James LaBrie Solo

[TAC]

New JLB interview with The Metal Voice guys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrjlc1_e5LU

[TAC]

I like the new song. I'm actually looking forward to this album.

[wolfking]

I like the new song. I'm actually looking forward to this album.

Pffft....going soft mate. 

[TAC]

I like the new song. I'm actually looking forward to this album.

Pffft....going soft mate. 

You know what it is... James sounds so restrained in Dream Theater. It's great to hear him go for it vocally.

[wolfking]

I like the new song. I'm actually looking forward to this album.

Pffft....going soft mate. 

You know what it is... James sounds so restrained in Dream Theater. It's great to hear him go for it vocally.

*Insert derogatory backhanded AFFTTOTW comment*

But nevertheless, I'm interested in hearing the full thing, Marco has that pull for me but don't see me ordering it in a hurry.

[SeRoX]

Am I Right is an awesome track. I love James' voice with acoustic sound. They blend perfect together. Am I Right sounds like it came off from Frameshift-Unveawing The Rainbow which I absolulety love.

[geeeemo]

Ramble On was great!

[Ben_Jamin]

On my first listen through...

The music allows JLB to really present his vocals and it showcases his power and range, along with his subtle warm tone. I am enjoying the chord progressions and the groove of the songs.

Hit Me Like A Brick should've been a single release.

What I Missed is my favorite so far, especially with Conscience Calling preceding it.

Am I Right sounds nice after What I Missed. I still like this one too and it's my favorite of the single releases we got.

The ending to Ramble On is awesome. It's a neat cover and it's pretty good.

[hefdaddy42]

Listening now

[ReaperKK]

Listening now

Just put it on as well.

[ariich]

Only given it one listen so far. It's alright. The style is nice and James sounds good, but it didn't sound very melodically interesting to me. Might change with subsequent listens.

There was one track that sounded amazing at the start and my reaction was "awesome here we go!" but then it turned out that track was only 48 seconds long.

[SeRoX]

Listened twice. I absolutely love it. No filler track for me. Mullmuzzler and Frameshifht project feeling all over.

Hit Me Like A Brick
What I Missed
Am I Right

are all in my top 3 for now.

Rumble On is fantastic cover and electric version of Devil In Drag is better than acoustic one.

[devieira73]

As it always hapen with the more melodic albums, their melodies never hit me at first listening. I've already listened to this album 4 times and now I'm pretty sure the melodies are great. It's basically an acustic album with full band arrangements, so it's not boring and there's a lot of interesting drumming. But it's really an album tailor made for James to shine and it works tremendously well IMO.

[hefdaddy42]

Obviously need to listen again, but I liked it a lot!

[Tomislav95]

Supernova girl is cheesy but catchy as hell

[Skeever]

Really enjoyable album - JLB's solo albums have a really nice consistent quality to them, even despite being all over the board in terms of rock genres.
Chance sounds really good too - very tasteful, convincing professional grade playing. Not bad for a kid in the shadow of other drummers their dad has worked with - Portnoy, Mangini, Wildoer...

[Grappler]

I'm letting the album play through and haven't looked at the tracklist.  I get to one song and think "man, I'm getting serious Led Zeppelin vibes on this song - it sounds like Ramble On" only to see that it's truly a cover of Ramble On.   

The cover song really blends in with the style of the original songs on the album.  I can enjoy this for what it is, but I would put on any of the last 3 albums over this one. 

[ReaperKK]

I gave the album a couple of spins today and I think it might be my favorite JLB release. It's a really great album with the only really weak spot being the lyrics.

[Willthescout7]

Absolutely loved this album during my first listen. Just fantastic.

[SeRoX]

Look what I found. I didin't know this cover exists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imq-oEzpN0s

[jingle.boy]

Thanks for that Pigs cover, 'Rox

I enjoyed the album, but the style of music isn't quite what floats my boat nowadays.  James sounds great, and I loved the cover of Ramble On (Top 3 Zeppelin song for me).  Not sure it'll get a lot of repeated listens, but it's certainly light years better than 2 out of his last 3 performances on DT albums.  Maybe all three (from a vocal perspective).

[Cool Chris]

Imagine if, when a new DT album came out, there was as much praise for James' performance as there is in a thread like this...

