James LaBrie Solo

[Onearmedmidget]

Short review. I haven't cared for any of the past JL releases. This one is surprisingly amazing. The melodic choruses are out of this world catchy. Honestly one of my fav albums of the year, it's so enjoyable. It seems Matt or whomever can get James to really come out strong and have some great climaxes in songs.  I feel dream theater hasn't unleashed this from him in a while. Look how subdued song like Along for the Ride end or Bridges in the Sky end.

3 Fav songs which should have been the singles
Lost in the fire
Undertow
Back on the ground

2 least Fav
Amnesia
Holding On

I want to buy the iTunes album but I want the friggin bonus tracks. Please add them, it sucks to buy the album and not have the official versions included it.

Great album, can listen to it straight through. Your efforts truly show through to the final product.

[aprilethereal]

You could just buy the special edition CD (if it's still available), which includes the bonus tracks, since itunes sucks anyway

[aprilethereal]

From twitter:

"By the way. Won't be doing a solo tour until the next DT world tour wraps up. Please be patient, I can assure you it will be worth the wait."

[wolfking]

I'm sure everyone would have assumed that.  Wouldn't expect them to think about touring until after DT.

[wolfking]

Okay, this album is constantly on repeat in my car, it's quite phenominal.  The poppiness and sometimes lack of instrumental sections is completely not an issue anymore and the songs have opened up to be masterpieces, nothing filler here at all.  This has potential to be my album of the year.  I'm not gonna bother comparing it to SI either as they are both so different style wise, both are strong at what they do.

Oh, and for another controversial opinion, my favourite song on the album is easily Lost in the Fire.  What a fucking masterpiece this is, it should be making the band millions.  And the word 'fire' at around the 3:09 mark of the song is easily one of James' best vocal moments ever.

[philmcson]

And the word 'fire' at around the 3:09 mark of the song is easily one of James' best vocal moments ever.

Like FIREEEEEE (fiiiiiiiiiiiiireheeeeeeheheeeeeee!!!!) in REM's "The one I love"?

[Kotowboy]

Holy shit yes! Can't wait! Are you going to do all the vocals?
Also, i think i really prefer IR over SI, the songs are more catchy and better overall.

Thanks! As for the vocals... right now, I plan on doing them. That could change though if I find someone I feel is better for the songs.

Cheers,
Matt

LO ED Static Impulse and now I can't stop playing " I Got You. " One of the catchiest songs i've heard in a long long time !

[bosk1]

Okay, here's the deal with me and this album:  I have purposely NOT posted my reaction to it.  Why?  Well...I'm generally the kind of person where, if I don't enjoy something, unless there's a reason to speak up, I'd rather just keep it to myself and politely not say anything at all.  First couple of listens, I just wasn't really connecting with this album at all.  And, honestly, while I thought Elements was "good," I haven't really felt a desire to listen to it in a long time, and after listening to SI a couple of times, I liked that album even less.  I was resigned to put IR below both of those.

So, then, why do I feel compelled to post now?  I had a couple of days last month where I had to do some road trips for work, so I popped the CD in.  3  things were different:  Better speakers.  More appropriate volume for this kind of music.  More time to take in and digest what I was hearing.  And those three elements combined made me look at this album in a completely different light.  Having done that, I have to say, this album is fantastic on every single level.  My opinion has done a complete 180.  On my recent vacation, I logged about 2,700 miles, and had this album in the CD player constantly.  And I am just floored with how good it is.  And one of my favorite aspects of the entire thing is just the songwriting craft that went into it, beautifully combining pop with extreme metal elements.  This is easily my favorite James LaBrie album by a HUGE margin, and I foresee it being in my top 3 albums of 2013.  I am not sure yet where in my top 3 it will end up, but I am pleasantly surprised that my top 3 suddenly became very competitive with the release of this album.  VERY well done, Matt. 

[SeRoX]

 

[Onno]

I DON'T NEED STARS I CAN WISH UPON AND I DON'T NEED SOME MAGICIAN WITH A MAGIC WAND 

[wolfking]

Okay, here's the deal with me and this album:  I have purposely NOT posted my reaction to it.  Why?  Well...I'm generally the kind of person where, if I don't enjoy something, unless there's a reason to speak up, I'd rather just keep it to myself and politely not say anything at all.  First couple of listens, I just wasn't really connecting with this album at all.  And, honestly, while I thought Elements was "good," I haven't really felt a desire to listen to it in a long time, and after listening to SI a couple of times, I liked that album even less.  I was resigned to put IR below both of those.

