James LaBrie Solo

[BlobVanDam]

How about: metal.

Honestly that's the only level of definition I find relevant, and even then it's not necessary.

Even forget that. The only genres that count are "good" and "bad". As long as it fits into the former category, then I couldn't care less!

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Just got this from iTunes.

Initial impression, an incredibly solid album. Undertow was completely amazing. Still, won't rank as high as EoP but nonetheless, this is super strong. My JLB rankings go like this:

1) Elements of Persuassion
2) Impermanent Resonance
3) Mullmuzzler 2
4) Static Impulse
5) Keep it to Yourself

[Madman Shepherd]

Could somebody list what lyrics are written by who?

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Just got this from iTunes.

Initial impression, an incredibly solid album. Undertow was completely amazing. Still, won't rank as high as EoP but nonetheless, this is super strong. My JLB rankings go like this:

1) Elements of Persuassion
2) Impermanent Resonance
3) Mullmuzzler 2
4) Static Impulse
5) Keep it to Yourself

I find it odd how people always rank Elements Of Persuasion so highly. The only songs I really liked on it were the softer ones.

[Matt]

Could somebody list what lyrics are written by who?

As far as the lyrics go...


01: Agony (LaBrie)
02: Undertow (Guillory)
03: Slight Of Hand (LaBrie)
04: Back On The Ground (Guillory)
05: I Got You (Guillory)
06: Holding On (Guillory)
07: Lost In The Fire (Guillory/Lundin)
08: Letting Go (LaBrie)
09: Destined To Burn (LaBrie)
10: Say You're Still Mine (Lundin)
11: Amnesia (Guillory)
12: I Will Not Break (LaBrie)

Bonus Tracks:

13: Unraveling (Guillory/Lundin)
14: Why (Guillory)

[aprilethereal]

Could somebody list what lyrics are written by who?

I don't think that's in the booklet, although I can't check at the moment.

EDIT: ninja'd

[Madman Shepherd]

You rock, Matt!  Thanks! 

[userx]

i would categorize it as POP METAL but it doesn't matter really but it just goes to show that if melodic metal bands decided to make POP music without heavy guitars and stuff they would blow the current pop stars out of the water. I mean  the melodies on Impermanent resonance are SICK, in a good way ofcourse

[Nick]

It's Pirate Metal, obviously. Hosers.

[Madman Shepherd]

Who is this Lundin guy, if you don't mind me asking? 

[bosk1]

I'm willing to bet Peter's lyrics are going to be my favorite on the album.

[Matt]

i would categorize it as POP METAL but it doesn't matter really but it just goes to show that if melodic metal bands decided to make POP music without heavy guitars and stuff they would blow the current pop stars out of the water. I mean  the melodies on Impermanent resonance are SICK, in a good way ofcourse

I don't really like to put ourselves in a box, but if hard-pressed... I'd agree. Our music is rooted in metal, but there is VERY prominent pop sensibility to it - especially in the vocal melodies and song structures. And thanks for the compliments on the melodies! I spent more time on those than anything else. Always great to hear nice feedback like that!

Cheers,
Matt

[Madman Shepherd]

I never get caught up in putting things into a genre.  I have friends that have categorized their itunes or cd collection by genre instead of alphabetical and it drives me nuts because there is no clear definition.  For instance, I consider Black Sabbath the premiere metal band but they have always considered themselves hard rock.  Some people thing Iron Butterfly was the first heavy metal band and its true to an extent, they first incorporated the term heavy into their music but the vast majority of their catalog is not heavy nor metal and is actually pretty poppy.  I got Volbeat's latest album recently and my girlfriend was like, "Is this metal?!"  I had never listened to them and only got their album because King Diamond does guest vocals and I was dumbfounded.  A few of their tracks were clearly metal.  A few were almost straight up pop/punk.  A few more were almost southern rock. 

So I'm not trying to shit on anyones definitions because we all have our own and all that matters is whether we like the music.  Just trying to vocalize how much I hate labels. 

But yeah, I would say this album from what I have heard is metal with pop elements 

[userx]

i would categorize it as POP METAL but it doesn't matter really but it just goes to show that if melodic metal bands decided to make POP music without heavy guitars and stuff they would blow the current pop stars out of the water. I mean  the melodies on Impermanent resonance are SICK, in a good way ofcourse

I don't really like to put ourselves in a box, but if hard-pressed... I'd agree. Our music is rooted in metal, but there is VERY prominent pop sensibility to it - especially in the vocal melodies and song structures. And thanks for the compliments on the melodies! I spent more time on those than anything else. Always great to hear nice feedback like that!

Cheers,
Matt

It's abvious that a lot of thought and work was put into those melodies and i really mean it when I say that there are some of the best chorus melodies i have heard. but what it really brings it up a notch or two is the doubling of the chorus melodies... I mean, just as the logical pop ending of a chorus arrives you strike us with the second part of the chorus which makes it more emotionally effective and rationally interesting (to me atleast). the best example for me is the chorus in Undertow. had there been only one part of the chorus it would be OK but both of them work out to be great

also, if I may, I know that a chorus is never so effective when there are equaly beautiful melodies in the verses (to many listeners) but being the type of person that I am, to me, the ideal of a good song would be that every part of a song is beautiful. now that might be difficult to achieve because part of the power of a chorus lies in it's dynamic and melodic strength over the verses but as an idealist I believe it can be done

PS. I think even DT could benefit from your input as one of the leading melodists if they ever decide to take another member, I'd be rooting for you... the type of things you've done here are the things that mybe are missing a bit from some of  DT albums

[TheGreatPretender]

It's Pirate Metal, obviously. Hosers.