That Pigs cover is from an album with another familiar name:

https://cleopatrarecords.bandcamp.com/album/animals-reimagined-a-tribute-to-pink-floyd

1. Pigs On A Wing 1 - Nick van Eede (Cutting Crew) & Martin Barre (Jethro Tull) 01:53
2. Dogs - Graham Bonnet (Rainbow), Vinnie Moore (UFO), Kasim Sulton (Utopia), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) & Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) 16:59
3. Pigs (Three Different Ones) - James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Al Di Meola, Joe Bouchard (Blue Öyster Cult), Patrick Moraz (The Moody Blues) & Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra) 11:32
4. Sheep - Arthur Brown, Rick Wakeman (Yes), Jan Akkerman (Focus), David J. (Bauhaus) & Carmine Appice (Cactus/Vanilla Fudge) 10:24
5. Pigs On A Wing 2 - Jon Davison (lead vocalist for Yes), Albert Lee & Billy Sherwood (Yes) 01:38

[ReaperKK]

Thanks for that Pigs cover, 'Rox

I enjoyed the album, but the style of music isn't quite what floats my boat nowadays.  James sounds great, and I loved the cover of Ramble On (Top 3 Zeppelin song for me).  Not sure it'll get a lot of repeated listens, but it's certainly light years better than 2 out of his last 3 performances on DT albums.  Maybe all three (from a vocal perspective).

This is off topic but jingle have you ever heard Trains' cover of Led Zeppelin II? I saw them perform the whole album front to back and I thought they did a killer job.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5V8EDmYhUJLNkq7g74NtIL?si=15F0zpawQf6bf8MVFoqPBQ

[Skeever]

Imagine if, when a new DT album came out, there was as much praise for James' performance as there is in a thread like this...

You mean like, spending half of the day nearly falling off the first page, less noteworthy to the community here then Taylor Swift's honorary doctorate degree?

I know this sounds like a call out, but I mean it in jest. Though, I am shocked and a little disappointed by how little discussion there has been, I really like the album and I think they accomplished exactly what they were going for.

[ProfessorPeart]

I haven't even bothered to check out anything from this album yet. Had it been a Guillory album I would have pre-ordered without hearing a note. The description of this album seemed all over the place over time so I wanted it out so I could properly decide if I really want to spend my money on it.

[Bolsters]

My only takeaway after one listen of this album is that I really miss Matt.

[Trav86]

I like it. But it’s kinda depressing.

[ariich]

My only takeaway after one listen of this album is that I really miss Matt.

After two listens, that's my view too. He's so great at writing strong hooks, and there's just not enough of those on the new album for me.

[Skeever]

I know what you guys mean, it might benefit some to check out the making of documentary they did. It kind of gives you a bigger view as to why this project happened the way it did, with James and Paul connecting over the idea of am acoustic album before realizing that the songs needed more arrangement and bringing in Chance and then later the others. It's something that started seemingly small with James and Paul thinking covid would finally be the time to do a more subdued project together, before growing into something bigger that looks like a full band release. I guess it's difficult not to compare it to the other works that James has done with other bands in the past, but I am just appreciating it for what it is, which is a tasty little morsel of classic album rock.

[Madman Shepherd]

I don't miss Matt on this album. I love Matt and would love them to continue to collaborate but to me, it's almost too pop oriented. In an interview (or maybe even answering questions on this board) he even said some of his influences were pop acts like Britney Spears or the Backstreet Boys. It's kind of hilarious since Peter would come in on half the songs and sound like an aggressive satan taking over.

I definitely think this is LaBrie's best since EoP.

[WilliamMunny]

I don't miss Matt on this album. I love Matt and would love them to continue to collaborate but to me, it's almost too pop oriented. In an interview (or maybe even answering questions on this board) he even said some of his influences were pop acts like Britney Spears or the Backstreet Boys. It's kind of hilarious since Peter would come in on half the songs and sound like an aggressive satan taking over.

I definitely think this is LaBrie's best since EoP.

This.

The last two albums are fine for what they are, but I don't look to my aging rockers to give me contemporary-leaning music, and that's what those two records sound like to me.

As for the new disc, I'm still soaking it in, but at this point I can say there are at least three stand-out tracks.

The cover of 'Ramble On' is IMO James' best vocal work since The Astonishing.

[devieira73]

I love Matt's work with James, but I'm not missing him in this new album. By the way, I read somewhere he's already working (slowly) with James in next solo to record with the band with Wildoer etc. So, I think this new partnership with Logue doesn't mean James will stop working with Matt.
About great melodies and hooks...Hit Me Like a Brick is one of most catchiest JLB songs in his discography, really excellent! I loving this album as a whole.

[cramx3]

Imagine if, when a new DT album came out, there was as much praise for James' performance as there is in a thread like this...

James seems to sound much better on his solo albums than with DT and my guess would be its because he doesn't have to tour performing these songs so he can let it all out in studio and not worry about his vocal chords consistently handling it live.

[Lethean]

I don't miss Matt on this album. I love Matt and would love them to continue to collaborate but to me, it's almost too pop oriented. In an interview (or maybe even answering questions on this board) he even said some of his influences were pop acts like Britney Spears or the Backstreet Boys. It's kind of hilarious since Peter would come in on half the songs and sound like an aggressive satan taking over.

I definitely think this is LaBrie's best since EoP.

    Yes that's kinda how I felt about the last two albums as well.  I really put the time in trying to like them but they just didn't do it for me.

I'm really enjoying this new one a lot.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

This album is way more enjoyable than the new Dream Theater album...