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If we remove Images & Words and Awake, what album has your favorite LaBrie work?

Started by Misirlou, May 04, 2025, 06:53:12 PM

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Misirlou

May 04, 2025, 06:53:12 PM
I´m taking out those two because they´re likely the most common answers, since, you know, he was just an absolute madman in the early 90s, especially on Awake, IMO.

But if we remove them, which album would you say has your favorite LaBrie vocal work as a whole?

wolfking

#1
May 04, 2025, 07:10:58 PM
Six Degrees popped in my mind first.  Seems to cover all aspects of his voice perfectly.  Could argue Scenes and even 8VM too.

TheCountOfNYC

#2
May 04, 2025, 07:31:22 PM
Awake is my favorite album for James even if we include Images and Words. Honorable mention to The Astonishing as well.
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on November 12, 2024, 10:37:36 AMIn Stadler's defense, he's a weird motherfucker

SwedishGoose

#3
May 04, 2025, 10:31:39 PM
The Astonishing is LaBries finest hour...

CraftyCaleb2483

#4
May 04, 2025, 11:27:23 PM
Octavarium
Quote from: twosuitsluke on October 14, 2024, 02:27:06 PMCaleb also has way better taste
Quote from: Evermind on March 30, 2025, 10:35:41 AMI'm gonna send 1) stuff that's too heavy 2) stuff that's too proggy 3) singers that sound like Freddie Mercury. Hope that sounds good.

jammindude

#5
May 04, 2025, 11:43:22 PM
I loved the idea of The Astonishing. To the point that I defended it for a long time against its detractors.

But over time, I began to admit that it was a flawed execution of an incredible idea.

But in spite of all its flaws, James is not one of them. The Astonishing is really a highlight for James. He brings it all to the table on every track.

TA is such a frustrating album for me, because not only is it a really good idea, but there's a certain passion to it. James and Jordan in particular are particularly strong on the album. But I will always double down that the album feels unfinished somehow.

Mladen

#6
May 05, 2025, 03:28:12 AM
Either Systematic chaos or The Astonishing.

Northern Lion

#7
May 05, 2025, 03:47:29 AM
For me, even if I&W and Awake are in, I still choose The Astonishing as Labrie's finest work.  His level of genius and execution can't be over stated imo.

Max Kuehnau

#8
May 05, 2025, 03:57:06 AM Last Edit: May 05, 2025, 04:02:41 AM by Max Kuehnau
Dramatic Turn, DT12, The Astonishing and View (with DT12 and The Astonishing being particularly shining moments, easily his best work ever since Awake)
All my natural instincts are begging me to stop
But somehow I carry on, heading for the top
A physical absurdity, a tremendous mental game
Helping me understand exactly who I am

TheBarstoolWarrior

#9
May 05, 2025, 04:25:57 AM
Hard to say really. Most albums with him are totally fine. There isn't really one where I think he's outdoing himself or sounds better.

There are just albums that don't suit his vocal type, so in a way it's easier for me to point to albums I don't like for him: Awake, ToT
Disclaimer: All opinions stated are my own unless otherwise specified. I do not personally know any present or former members of DT. From time to time where the context is or should be obvious, I may decline to explicitly label my words as opinion. I cannot predict the future.

Xaves

#10
May 05, 2025, 06:43:33 AM Last Edit: May 05, 2025, 07:58:07 AM by Xaves
Stupid silly me only reading Images and not Awake being included. I would say Octavarium then because of his epic delivery on the songs on that album and of course his epic Octavarium Scream.

hefdaddy42

#12
May 05, 2025, 06:58:57 AM
Quote from: Xaves on May 05, 2025, 06:43:33 AMAwake, just the raw power in his voice and in some songs he gives a stellar performance with his high notes but also delivers in mad songs such as The Mirror and Lie
Read the original post (or even the thread title) and try again.
Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 11, 2014, 08:19:46 PMHef is right on all things. Except for when I disagree with him. In which case he's probably still right.

devieira73

#13
May 05, 2025, 08:43:08 AM
The Astonishing. Above IaW and Awake IMO. I like much more his more seasoned tone. I also love him on 8V, maybe my second favorite.

geeeemo

#14
May 05, 2025, 09:43:57 AM
The Astonishing! And the music is great too!

Peter Mc

#18
May 05, 2025, 05:04:55 PM
Scenes From a Memory is when I fell in love with him as a singer so I'll go with that one. 

Before that I found him ok and that he didn't detract from the band (some metal bands have super annoying singers) but I didn't love him as a singer.  Scenes was when I finally completely appreciated him and I now also love his performance on I&W too.

MidnightSlice

#19
May 05, 2025, 06:13:44 PM
I would have to say Octavarium even though that's not one of my favorites. I think he did some really good stuff that was varied and fit for the songs. The Astonishing felt a little too forced and high school musical for my tastes.

Misirlou

#20
May 05, 2025, 07:18:38 PM
Quote from: Peter Mc on May 05, 2025, 05:04:55 PMScenes From a Memory is when I fell in love with him as a singer so I'll go with that one. 

Before that I found him ok and that he didn't detract from the band (some metal bands have super annoying singers) but I didn't love him as a singer.  Scenes was when I finally completely appreciated him and I now also love his performance on I&W too.

It's interesting to see that, despite Scenes from a Memory being often considered their masterpiece, I don't often see a lot of praise for LaBrie in that album, probably because a lot of people see the project as a sum of its parts.

But it might be my favorite work from him. He doesn't blow the roof off like on Images or Awake, but his melodies are so good, and he interprets different characters without stepping into goofy territory.
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