James LaBrie Solo

[TioJorge]

I'll jump on this train (or rather have been for a while). I love the last few albums by JLB and other than a usual obligatory "check out the new DT album time" have all but wedged the band in the "bands I used to love/influences" category. But I'd totally be down for another JLB album, I still have the playlist of a few songs off each of his solo albums spinning here and there.

[Adami]

I probably have no desire to see DT live anytime soon unless something huge happens, but I'd easily see JLB live, I'd even travel a considerable distance for it.

[MirrorMask]

When I saw him live in 2005 it was a wonderful concert! He's actually the only DT member I've ever met in person, since the DT machine is so huge that you can't easily approach them.

[OpenYourEyes311]

Some of you know that James worked with Tim Donahue (Mike Mangini too on drums), it's called Madmen and Sinners. Tim Donahue, after that made a album called Madmen and Sinners Pt II but never realesed but only performed live.

There is another 4 outtake tracks from Madmen and Sinners Pt I.

1-Falling Sky
2-History Repeats
3-A Heartbeat Away
4-All That Remains

Here it is: https://soundcloud.com/donahue-tim/tim-donahue-with-james-labrie-mike-mangini

I love Madmen and Sinners. It's absolutely one of the James' darkest and intense vocal work.

Wow! Glad I came into this thread. Loved this CD when I got it back in the day, and these outtakes are awesome! Thanks for the post!

[cramx3]

I probably have no desire to see DT live anytime soon unless something huge happens, but I'd easily see JLB live, I'd even travel a considerable distance for it.

I would totally check out JLB's solo band.  I believe he was going to play local to me when they announced a small tour some years ago but that got cancelled.

[goo-goo]

Frameshift "Unweaving the Rainbow" also highlights James' capabilities as a vocalist. Check that release if you guys haven't.

I keep coming back to Static Impulse, my favorite out of the JLB solo band outings. Mullmuzzler 2 remains my favorite out of the two MM releases. I played the heck out of Elements of Persuasion when it came out (about 6-7 months straight) and I burned myself out of that release, which is a shame (for me). I keep pulling it out but only once a year at the most. SI kind of combines both EoP and IR. IR feels a bit overly produced while SI feels and sounds very natural. The production is top notch and the drumming is out of this world.

[OpenYourEyes311]

"Agony" is probably my #1 James LaBrie-sung song. Such a great way to start his last album. Looking forward to whenever he gets around to another one. Every single album that he sings is money.

[Grappler]

The last three JLB solo records, starting with Elements of Persuasion, are so much better than any of Dream Theater's output going back to SFM - definitely more my style than what Dream Theater has become.

[TAC]

My Madmen & Sinners CD was delivered today. James is excellent on this. Having Mangini on it is a bonus.

[Cool Chris]

I have never heard of Madmen and Sinners before, another THANK YOU to this forum for another great find!

More JLB = more goodness in my world.

[MirrorMask]

Since we're digging out potential forgotten gems... how about the rock opera Leonardo - The Absolute Man? James co-stars as Leonardo and sings a lot in the album, there at least two fantastic songs: a female duet (This Time, This Way) and a solo song that is a vocal showcase for James (Shaping the Invisible).

[Adami]

Since we're digging out potential forgotten gems... how about the rock opera Leonardo - The Absolute Man? James co-stars as Leonardo and sings a lot in the album, there at least two fantastic songs: a female duet (This Time, This Way) and a solo song that is a vocal showcase for James (Shaping the Invisible).

Oh yea, I haven't heard that in a long time. I remember mostly liking it, but there were too many silly instrumental songs that served no purpose.

All the production left a lot to be desired. But if you trim the fat, it's quite not bad!

[wolfking]

Since we're digging out potential forgotten gems... how about the rock opera Leonardo - The Absolute Man? James co-stars as Leonardo and sings a lot in the album, there at least two fantastic songs: a female duet (This Time, This Way) and a solo song that is a vocal showcase for James (Shaping the Invisible).

That's one I don't think I've even heard of.

[bl5150]

Since we're digging out potential forgotten gems... how about the rock opera Leonardo - The Absolute Man? James co-stars as Leonardo and sings a lot in the album, there at least two fantastic songs: a female duet (This Time, This Way) and a solo song that is a vocal showcase for James (Shaping the Invisible).

That's one I don't think I've even heard of.

As Adami said - plenty of fat (nothing interludes etc.....) and a few good tracks.  I only listened to it once fwiw.

[wolfking]

I think I possibly remember the title and might have sampled some stuff and wasn't interested.

[MirrorMask]

I was looking for a Wikipedia link and I found out that Trent Gardner had died last June. WHAT THE HELL???

[goo-goo]

I was looking for a Wikipedia link and I found out that Trent Gardner had died last June. WHAT THE HELL???

Yes, he passed away unfortunately. His brother also died a few years back as well. Was really looking forward for the music he was releasing. There's a bunch of cool songs in his Bandcamp page if you guys want to buy/listen to them.

[goo-goo]

Since we're digging out potential forgotten gems... how about the rock opera Leonardo - The Absolute Man? James co-stars as Leonardo and sings a lot in the album, there at least two fantastic songs: a female duet (This Time, This Way) and a solo song that is a vocal showcase for James (Shaping the Invisible).

