Best solo album: Geoff Tate, James LaBrie or Ray Alder?

[Mebert78]

Hey, everyone!  My favorite three bands for as long as I can remember have been Queensrÿche, Dream Theater and Fates Warning, and it had me wondering which band's vocalist has the best solo album?  For me, it's close.  Geoff Tate's self-titled solo album and James LaBrie's Elements of Persuasion are both equally enjoyable (I know some of you might prefer JLB's Static Impulse or Impermanent Resonance), while Ray Alder's new solo album is just as good.  Anyway, I'm curious which singer would win a poll of best solo album?

For me, it's probably:
1) Ray Alder - What the Water Wants (2019)
2) James LaBrie - Elements of Persuasion (2005)
3) Geoff Tate - Geoff Tate (2002)

[Volante99]

I won’t vote because I’m unfamiliar with Geoff Tate’s solo work and I’m not motivated enough to sit through it. BUT I will say I just listened to most of Ray Adler’s What the Water Wants and it’s definitely solid! Very very impressed and a nice surprise. Wow! Reminds me a lot of Parallels.

I always thought JLB’s stuff has been listenable but rather generic on the whole. There’s a couple good bangers here and there but nothing more. Mullmuzzler 1 and 2 had some good moments but similar opinion there as well.

[Northern Lion]

Geoff Tate is... Geoff Tate.  I don't know Ray Alder.  But James Labrie is

[wolfking]

EOP, absolutely no contest.  The Ray Alder one was very very good though.

[Lowdz]

Geoff Tate’s solo stuff is shit.
The Ray Alder album was excellent but JLB has several albums I like, and extra points for making an album where I can tolerate the growls 😱

[Lethean]

Elements of Persuasion for me.  I like Ray Alder's album too though.  I wasn't a fan of Geoff Tate's solo album at all.

[The Walrus]

JLB and it's not even close. Impermanent Resonance kicks ass

[Grappler]

As much as I love Ray's album, James' last three solo records are fucking awesome. 

[wolfking]

Geoff Tate’s solo stuff is shit.
The Ray Alder album was excellent but JLB has several albums I like, and extra points for making an album where I can tolerate the growls 😱

 

[Lowdz]

Geoff Tate’s solo stuff is shit.
The Ray Alder album was excellent but JLB has several albums I like, and extra points for making an album where I can tolerate the growls 😱

 

Don't get too carried away Kade, I only said tolerate! 

[hefdaddy42]

Not going to vote, because I've never heard any of Tate's or Alder's solo stuff.  I actively dislike Tate, and I don't care enough about Alder.

But I've liked all of LaBrie's solo stuff.   

[The Walrus]

That Ray album is so mediocre it actually impresses me. My least favorite FW album is more enjoyable than that, although they don't have any bad albums.

[Cool Chris]

LaBrie's stuff is not mind-blowingly original, but it is fun, well-crafted and performed music that I get a lot of enjoyment out of. Except the Mullmuzzler albums, which I never cared much for. I loved all of EoP, and I remember when I got IR, having not heard a single note prior, and Agony came on, and I was all WTF IS THIS NONSENSE?! and then a minute or so in I was rocking out!

Haven't heard any Tate solo stuff, and don't care much for Alder's voice.

[TAC]

LaBrie's stuff is not mind-blowingly original, but it is fun, well-crafted and performed music that I get a lot of enjoyment out of. Except the Mullmuzzler albums, which I never cared much for. I loved all of EoP, and I remember when I got IR, having not heard a single note prior, and Agony came on, and I was all WTF IS THIS NONSENSE?! and then a minute or so in I was rocking out!

Huh. The Mullmuzzler albums are the only ones I really like.

[jammindude]

I've been meaning to pick up Alder's solo album.  I heard two tracks on That Drummer Guy's show, and I really like what I heard.  I just haven't been buying CD's recently.   So until I hear the whole thing, I'm declining to vote.

I will say that EoP is the best of all the rest by a large margin.   I really like the Mullmuzzler albums (so sad about the passing of both Gardner brothers....someone needs to make a documentary about them) but EoP was just an AMAZING album.  I still spin that album constantly.   Every song is 10/10 for me.   But Static Impulse was a huge drop off.  I was so disappointed by the entire album that I didn't even bother with IR, as the lead off single made it sound like more of the same thing we got on SI.   

[Dublagent66]

Couldn't care less about GT's solo work.  Ray Alder's solo project is really good, but he hasn't done enough to keep up with James.

Geoff Tate is... Geoff Tate.  I don't know Ray Alder.  But James Labrie is

Not a Fates Warning fan?  You're missin' out man.  They are a treasure trove of prog metal.  Not to mention Alder's side projects along the way.

[Samsara]

1) Ray Alder - What the Water Wants (2019)
2) James LaBrie - Elements of Persuasion (2005)
3) Geoff Tate - Geoff Tate (2002)

Exactly how I have them Mike. I like all three, but if forced to rank, there you go. Alder's is the clear winner to me.

[Mister Gold]

1) Ray Alder - What the Water Wants (2019)
2) James LaBrie - Elements of Persuasion (2005)
3) Geoff Tate - Geoff Tate (2002)

Exactly how I have them Mike. I like all three, but if forced to rank, there you go. Alder's is the clear winner to me.

Likewise. I really liked Ray's solo album.

[Lethean]

I've been meaning to pick up Alder's solo album.  I heard two tracks on That Drummer Guy's show, and I really like what I heard.  I just haven't been buying CD's recently.   So until I hear the whole thing, I'm declining to vote.

I will say that EoP is the best of all the rest by a large margin.   I really like the Mullmuzzler albums (so sad about the passing of both Gardner brothers....someone needs to make a documentary about them) but EoP was just an AMAZING album.  I still spin that album constantly.   Every song is 10/10 for me.   But Static Impulse was a huge drop off.  I was so disappointed by the entire album that I didn't even bother with IR, as the lead off single made it sound like more of the same thing we got on SI.   

This is pretty much how I feel.  I love the Mullmuzzlers and EoP and didn't like the next two much at all. 

I recommend Ray Alder's album.  I like EoP better, but his solo album is really nice.

[gzarruk]

EOP is James' best solo album to date, it has great songwriting and the lineup is amazing. Easy vote.