So, then, why do I feel compelled to post now?  I had a couple of days last month where I had to do some road trips for work, so I popped the CD in.  3  things were different:  Better speakers.  More appropriate volume for this kind of music.  More time to take in and digest what I was hearing.  And those three elements combined made me look at this album in a completely different light.  Having done that, I have to say, this album is fantastic on every single level.  My opinion has done a complete 180.  On my recent vacation, I logged about 2,700 miles, and had this album in the CD player constantly.  And I am just floored with how good it is.  And one of my favorite aspects of the entire thing is just the songwriting craft that went into it, beautifully combining pop with extreme metal elements.  This is easily my favorite James LaBrie album by a HUGE margin, and I foresee it being in my top 3 albums of 2013.  I am not sure yet where in my top 3 it will end up, but I am pleasantly surprised that my top 3 suddenly became very competitive with the release of this album.  VERY well done, Matt. 

Yeah, well said boss.  It seems to keep getting better and better with every listen.  It's still on repeat in my car and I have no intention of turning it off.  Love it.

[aprilethereal]

I DON'T NEED STARS I CAN WISH UPON AND I DON'T NEED SOME MAGICIAN WITH A MAGIC WAND 

Song of the year. F*cking unbelieveable.

[Kotowboy]

I DON'T NEED STARS I CAN WISH UPON AND I DON'T NEED SOME MAGICIAN WITH A MAGIC WAND 

Song of the year. F*cking unbelieveable.

[Onno]

I think Why may be even better. Holy shit. After not listening for about a month, I gave IR another listen and my disliking of some of the tracks has decreased, while the tracks I liked got even better! Gonna give it a few more spins the coming days 

[JayOctavarium]

So far IR blows DT12 out of the water IMO (mind you I haven't listened to DT12 properly yet... just bits and pieces so far). IR has so much replay value!

[aprilethereal]

So most of you seem to prefer IR over SI? I enjoy IR a lot, but SI still blows it out of the water IMO. I just can't help but do ridiculous semi-dance-headbanging moves and sing along as loud as I can when listening to SI. Such a phenomenal album

EDIT: stupid typo.

[Onno]

So most of you seem to prefer IR over SI? I enjoy IR a lot, but SI still blows it out of the water IMO. I just can't help but do ridiculous semi-dance-headbanging moves and song along as loud as I can when listening to SI. Such a phenomenal album

I prefer SI to IR by quite a large margin.

[Elite]

*boss's opinion*

I wholeheartedly agree that this album is absolutely amazing if played while driving! I particularly enjoyed cranking this one in the car as well

[Dublagent66]

Okay, this album is constantly on repeat in my car, it's quite phenominal.  The poppiness and sometimes lack of instrumental sections is completely not an issue anymore and the songs have opened up to be masterpieces, nothing filler here at all.  This has potential to be my album of the year.  I'm not gonna bother comparing it to SI either as they are both so different style wise, both are strong at what they do.

Oh, and for another controversial opinion, my favourite song on the album is easily Lost in the Fire.  What a fucking masterpiece this is, it should be making the band millions.  And the word 'fire' at around the 3:09 mark of the song is easily one of James' best vocal moments ever.

Yeah, probably my favorite on the album as well.  Although, a lot of other songs are stuck in my head too.  Even when I'm not listening to the album, I'm still listening to it in my head.  Same thing happened with SI, but now I'm starting to think that IR is better.  Amazing stuff!

[?]

*boss's opinion*

I wholeheartedly agree that this album is absolutely amazing if played while driving! I particularly enjoyed cranking this one in the car as well

Me too (when I could drive on my own last month)!

My favorite song on IR has to be Slight of Hand - the keyboard intro is cool, the chorus is freaking catchy (YOU'LL NEVER CONVINCE MEEEE!) and James' vocals in the bridge are awesome

I listened to Elements of Persuasion today... It's not as good as the latest 2 albums, but Slightly Out of Reach stood out as an amazing song.

[Ben_Jamin]

Elements has some cool songs, but now I have to be in the mood to listen to the album in one sitting. Although I'll listen to a song individually.

Impermanent Resonance is just amazing. I'd rank it and SI equally as I enjoy them both the same.

[MoraWintersoul]

My favorite song on IR has to be Slight of Hand - the keyboard intro is cool, the chorus is freaking catchy (YOU'LL NEVER CONVINCE MEEEE!) and James' vocals in the bridge are awesome

Oh man, absolutely.

[Matt]

My favorite song on IR has to be Slight of Hand - the keyboard intro is cool, the chorus is freaking catchy (YOU'LL NEVER CONVINCE MEEEE!) and James' vocals in the bridge are awesome

The intro is actually Peter Wichers' guitar.

[wasteland]

Slight Of Hand is my highligt too, together with the opener and Lost In The Fire!

