James LaBrie Solo

[Perpetual Change]

Judging my Matt's comments, I'm really curious to know how involved JLB is with these albums. It sounds like the band write and record everything, and then just send James to add his vocals. Which is cool, not really what you expect for a "solo" record, but I guess if that kind of arrangement doesn't make anyone in the band feel devalued, then who cares?

The whole "solo" label is something we've been dealing with since EOP. It's quite understandable that there might be some confusion about it. Despite them being marketed as a James LaBrie "solo" records, the truth of the matter is that they're really not. This is just as much my record as it is James'. James has a "marquee" name and his history as being the frontman for DT is used to promote the music. That's not to say that James isn't part of the creative process. He definitely is. (He mainly contribute lyrics). Just want to clear that up.

Cool! Thanks for the candid answer. I always kinda assumed that, and from what I remember, James has recently always emphasized how it's really a band effort.

[Lowdz]

That 2nd song, Undertow, must be killer like any other Undertow (PoS, Tool, Chroma Key)

Why yes, songs named Undertow are usually good songs

You missed one- Warrant's Undertow from Ultraphobic 

[Flacracker]

I liked the song but it had the formula of pretty much every country song. Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, muted verse, kick it into full again chorus. So pretty boring on that front.

[MoraWintersoul]

Judging my Matt's comments, I'm really curious to know how involved JLB is with these albums. It sounds like the band write and record everything, and then just send James to add his vocals. Which is cool, not really what you expect for a "solo" record, but I guess if that kind of arrangement doesn't make anyone in the band feel devalued, then who cares?

The whole "solo" label is something we've been dealing with since EOP. It's quite understandable that there might be some confusion about it. Despite them being marketed as a James LaBrie "solo" records, the truth of the matter is that they're really not. This is just as much my record as it is James'. James has a "marquee" name and his history as being the frontman for DT is used to promote the music. That's not to say that James isn't part of the creative process. He definitely is. (He mainly contribute lyrics). Just want to clear that up.

Cool! Thanks for the candid answer. I always kinda assumed that, and from what I remember, James has recently always emphasized how it's really a band effort.

I can remember inties dating back to EoP explaining that. It's a relatively weird situation but it's perfectly understandable.

[emtee]

Interesting. Mainly lyrics. Huh.

[Cool Chris]

Well that was tasty, can't wait for the album!

[Lowdz]

Niiice. Again I can cope with the growls as with SI. The blast beats though??? I really don't like 'em (at all, not just here). Everything else is excellent and James sounds great.

[Marion Crane]

WAsn't a huge fan of the mix, or the drumming overall.  James sounded great though (when I could hear him)

[GasparXR]

I listened to it, but I'll have to give it more spins for a real opinion on it. I think it's just because of the MP3 compression but I had a hard time hearing JLB.

[aprilethereal]

It's even better than I expected

Really looking forward to the album now (even more than before).

[TheGreatPretender]

Well, not too crazy about Wildoer dominating the verses again, but musically it's pretty awesome. It'll take some time before I can decide whether I like it better than the songs on Static Impulse, but right now, I'm really digging the direction they're taking it.

Also, love the ending... "Yeeeeahhh..."

[robwebster]

Well, not too crazy about Wildoer dominating the verses again, but musically it's pretty awesome.

Likewise - I didn't dig how Static Impulse started with Wildoer vocals, and it looks like they've gone for the same thing again, but I think it works so much better here than it did last time round. I second the motion that this song blows SI out of the water, and SI was no slouch. It's like they've perfected it.

[JayOctavarium]

Also, love the ending... "Yeeeeahhh..."

I wasn't expecting it so it made me

[cyberdrummer]

This is quality stuff, it should (but won't) be more mainstream. God I hope they tour.

[Perpetual Change]

Interesting. Mainly lyrics. Huh.

Kinda confirms what I always thought, honestly. I remember learning about JLB's solo work around the same time I saw Romavarium, where James shows off his toy keyboard with stickers on which keys he needed to hit, and thinking "that dude writes music?" 

