Author Topic: Which Dream Theater Album Has The Best Vocals (excluding I&W and Awake) (Read 3566 times)

Shadow Ninja 2.0 · « **on:** July 17, 2013, 11:41:32 AM »

So, as everyone has probably noticed, the other poll is leaning very strongly towards Images And Words and Awake. I think this poll may be somewhat more telling, as we eliminate the clear favorites.

Have at it!

Tomislav95 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2013, 11:52:45 AM »

SFAM. I like James' performance on every song, especially on Strange Deja Vu (probably his best post Awake performance) and Finally Free.

425 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2013, 11:53:50 AM »

Just as in the other one, Octavarium for the superior range of emotions that James displays throughout that album. Any album where the same guy sings Panic Attack and The Answer Lies Within is fantastic in that regard. James is just all-around stellar on the album, with only Never Enough not really having great vocals and that's just because of the effects and not very good melodies to work with.

The title track alone takes James through a variety of styles, starting with his slow, soft singing in Someone Like Him and progressing to the harsher style in Intervals and then back to a clean (but more operatic this time) style in Razor's Edge.

Tom Bombadil · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2013, 11:55:45 AM »

Ah this one is far more challenging, but I went with SDOIT. I think James' perfermances on misunderstood and disappear are his best since awake. ADTOE was pretty close though, I really liked his sound on that album

Tomislav95 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2013, 11:56:46 AM »

Quote from: 425 on July 17, 2013, 11:53:50 AM

Just as in the other one, Octavarium for the superior range of emotions that James displays throughout that album. Any album where the same guy sings Panic Attack and The Answer Lies Within is fantastic in that regard. James is just all-around stellar on the album, with only Never Enough not really having great vocals and that's just because of the effects and not very good melodies to work with.

The title track alone takes James through a variety of styles, starting with his slow, soft singing in Someone Like Him and progressing to the harsher style in Intervals and then back to a clean (but more operatic this time) style in Razor's Edge.

I always thought his voice was somewhat limited on Octavarium. I love his singing but too much effects was added IMO.

? · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:04:04 PM »

Tough question... I'll decide later.

YtseJamittaja · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:06:55 PM »

OCTAVARIUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Best mellow vocals, best heavy vocals.

Elite · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:20:48 PM »

I voted Systematic Chaos, but I don't really know why.

Shadow Ninja 2.0 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:23:53 PM »

Because Systematic Chaos is awesome, that's why.

? · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:29:11 PM »

Voted for ADTOE; James sounds relaxed and he gets to show off all the different aspects of his voice.

TAC · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:31:49 PM »

Quote from: 425 on July 17, 2013, 11:53:50 AM

Just as in the other one, Octavarium for the superior range of emotions that James displays throughout that album. Any album where the same guy sings Panic Attack and The Answer Lies Within is fantastic in that regard. James is just all-around stellar on the album, with only Never Enough not really having great vocals and that's just because of the effects and not very good melodies to work with.

The title track alone takes James through a variety of styles, starting with his slow, soft singing in Someone Like Him and progressing to the harsher style in Intervals and then back to a clean (but more operatic this time) style in Razor's Edge.

What? I think Never Enough is easily James' strongest vocal on the album.

Shadow Ninja 2.0 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:32:17 PM »

Even over Octavarium? (the song)

? · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:40:24 PM »

The verses in Never Enough are among my least favorite vocal moments in the DT catalogue...

TAC · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:44:21 PM »

I love 8V, and yes, James is great on it.
I find the chorus (especially) great on Never Enough. I love when James is going high.

425 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2013, 12:46:14 PM »

James does well on the chorus of Never Enough but I feel like the verses are so bogged down in distortion that I can't rank his performance on them anywhere near the greatness of the rest of the album. Other songs use effects, too, but not to the point where you can scarcely recognize James' voice like on the Never Enough verses.

Sidebar: I don't have anything against Never Enough as a song; I wouldn't want DT to make a whole album like it, but it's still a good song. The vocals (due to the rather unimaginative melodies and heavy distortion) just are unremarkable to me. That's all.

Nekov · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2013, 01:17:10 PM »

SFAM. Labrie's delivery on every song is exactly what it needs to be

senecadawg2 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2013, 01:20:37 PM »

Quote from: Nekov on July 17, 2013, 01:17:10 PM

SFAM. Labrie's delivery on every song is exactly what it needs to be

wolven74 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2013, 01:40:15 PM »

I voted for SFAM first, so the poll took that, now I can't change it.

I'd say SFAM is my second favorite of all those listed in this poll. It's a good representation of JLBs voice. It is exactly what it needed to be, when it was called for...

...but I would say my final vote would go to 6DOIT because the range JLB has on that album is clearly much better than SFAM. He goes from songs like TTTSTA, to GNK... from brutal and harsh to tender and loving.