No, this is pirate metal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta-Z_psXODw

I never get caught up in putting things into a genre.  I have friends that have categorized their itunes or cd collection by genre instead of alphabetical and it drives me nuts because there is no clear definition.  For instance, I consider Black Sabbath the premiere metal band but they have always considered themselves hard rock.  Some people thing Iron Butterfly was the first heavy metal band and its true to an extent, they first incorporated the term heavy into their music but the vast majority of their catalog is not heavy nor metal and is actually pretty poppy.  I got Volbeat's latest album recently and my girlfriend was like, "Is this metal?!"  I had never listened to them and only got their album because King Diamond does guest vocals and I was dumbfounded.  A few of their tracks were clearly metal.  A few were almost straight up pop/punk.  A few more were almost southern rock. 

So I'm not trying to shit on anyones definitions because we all have our own and all that matters is whether we like the music.  Just trying to vocalize how much I hate labels. 

But yeah, I would say this album from what I have heard is metal with pop elements 

I think that's the fun part though, how everyone's perception of musical categories is different. For example, the sheer term "Progressive Rock" or "Progressive Metal" might differ completely, to different people. Some people define it as music that's "progressive" in a cultural sense, it does something new, something unique, something different. Personally, I classify Progressive music as something wherein the music itself changes within a given song. And this can give way to long discussions of why I think a certain song fits into such and such genre, whereas someone else classifies it as a different subgenre.

But I do agree that we shouldn't necessarily classify entire albums as a single genre. If you take something like FII, where I'd classify Burning My Soul as a Heavy Metal song, whereas I'd classify Hollow Years, Take Away My Pain and Anna Lee as soft rock songs.

[Shadow2222]

i would categorize it as POP METAL but it doesn't matter really but it just goes to show that if melodic metal bands decided to make POP music without heavy guitars and stuff they would blow the current pop stars out of the water. I mean  the melodies on Impermanent resonance are SICK, in a good way ofcourse

I don't really like to put ourselves in a box, but if hard-pressed... I'd agree. Our music is rooted in metal, but there is VERY prominent pop sensibility to it - especially in the vocal melodies and song structures. And thanks for the compliments on the melodies! I spent more time on those than anything else. Always great to hear nice feedback like that!

Cheers,
Matt

Yeah, you guys definitely nailed the melodies. Almost every chorus on the album is super catchy. I constantly catch myself humming Agony, I Will Not Break, and Slight of Hand.

[Onno]

It's Pirate Metal, obviously. Hosers.

[aprilethereal]

i would categorize it as POP METAL but it doesn't matter really but it just goes to show that if melodic metal bands decided to make POP music without heavy guitars and stuff they would blow the current pop stars out of the water. I mean  the melodies on Impermanent resonance are SICK, in a good way ofcourse

This guy speaks the truth.

[cyberdrummer]

I think you're being slightly unfair on certain pop artists - there are quite a few out there who are very talented and write excellent songs and melodies.

Having said that, I agree that the vocal melodies on IR are generally very, very good.

[userx]

I think you're being slightly unfair on certain pop artists - there are quite a few out there who are very talented and write excellent songs and melodies.

Having said that, I agree that the vocal melodies on IR are generally very, very good.

I apologize, you're righ. my point was that some of these melodies are big hit potential had they been sung by one of today's pop artists

[cyberdrummer]

Absolutely, I totally agree with that.

[me7]

i would categorize it as POP METAL but it doesn't matter really but it just goes to show that if melodic metal bands decided to make POP music without heavy guitars and stuff they would blow the current pop stars out of the water. I mean  the melodies on Impermanent resonance are SICK, in a good way ofcourse

This guy speaks the truth.

What is the difference between "Pop Metal" and "Power Metal"?

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Double bass.

[LCArenas]

Question: Has someone posted the lyrics to Agony? I can't seem to find them anywhere and would really like to see them.

[Cool Chris]

The import version is listed on Amazon for $49.22 why exactly?

[wasteland]

The import version is listed on Amazon for $49.22 why exactly?

Import version of CDs on amazon always score the most unlikely prices 

[TL]

The import version is listed on Amazon for $49.22 why exactly?

Import version of CDs on amazon always score the most unlikely prices 

Heck, on Amazon Canada, regular, non-import versions of albums are like that half the time. 

[wasteland]

Alright, after a few days (and an entire dedicated evening yesterday!) I can say that my favourite songs are:

- Agony
- Undertow
- Slight Of Hands
- Holding On
- Lost In The Fire

I'm particularly passionate about Lost In The Fire right now, but the record is young, my preferences are still quite changable.


Anyway, great job guys, another great great record. 

[?]

I should stay away from this thread for the next 2 weeks

[Lolzeez]

I Got You is just too damn catchy.

[aprilethereal]

I Got You is just too damn catchy.

THIS.

[Lucien]

Undertow sounds like Power Metal.

It's amazing.

[Lolzeez]

Holding On is my favorite so far. Agony is close.

[YtseCullen]

I'm particularly passionate about Lost In The Fire right now, but the record is young, my preferences are still quite changable.


Anyway, great job guys, another great great record. 

Basically this! Great Job everyone involved!

[TioJorge]

Been through the album about five times now and it's a fucking trip every time. I love this album. Top three are easily (in order): Amnesia, Holding On, I Will Not Break. I Got You, Agony, and Letting Go are close. The songs I love, I'm addicted to, and the songs I 'merely' really like are kind of being ignored because I love the aforementioned ones so god damn much. iTunes says I have listened to Amnesia 35 times in the last 30-something hours. So much