[SeRoX]

This is fucking amazing.

The first thing I love is chorus vocal melody.

[Ben_Jamin]

This is quality stuff, it should (but won't) be more mainstream. God I hope they tour.

I wouldn't mind traveling to see them.

[adace]

Loving this song. Reminds me of Soilwork.

[lyfeternl]

This is fucking amazing.

The first thing I love is chorus vocal melody.

This. I love hearing refreshing vocal melody lines. That creative ascension on the latter part of the chorus is pretty sweet! 

[Lucidity]

Does anyone else not like LaBrie's solo efforts? :/ I love LaBrie and his singing, but the music sounds no different whatsoever to any other generic power metal band to me.

[tjanuranus]

Labrie is so lost in the mix, hoping it's the compression. Can't understand any words until the quiet part.

[Marion Crane]

Loving this song. Reminds me of Soilwork.

Well that would make sense

[TAC]

Does anyone else not like LaBrie's solo efforts? :/ I love LaBrie and his singing, but the music sounds no different whatsoever to any other generic power metal band to me.

I don't know if I'd call it power metal, but after the first two Mullmuzzler albums, there is a genericness to it. Especially EOP. Static Impulse was OK, but when I get a James Labrie album, I expect him to be going nuts vocally. You know, generic isn't the word I'd use. I'd probably go with safe.

Agony is a pretty good song. Easily as strong as anything on SI. Still the screamo/growly vocals add nothing to me. To my ears, it simply undercuts the song totally. Adding growls turns it into James answer to AMob.

Hopefully, as with SI, the screams are basically only on the couple songs they released before the album came out. I am looking forward to this album, as I do expect it to be better than SI, and Agony is definitely cool.

[TheLordOfTheStrings]

I think it rips!

Even more excited for the album AND DT12 now.

[philmcson]

Yes the drums in the intro yes deeper growls in verses yes THAT CHORUS yes those solos HOLY FUCK MATT GREAT JOB ON THAT SOLO yes the breathy bridge eeeeeeeeeeeeeh


It's like Static Impulse but twice as good.

YES! FUCK JLB records without growls! Great job, Pete! 

[Mladen]

YES! FUCK JLB records without growls! Great job, Pete! 

You might wanna rephrase that.   

[YtseJamittaja]

DAT "YEEEAH" AT THE END!!!!!!! 

Really good song, have to listen to it at least 20 times and then I can say my thoughts!

[MoraWintersoul]

YES! FUCK JLB records without growls! Great job, Pete! 

You might wanna rephrase that.   

Yeah, I mean, both of the Mullmuzzler records are hot, and EoP has its charms, but they are all underage

[TAC]

But what the Mullmuzzler albums do that the others fail to do is showcase James' amazing vocal abilities.

[Cool Chris]

I don't find anything particularly interesting in either Mullmuzzler albums. I loved EoP when it came out, but it fell off my radar quite a bit. SI took a little more time to appreciate and I don't listen to it as much as I should. And this is new song is making me want this release out now.

[Ben_Jamin]

But what the Mullmuzzler albums do that the others fail to do is showcase James' amazing vocal abilities.

I would love to hear those songs live now. I bet they'd be way way better than the studio, as JLB really didn't sound as great at the time.

[krands85]

Sounds good  Looking forward to hearing the full album.

I agree with others that have mentioned James seems to be mixed a little low though.

[utopiarun]

I haven't listened yet as I am at work but not really looking forward to more screaming. In regards to issues some have calling it a JLB solo album, Tony Bennett has released 5000 albums and didn't write one word or play one instrument on them, so there. I know, not a 100% accurate comparison, but JLB is the name and they want to sell records.

[Matt]

This is fucking amazing.

The first thing I love is chorus vocal melody.

This. I love hearing refreshing vocal melody lines. That creative ascension on the latter part of the chorus is pretty sweet! 

Thank you!

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Matt, this song is awesome! Keep up the good work!