That's one I don't think I've even heard of.

Both Leonardo and Frameshift absolutely showcase James' voice in ways that he can't do in DT. Haven't listened to Leonardo in ages. Need to spin that sucker again. As wolfking said, This Time, This Way and Shaping the Invisible are stunning performances.

[pogoowner]

I checked it out a long, long time ago because I'm a diehard Steve Walsh fan, but the album as a whole is not good. Some nice individual performances, though.

[OpenYourEyes311]

Since we're digging out potential forgotten gems... how about the rock opera Leonardo - The Absolute Man? James co-stars as Leonardo and sings a lot in the album, there at least two fantastic songs: a female duet (This Time, This Way) and a solo song that is a vocal showcase for James (Shaping the Invisible).

That's one I don't think I've even heard of.

Both Leonardo and Frameshift absolutely showcase James' voice in ways that he can't do in DT. Haven't listened to Leonardo in ages. Need to spin that sucker again. As wolfking said, This Time, This Way and Shaping the Invisible are stunning performances.

I gotta check out those songs. I've tried listening to the album a couple times, but it never grabbed me like Madmen and Frameshift did.

[wolfking]

Since we're digging out potential forgotten gems... how about the rock opera Leonardo - The Absolute Man? James co-stars as Leonardo and sings a lot in the album, there at least two fantastic songs: a female duet (This Time, This Way) and a solo song that is a vocal showcase for James (Shaping the Invisible).

That's one I don't think I've even heard of.

Both Leonardo and Frameshift absolutely showcase James' voice in ways that he can't do in DT. Haven't listened to Leonardo in ages. Need to spin that sucker again. As wolfking said, This Time, This Way and Shaping the Invisible are stunning performances.

I don't remember saying that! 


Is the Leonardo thing the album that has that awful version of Nessun Dorma? I love James, but that is just awful.

[goo-goo]

Since we're digging out potential forgotten gems... how about the rock opera Leonardo - The Absolute Man? James co-stars as Leonardo and sings a lot in the album, there at least two fantastic songs: a female duet (This Time, This Way) and a solo song that is a vocal showcase for James (Shaping the Invisible).

That's one I don't think I've even heard of.

Both Leonardo and Frameshift absolutely showcase James' voice in ways that he can't do in DT. Haven't listened to Leonardo in ages. Need to spin that sucker again. As wolfking said, This Time, This Way and Shaping the Invisible are stunning performances.

I don't remember saying that! 


Is the Leonardo thing the album that has that awful version of Nessun Dorma? I love James, but that is just awful.

No, it is not on Leonardo. It's on the TSR Three Tenors release
https://www.amazon.com/Concerto-True-Minor-Rock-Tenors/dp/B0013Z6BBS

[wolfking]

Ah, thanks.  Still don't know who told James that would be a good idea.

[ariich]

TSR is one of the worst things I've ever heard, IMO.

Leonardo was ok, but not very interesting. Frameshift was a little better, but still hit and miss. Madmen & Sinners was a lot stronger, from what I recall.

[goo-goo]

TSR is one of the worst things I've ever heard, IMO.

Leonardo was ok, but not very interesting. Frameshift was a little better, but still hit and miss. Madmen & Sinners was a lot stronger, from what I recall.

I was a bit underwhelmed by Madmen (a few gems like Million Miles Away, Madmen and Sinners, and Wildest Dreams). I wished they would have released more music with more of the gregorian chants and stuff.

But yes, TSR was a major disappointment. A lot of cringeworthy moments.

[Nick]

Leonardo was pretty terrible.

[SeRoX]

This is RESolution9 by Rik Emmett.

James LaBrie  on,

End Of The Line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NJUS7737GM (IMO, James' vox is surprisingly better than expected)
I Sing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHsOpvhHVg

[goo-goo]

Leonardo was pretty terrible.

I enjoyed Leonardo a lot. I think Leonardo and Frameshift really highlighted his voice very well.

[YtseJamittaja]

I asked James about the new solo album and he said it's in the works and should be out next year. 

[goo-goo]

I asked James about the new solo album and he said it's in the works and should be out next year. 

Aw yeah!! 

[MirrorMask]

Excellent news! I'll welcome anything by James, but I hope it's something a bit different than the last two albums. They were good, but two of those kind are enough, the risk of becoming average is there.

[cramx3]

I say keep it going with what they are doing.  Last two albums were great.  Im definitely excited for what he has for his next release.  Did he mention if he's working with the same guys?

[MirrorMask]

I hope so, he, Guillory and Sfogli seem to have quite a good thing going. Matt Guillory is to James what Roy Z is to Bruce Dickinson, a formibable writing partner outside the singer's main band.

[Adami]

I hope they try something a little different.

Their last two albums are amazing, but I honestly can't tell which songs are on which album anymore. Best case scenario is the songs are just as good and thus blend in with the other two, or worst case they are lesser versions of the same style.

I wouldn't mind seeing a return to a more thick heavy, not as hectic, Elements type sound but with more prominent keyboards.

[Podaar]

I predict it will be phenomenal!