Dream Theater entered the studio in February v. No News is Good News

[erwinrafael]

From Jordan: "After a busy day in the studio it's great to connect with my new Linnstrument as well as practicing on my next iOS app release GeoShred! Shred alert."

[wasteland]

We are probably getting JLB lyrics, after his self imposed exclusion from the lyrical writing of DT12.

[BlackInk]

I hope we get more of the other guys, lyrically as well as musically. Since Portnoy left DT, it has felt a bit more like JP's project, instead of a band.

[Podaar]

I disagree somewhat. Sure, JP has a lot of control but I think there has been plenty of JR's influence in the last two albums and certainly JM's contribution has been felt as well.

I think it's fair to say that if JLB contributed more, that would be a welcome change. I wouldn't mind if MM's role transitioned a bit more 'in front' too.

[the_silent_man]

Labrie really needs to step and and write some more lyrics. As the lead vocalist who doesn't play an instrument, it'd be nice to get at least 3 songs from him per album. If you put it in perspective, in the 8 years since "Prophets of War" in 2007, he's contributed a 4 min song that's essentially an intro-piece to BAI.

Need me some more Labrie lyrics!

[krands85]

Didn't he submit more for ADTOE, but they were rejected or something?

[gmillerdrake]

Labrie really needs to step and and write some more lyrics. As the lead vocalist who doesn't play an instrument, it'd be nice to get at least 3 songs from him per album. If you put it in perspective, in the 8 years since "Prophets of War" in 2007, he's contributed a 4 min song that's essentially an intro-piece to BAI.

Need me some more Labrie lyrics!

Didn't he submit more for ADTOE, but they were rejected or something?

Yeah, I recall reading that he submits quite a few lyrics to the process......whether they use them or not is the question. I really dig his lyrics though....I'd like to hear an album where he and Myung were the only lyricists.....split the songs half and half and call it a day. I like JP's lyrics to an extent.....but JLB and JMX's lyrics IMO are just a bit more 'thoughtful' than JP's. Or at least....more 'poetic' and not strictly based on song structure.

[bosk1]

Labrie really needs to step and and write some more lyrics. As the lead vocalist who doesn't play an instrument, it'd be nice to get at least 3 songs from him per album. If you put it in perspective, in the 8 years since "Prophets of War" in 2007, he's contributed a 4 min song that's essentially an intro-piece to BAI.

1.  Just because he does not write lyrics does not mean he is not contributing.
2.  As long as James and the rest of the band are happy with his level of contribution (or "not-contribution," as the case may be), why does it even matter?  And by the way, he is credited for being a composer on 3 of the songs on ADTOE and 6 songs on DT12 if I am not mistaken.
3.  Far From Heaven is not "essentially an intro-piece to BAI."  That description doesn't even fit--especially from a lyrical perspective. 

I would say he has "stepped up" just fine.

[gmillerdrake]

I would say he has "stepped up" just fine.

Besides....it's probably hard to step up with a wooden leg and all.......

[bosk1]

Not to mention trying to navigate with a wooden leg without the benefit of stereoscopic vision.  Because eye patch.

[King Postwhore]

Yeah, it's hard to drive a fork truck with an eyepatch on.

[BlackInk]

In fact, it is likely forbidden, so he proably had to get special permission. That should give you an idea of how good he is.

[hefdaddy42]

Don't forget having to contend with that ridiculous parrot all the time.

[gmillerdrake]

I know I wouldn't be able to concentrate being around so much booty.....

[JayOctavarium]

Plus... ya know... carrying that shovel around...

[The Cat Of Tuscany]

And there's that ship to worry about.

[The Stray Seed]

This thRead is gauld

*Alestorm yelling and shredding in background*

[YtseJamittaja]

Yarrrrrr.


Or


Rawwwwwwkkkkkk.

[Calvin6s]

Labrie really needs to step and and write some more lyrics. As the lead vocalist who doesn't play an instrument, it'd be nice to get at least 3 songs from him per album. If you put it in perspective, in the 8 years since "Prophets of War" in 2007, he's contributed a 4 min song that's essentially an intro-piece to BAI.

