Which post-Awake Dream Theater album has the best vocals? (2014 edition)

[OsMosis2259]

I went with SFAM. ADTOE and Octavarium are very close though!

[erwinrafael]

I think this thread is representative of the other threads where the "vocal" posters almost never push their love for DT12 (and spread the impression that the reception to DT12 is mixed), but the polls say otherwise. 

[bl5150]

I voted for DT12.

I also agree with those that commented (in the other thread I think) on the Awake vocals sounding forced - sounds like JLB is trying too hard to be "heavy".  That doesn't ruin the album for me at all, but it's certainly in the back of my mind when listening to it.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

As many pointed out before, James is great on every studio album. I was inclined to go with SFAM as well, but the "Mothers for their children" section of IT took me entirely off guard and sucker punched me so hard that I went with DT12 in the end. I did not expect James to pull off something like that this late in their career....

This, exactly.

[TheGreatPretender]

As many pointed out before, James is great on every studio album. I was inclined to go with SFAM as well, but the "Mothers for their children" section of IT took me entirely off guard and sucker punched me so hard that I went with DT12 in the end.

The problem I have with that is that we shouldn't have to be caught off guard by stuff like that. JLB hitting some high notes shouldn't be a "surprise treat that no one is expecting". It used to be one of his trademarks. And yes, I heard it a million times, "he's not as young anymore, he's not going to push himself as far," but considering the kinds of songs he's going on the current tour, and how flawlessly he does them, that argument does not hold up at all.

So what I'm saying is, I want to hear more high vocals from JLB on newer songs, and not feel like high vocals from him are some kind of a "bonus" that we shouldn't be getting.

[Volante99]

As many pointed out before, James is great on every studio album. I was inclined to go with SFAM as well, but the "Mothers for their children" section of IT took me entirely off guard and sucker punched me so hard that I went with DT12 in the end.

The problem I have with that is that we shouldn't have to be caught off guard by stuff like that. JLB hitting some high notes shouldn't be a "surprise treat that no one is expecting". It used to be one of his trademarks. And yes, I heard it a million times, "he's not as young anymore, he's not going to push himself as far," but considering the kinds of songs he's going on the current tour, and how flawlessly he does them, that argument does not hold up at all.

So what I'm saying is, I want to hear more high vocals from JLB on newer songs, and not feel like high vocals from him are some kind of a "bonus" that we shouldn't be getting.

I'm inclined to disagree. I think his tendency in the past was to overuse his high vocal range. These days he's using it more sparingly not only because his comfortable range isn't what it used to be, but also I think DT/JLB have just matured a bit. If the high notes fit the song, go for it, and if it doesn't don't just hit the high range just for the sake of it.

Also, you have to remember just because he can hit the notes from Awake fairly cleanly doesn't mean he has the same power behind them as he did 20 years ago.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

I'm inclined to disagree. I think his tendency in the past was to overuse his high vocal range. These days he's using it more sparingly not only because his comfortable range isn't what it used to be, but also I think DT/JLB have just matured a bit. If the high notes fit the song, go for it, and if it doesn't don't just hit the high range just for the sake of it.

This. DT12 has its moments where its suitable to go for the high vocal, and JLB uses it wonderfully and wisely when it comes. Not every song will be like that.

[TheGreatPretender]

I'm inclined to disagree. I think his tendency in the past was to overuse his high vocal range. These days he's using it more sparingly not only because his comfortable range isn't what it used to be, but also I think DT/JLB have just matured a bit. If the high notes fit the song, go for it, and if it doesn't don't just hit the high range just for the sake of it.

Also, you have to remember just because he can hit the notes from Awake fairly cleanly doesn't mean he has the same power behind them as he did 20 years ago.

Well, his high vocals were always the highlight of all his performances on the past albums. Complaining about them is like complaining that JR or JP play super fast just for the sake of it. It sounds amazing and impressive, that's reason enough to use it.

And I don't see your point about not having the same power that he did 20 years ago. His high vocals still have plenty of power. They did in SFAM, they did in SC, and they still do when he uses them now. And they definitely had a TON of power when doing all the songs during the current tour, particularly on the Awake songs. So it's not like he doesn't have it in him to do those high parts anymore. And I'm not saying he needs to go for the F#s on every album, but the kinds of notes he hit prior to the RR era don't seem to be that much of a problem for him. So again, lack of ability or lack of power are not the issue. Like I said, if JP and JR are going to keep playing super fast, I don't see why JLB should stop singing the high notes.

[BlobVanDam]

As many pointed out before, James is great on every studio album. I was inclined to go with SFAM as well, but the "Mothers for their children" section of IT took me entirely off guard and sucker punched me so hard that I went with DT12 in the end.

The problem I have with that is that we shouldn't have to be caught off guard by stuff like that. JLB hitting some high notes shouldn't be a "surprise treat that no one is expecting". It used to be one of his trademarks. And yes, I heard it a million times, "he's not as young anymore, he's not going to push himself as far," but considering the kinds of songs he's going on the current tour, and how flawlessly he does them, that argument does not hold up at all.

So what I'm saying is, I want to hear more high vocals from JLB on newer songs, and not feel like high vocals from him are some kind of a "bonus" that we shouldn't be getting.

And as great as that high section of IT is (my favourite vocal moment of the album by far), the rest of the vocals on the album overall aren't really standout performances for him imo. I think Impermanent Resonance shows off his voice better, sections of IT aside of course!

[TheGreatPretender]

And as great as that high section of IT is (my favourite vocal moment of the album by far), the rest of the vocals on the album overall aren't really standout performances for him imo. I think Impermanent Resonance shows off his voice better, sections of IT aside of course!

See, I agree with that. Although same could be said for the previous 2 albums as well and to a greater extent. The thing is, before, even when the vocal melodies weren't quite all that interesting (like in The Glass Prison for example), he still had some high parts to at least make those vocals impressive.

[BlobVanDam]

And as great as that high section of IT is (my favourite vocal moment of the album by far), the rest of the vocals on the album overall aren't really standout performances for him imo. I think Impermanent Resonance shows off his voice better, sections of IT aside of course!

See, I agree with that. Although same could be said for the previous 2 albums as well and to a greater extent. The thing is, before, even when the vocal melodies weren't quite all that interesting (like in The Glass Prison for example), he still had some high parts to at least make those vocals impressive.

I agree with that. In TGP for example, that whole outro is impressive vocally, with a more melodic operatic ending approach, instead of the more simple growly melodies he employs earlier in the song, and in some of the other recent metal songs.

[TheGreatPretender]

I agree with that. In TGP for example, that whole outro is impressive vocally, with a more melodic operatic ending approach, instead of the more simple growly melodies he employs earlier in the song, and in some of the other recent metal songs.

Well, that, but also, the middle section, the whole, "We'll help you perform this miracle" part and that section, his vocal melodies are... Almost nonexistent. There's barely a combination of words there at all, but it's still awesome because it's JLB doing the high notes. 

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Nothing really stood out, but went with the self-titled for a couple of standout moments (second half of IT, second verse and bridge of TBP and STR).

Really, though, they're all totally outstripped by Live at Luna Park and, to a lesser extent, Score.