That's not to say that his voice doesn't do that on SFAM, but on 6DOIT it's so much more noticeable and clean.

Ruba · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2013, 01:44:30 PM »

Six Degrees. It's been downhill ever since, but JLB is still good.

The last lyrics in The Great Debate are possibly my favourite JLB moment ever.

WE DEFY OUR OWN MORRRTALITY THESE DAYS

!

Jaffa · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2013, 01:46:26 PM »

Quote from: Elite on July 17, 2013, 12:20:48 PM

I voted Systematic Chaos, but I don't really know why.

This exactly.

The more I think about it, the more I think I should have voted for SDOIT. But I didn't.

Shadow Ninja 2.0 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2013, 02:28:19 PM »

Not even one vote for WDADU....

54_diplomats · « **Reply #21 on:** July 17, 2013, 02:32:51 PM »

I voted SFAM but Octavarium and 6DOIT are close as well. Besides I&W + Awake, I think A Change of Seasons has the best vocals but it isn't an album so yeah...

DarkLord_Lalinc · « **Reply #22 on:** July 17, 2013, 02:35:23 PM »

Quote from: YtseJamittaja on July 17, 2013, 12:06:55 PM

OCTAVARIUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Best mellow vocals, best heavy vocals.

SO HEAVY SOUND YAAHHHHHH

Seriously, JLB's studio records are incredible. The whole 8VM era was a high point in James' vocal career (tour and album).

mallorier · « **Reply #23 on:** July 17, 2013, 03:48:34 PM »

Well this was waaaaaay harder than the other poll, but in the end I gave my vote to SDOIT. SFAM could have gotten my vote (Finally Free is full of awesome James vocals...I've always had a particular soft spot for the "Feeling good this Friday afternoon" section, and of course "...someday soooooooooon"), and Octavarium definitely has some great moments as well, but Misunderstood, Disappear, and the title track (particularly About To Crash (Reprise) and Losing Time/Grand Finale) gave SDOIT the edge for me

serrano · « **Reply #24 on:** July 17, 2013, 03:54:51 PM »

6DOIT close followed by SFAM

Mister Gold · « **Reply #25 on:** July 17, 2013, 04:06:07 PM »

Definitely 6DoIT.

wasteland · « **Reply #26 on:** July 17, 2013, 04:22:51 PM »

I'm in the slim minority that voted for FII. I really like his delivery in songs like Peruvian Skies, Anna Lee and the great Trial Of Tears. TAMP too!

SeRoX · « **Reply #27 on:** July 17, 2013, 04:41:16 PM »

SDOIT just because its vocal style somehow closes to both I&W and Awake. Close behind SFAM.

Destiny Of Chaos · « **Reply #28 on:** July 17, 2013, 05:22:18 PM »

WDADU from a technical standpoint. Charlie could wail.

theseoafs · « **Reply #29 on:** July 17, 2013, 05:23:07 PM »

Quote from: Destiny Of Chaos on July 17, 2013, 05:22:18 PM

WDADU from a technical standpoint. Charlie could wail.

Really -- Charlie is more talented technically than James?

Shadow Ninja 2.0 · « **Reply #30 on:** July 17, 2013, 05:24:11 PM »

Hmm, now TOT and BCSL are the only ones without a single vote.

Unlegit · « **Reply #31 on:** July 17, 2013, 05:38:07 PM »

Six Degrees with Scenes at a close second.

matte.braso · « **Reply #32 on:** July 17, 2013, 06:01:29 PM »

I'm not an expert but I think the most difficult piece sung by James after those in I&W and Awake is Losing Time....the vocal melody contains insane intervals from low to high notes, I think it's so stressful for the vocal chords (certainly mine when I've tried to sing it....transposed 2 tones downward

).
But In the name of God backup vocals are truly challenging as well.

Voices · « **Reply #33 on:** July 17, 2013, 06:08:16 PM »

Systematic Chaos. He's powerful and agressive...I really like it.

Just let me share a vid I just watched...we're talking about James, so this is a GREAT performance of him singing Learning To Live in 2011.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my6ydGWxFhI

matte.braso · « **Reply #34 on:** July 17, 2013, 06:38:24 PM »

in this video James shows his improvements through the years...he's just stronger than ever...he's 50 years old but I'm sure he'll continue for some year keeping this level

News: Video of online chat between fans and members of Dream Theater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx8cLlXnHpA&feature=youtu.be (*no chickens were harmed during the filming of this chat)

Poll

Which Dream Theater Album Has The Best Vocals (excluding I&W and Awake)

Author Topic: Which Dream Theater Album Has The Best Vocals (excluding I&W and Awake) (Read 3566 times)