2.  As long as James and the rest of the band are happy with his level of contribution (or "not-contribution," as the case may be), why does it even matter?

Because it is an entirely different way to write a song, which would only be expanding DT's songwriting arsenal?  DT has stated many times that they write the music first, lyrics/melody second.  As a result, the songs are more rifftastic, but the melodies (which most people latch onto) take a back seat.  It isn't that one way (writing lyrics/melody to the instrumental) is better than the other (orchestrating to a melody), but it would definitely be one of the biggest advancements DT could make in their songwriting career.

And judging by JP's question to Geddy Lee on the recent That Metal Show, this seems to be something on JP's mind.

Nobody is telling DT how to write a song.  We've just been listening to DT for so long that we are searching for new areas of enjoyment.

[Another_Won]

Labrie really needs to step and and write some more lyrics. As the lead vocalist who doesn't play an instrument, it'd be nice to get at least 3 songs from him per album. If you put it in perspective, in the 8 years since "Prophets of War" in 2007, he's contributed a 4 min song that's essentially an intro-piece to BAI.

2.  As long as James and the rest of the band are happy with his level of contribution (or "not-contribution," as the case may be), why does it even matter?

Because it is an entirely different way to write a song, which would only be expanding DT's songwriting arsenal?  DT has stated many times that they write the music first, lyrics/melody second.  As a result, the songs are more rifftastic, but the melodies (which most people latch onto) take a back seat.  It isn't that one way (writing lyrics/melody to the instrumental) is better than the other (orchestrating to a melody), but it would definitely be one of the biggest advancements DT could make in their songwriting career.

And judging by JP's question to Geddy Lee on the recent That Metal Show, this seems to be something on JP's mind.

Nobody is telling DT how to write a song.  We've just been listening to DT for so long that we are searching for new areas of enjoyment.

I was thinking about that too.  You've got a chance to meet one of your idols and ask him a question.  JP chose to ask this one.  I think it's a good thing, especially given Geddy's answer.

[rumborak]

DT has stated many times that they write the music first, lyrics/melody second.  As a result, the songs are more rifftastic, but the melodies (which most people latch onto) take a back seat.

That is definitely true. The vocal melodies are never bad, but you can tell they were added after the music was written. Like, now that I think of it, when was the last DT song where JLB was singing on his own, i.e. without any instruments?

[The Presence of Frenemies]

DT has stated many times that they write the music first, lyrics/melody second.  As a result, the songs are more rifftastic, but the melodies (which most people latch onto) take a back seat.

That is definitely true. The vocal melodies are never bad, but you can tell they were added after the music was written. Like, now that I think of it, when was the last DT song where JLB was singing on his own, i.e. without any instruments?

IT?

[rumborak]

What part? The "Mothers for their children" part? That stretches the definition of "vocals only"

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Yeah that's what I was referring to.

One part that isn't vocals only, but feels very melody-first, is the "Could this be the end" part of TCOT.

[Calvin6s]

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not saying DT has no melody, that they are bad or that they aren't even pretty good.  You just create different melodies with your voice than with an instrument.  Instrumentalists practice with metronomes.  It gives a nice strong tight sound.  Vocalists don't.  It gives a freer flow.  Vocalists are more likely to do things like:

Start singing lines of the chorus while the instruments are still on the last bar or beat(s) of the verse or pre-chorus.
Sing consecutive notes in the same pitch with the slightest of inflections that sound downright lame on a piano or guitar.
Borrow notes from other scales that ends up creating some great progression possibilities with borrowed chords.

I go through these phases when I write a song myself.  Force myself to start with the melody first.  Force myself to start with the guitar (kind of easy being a guitarist).  Force myself to play along to a drum beat I came up with (especially in odd times).

I end up writing some very crappy stuff, but then it comes out more naturally down the line.

So in regards to LaBrie, what better way to develop that side of DT than to let the actual singer lead the way?

[BlackInk]

One part that isn't vocals only, but feels very melody-first, is the "Could this be the end" part of TCOT.

