I love Matt Guillorys writing and listening to it these days thinking about Mangini playing on it is kind of interesting). But by Train of Thought James got a little more reserved although there are still some iffy moments: "And help you break right through the *yelp* prison wall *yelp*", "UuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuNderground religion", + the ending of Endless Sacrifice "Over the distance we try to make sense" final section gets a bit yelpy. Oh and the harmonies in Train of Thought, I think some of them are a bit flat or something, which probably wouldn't happen these days with so much post production effects and wave correction.

But I didn't mean for this to turn into my lack of appreciation for ToT vocals because those were just my early impressions and none of it even bothers me anymore because I actually love the composition and rawness of that album. There's something to be said about making an album really quickly and capturing the moments creativity before you over construct everything which happens when you hold onto an idea for too long.

Anyway, my point being. DT12 has 0 votes.  I would have picked it but ADTOE has fairly similar appeal to DT12 vocally. I might argue that DT12 has much more daring and soaring moments than what was attempted during ADTOE so, I think DT12 is being heavily under represented.

[krands85]

Anyway, my point being. DT12 has 0 votes.  I would have picked it but ADTOE has fairly similar appeal to DT12 vocally. I might argue that DT12 has much more daring and soaring moments than what was attempted during ADTOE so, I think DT12 is being heavily under represented.

Don't mean to dismiss the rest of your long and interesting post, but the main reason for DT12 having no votes is that this thread was originally made before the album was released  A mod or the thread starter must have just recently added it to the poll 

[Jaffa]

Yeah, I just added the DT12 option a couple hours ago.  And it seems to have screwed up the poll so that people can no longer change their votes, which sort of sucks. 

[Invisible]

Would you mind if I started a post without anything pre FII? I think it would be a far more interesting discussion and poll.

[Jaffa]

Fine by me.   

Heck, I don't care if somebody wants to remake this thread entirely.  I appreciate the bump, but it'd be interesting to see if the results would be different with the new album being included from the beginning. 

[Invisible]

It's on!

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=41157.0

[Rodni Demental]

Anyway, my point being. DT12 has 0 votes.  I would have picked it but ADTOE has fairly similar appeal to DT12 vocally. I might argue that DT12 has much more daring and soaring moments than what was attempted during ADTOE so, I think DT12 is being heavily under represented.

Don't mean to dismiss the rest of your long and interesting post, but the main reason for DT12 having no votes is that this thread was originally made before the album was released  A mod or the thread starter must have just recently added it to the poll 

Ah of course, that explains it. Well the other topic seems like an interesting experiment then because including DT12 and excluding the obvious winners from this poll should yield more interesting results because we'll see peoples secondary choices. Why do I get the feeling that DT12 is going to win this time around. 

[mikeyd23]

Awake, by far.

Yep, this.

[tiagodon]

It's a matter of taste, but I really don't enjoy the vocals on Awake. They sound a little bit annoying to me; a little over the top. They are more balanced in Images and Words.

[kirksnosehair]

It's a matter of taste, but I really don't enjoy the vocals on Awake. They sound a little bit annoying to me; a little over the top. They are more balanced in Images and Words.

To my ears James doesn't really have a voice that is well-suited to the gritty/aggressive style tried to project on Awake.  He's not a singer like, say, Russell Allen - who I think would just KILL those songs on Awake.  When James tries to sing that way it sounds contrived to me, not organic at all.  And that tends to kill the emotional impact of the song for me.   

[tiagodon]

Exactly!

[kiwiclapton]

I went for the latest record,  just cos it's new.

[Evatallica]

Awake and Images and Words are Labrie's two best albums. 

[kiwiclapton]

Awake and Images and Words are Labrie's two best albums. 

yep, I dig the new record, but this is truth.

[hefdaddy42]

I'm not shocked that I&W and Awake are so far out in front, but I'm flabbergasted that FII isn't even being mentioned.  James sounds amazing on that recording (as does everyone else, of course).

[Cygnus17]

Love the way James sings on A Dramatic Turn of Events. 

[OsMosis2259]

Love the way James sings on A Dramatic Turn of Events.

This.

I think it's their most melodic album!

[Cygnus17]

Love the way James sings on A Dramatic Turn of Events.

This.

I think it's their most melodic album!

Same here.... love it.  my 2nd favorite album after SFAM (of course)

[sylvinception]

a the BC&SL vote

If you laugh at that, what about the vote for ToT ?

[sylvinception]

Love the way James sings on A Dramatic Turn of Events.

This.

I think it's their most melodic album!

Same here.... love it.  my 2nd favorite album after SFAM (of course)

"(of course)" ?? Love that kind of little comments...
Sorry mate but the fact that you consider SFAM as their best work didn't mean that we all think the same...

[Cygnus17]

Love the way James sings on A Dramatic Turn of Events.

This.

I think it's their most melodic album!

Same here.... love it.  my 2nd favorite album after SFAM (of course)

"(of course)" ?? Love that kind of little comments...
Sorry mate but the fact that you consider SFAM as their best work didn't mean that we all think the same...

HA!  not my intention... but I DO love it! 

[ToT-147]

I voted for BC&SL..

Anyway, I think that his best vocals are not in any DT album, but in his solo albums, which is a shame.. Elements of Persuasion and Static Impulse have THE astonishing and winning vocals for me..

In case of any thinks the question "even better than I&A and Awake"? my answer is: YES, by a wide margin.. Reasons?.. None in particularly.. There are no reason or logical arguments on this.. It's just taste.. And I just like more his 2003-present vocals than his 1991-1994 ones.. Yet, in DT he's not as he is in his solo albums.. He's not complete.. Maybe it's due to lack of freedom, like some say about Jordan..

Two demo songs for his performance on these albums: Freaks - I Need You