"I walk away a better man, from something you don't understand!"

[JayOctavarium]

My favorite song on IR has to be Slight of Hand - the keyboard intro is cool, the chorus is freaking catchy (YOU'LL NEVER CONVINCE MEEEE!) and James' vocals in the bridge are awesome

The intro is actually Peter Wichers' guitar.

Seriously?

[Matt]

My favorite song on IR has to be Slight of Hand - the keyboard intro is cool, the chorus is freaking catchy (YOU'LL NEVER CONVINCE MEEEE!) and James' vocals in the bridge are awesome

The intro is actually Peter Wichers' guitar.

Seriously?

Yep. That atmospheric 8th note vibe and L/R panning is Peter's guitar. There is a synth part underneath it, but it's just a single note that is held out and fades up with an automated envelope filter before the rest of the band kicks in.

-Matt

[JayOctavarium]

Well shit...

I learn something new every day!

[wasteland]

I seriously thought it was keyboard too, even if it felt a bit too sharp of an attack for a normal keyboard. Great to learn those subtleties from the mind that conceived them!

[senecadawg2]

Song rankings?

Not set in stone, but I've got...

Amnesia
Agony
I Got You
Lost in the Fire
Say You're Still Mine
Undertow
Slight of Hand
Back on the Ground
Destined to Burn
Letting Go
I Will Not Break

[Dublagent66]

Okay, here's the deal with me and this album:  I have purposely NOT posted my reaction to it.  Why?  Well...I'm generally the kind of person where, if I don't enjoy something, unless there's a reason to speak up, I'd rather just keep it to myself and politely not say anything at all.  First couple of listens, I just wasn't really connecting with this album at all.  And, honestly, while I thought Elements was "good," I haven't really felt a desire to listen to it in a long time, and after listening to SI a couple of times, I liked that album even less.  I was resigned to put IR below both of those.

So, then, why do I feel compelled to post now?  I had a couple of days last month where I had to do some road trips for work, so I popped the CD in.  3  things were different:  Better speakers.  More appropriate volume for this kind of music.  More time to take in and digest what I was hearing.  And those three elements combined made me look at this album in a completely different light.  Having done that, I have to say, this album is fantastic on every single level.  My opinion has done a complete 180.  On my recent vacation, I logged about 2,700 miles, and had this album in the CD player constantly.  And I am just floored with how good it is.  And one of my favorite aspects of the entire thing is just the songwriting craft that went into it, beautifully combining pop with extreme metal elements.  This is easily my favorite James LaBrie album by a HUGE margin, and I foresee it being in my top 3 albums of 2013.  I am not sure yet where in my top 3 it will end up, but I am pleasantly surprised that my top 3 suddenly became very competitive with the release of this album.  VERY well done, Matt. 

Glad you hung in there Bosk1 and gave it more listens.  It is truly an amazing album.  I hope you also decide to give SI another shot.  I think you'll start liking that one a lot with more listens as well.  Rock n roll!
 

[DebraKadabra]

From twitter:

"By the way. Won't be doing a solo tour until the next DT world tour wraps up. Please be patient, I can assure you it will be worth the wait."

Aye aye, Cap'ns!
 
I should give IR more listens but... you know... DT12 and all...

[?]

My favorite song on IR has to be Slight of Hand - the keyboard intro is cool, the chorus is freaking catchy (YOU'LL NEVER CONVINCE MEEEE!) and James' vocals in the bridge are awesome

The intro is actually Peter Wichers' guitar.

Woah, I had no idea it was a guitar! There are lots of interesting guitar effects I'm not familiar with.

Song ranking (like seneca's, this isn't set in stone and may change):

Slight of Hand
Undertow (apparently this title is a guarantee for greatness )
Letting Go
I Got You
Agony
Amnesia
Lost in the Fire
I Will Not Break
Back on the Ground
Say You're Still Mine
Holding On
Destined to Burn

[TioJorge]

Superb to know that Sleight Of Hand's intro is guitar, that's insanely awesome. I'm still spinning this album every now and then, but I'm being very careful to not kill it as I have so many other albums that I love just as much; then don't listen to them for a long while. In this case, I think that's almost impossible to do, but even so...

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FORGET YOU
ANYWAY
ANYHOW
 

[Onno]

Song ranking for IR:

Why
I Got You
Agony

Amnesia
Holding On
I Will Not Break
Lost in the Fire
Undertow
Destined to Burn
Letting Go
Back on the Ground


Say You're Still Mine
Slight of Hand
Unraveling

[?]

BTW, I forgot to ask something in my last post: how much of the guitars on the album are played by Wichers?