I feel that about much of Forsaken as well. Even though that song most likely began with Rudess doing the intro piano stuff, the chorus just feels like vocal melodies really took center stage while hammering out those chords.

[Mosh]

What part? The "Mothers for their children" part? That stretches the definition of "vocals only"

Yea but how many bands have many sections with only vocals? I think that's a bit of an unfair challenge. It'd be better to examine sections where the vocals are the main focus. Like the beginning of Surrounded or Far From Heaven.

[ReaPsTA]

What part? The "Mothers for their children" part? That stretches the definition of "vocals only"

Yea but how many bands have many sections with only vocals? I think that's a bit of an unfair challenge. It'd be better to examine sections where the vocals are the main focus. Like the beginning of Surrounded or Far From Heaven.

I agree with the above strongly.

A lot of times, it's really obvious that the music was written before the vocals.  Something like About to Crash has so much stuff going on under the vocals.  It feels like they recorded the music and were like "oh yeah, singing has to happen here.  We have to fit it somehow."  The music under the vocals is just so melodically and rhythmically dense.  It feels like a disservice to JLB a bit.

On the other hand, you look at a song like IT where, even though JLB isn't in the song a lot, he's clearly the main focus of every section he's in.  There's no overly dense rhythms or competing lead melodies to distract you.  It's about quality, not quantity, and the quality is there.

[nikatapi]

A lot of times, it's really obvious that the music was written before the vocals.  Something like About to Crash has so much stuff going on under the vocals.  It feels like they recorded the music and were like "oh yeah, singing has to happen here.  We have to fit it somehow."  The music under the vocals is just so melodically and rhythmically dense.  It feels like a disservice to JLB a bit.

Well, i really liked that, and i think it's something that feels boring these days. JP usually plays some powerchords during the choruses, while on older albums he kept things interesting.

[BlobVanDam]

A lot of times, it's really obvious that the music was written before the vocals.  Something like About to Crash has so much stuff going on under the vocals.  It feels like they recorded the music and were like "oh yeah, singing has to happen here.  We have to fit it somehow."  The music under the vocals is just so melodically and rhythmically dense.  It feels like a disservice to JLB a bit.

Well, i really liked that, and i think it's something that feels boring these days. JP usually plays some powerchords during the choruses, while on older albums he kept things interesting.

Yeah. I don't think a more melodic backing takes anything away from JLB, it just makes the music more densely melodic, and gives JLB more to contrast and harmonize with to create interest.

[The Stray Seed]

Well said, Blob

[Tim van Duijn]

I don't care what they'll write and how they write it, as long as it's awesome.

[theanalogkid7]

Im hoping for a concept album of some kind.  A Dark Side of the Moon type album.  That'd be awesome.

[425]

A lot of times, it's really obvious that the music was written before the vocals.  Something like About to Crash has so much stuff going on under the vocals.  It feels like they recorded the music and were like "oh yeah, singing has to happen here.  We have to fit it somehow."  The music under the vocals is just so melodically and rhythmically dense.  It feels like a disservice to JLB a bit.

Well, i really liked that, and i think it's something that feels boring these days. JP usually plays some powerchords during the choruses, while on older albums he kept things interesting.

Yeah. I don't think a more melodic backing takes anything away from JLB, it just makes the music more densely melodic, and gives JLB more to contrast and harmonize with to create interest.

I also, and I realize I've said this before, miss the days of multiple voices on the album. Nowadays, all the album backing vocals are done by JLB, which is fine, but I miss hearing JP and MP do some of the backing vocals. It gave the whole thing more of an authentic "band" feel. I guess MP is the one who agrees with me, since it's been done in just about every project he's been in, and it was evidently pretty easy for the rest of the guys to get rid of once MP was gone.

[Mosh]

I miss that too. I've never been a big fan of backing vocals done by the lead singer. It just seems kinda lame and makes the recording sound more artificial. When you get a bunch of people to do backing vocals it adds a new dimension to the singing and you get different personalities in the voices.