LaBrie's DT Days Numbered?

StyLaZyn wrote: I had read that some of the band members weren't happy with James LaBrie's vocals just prior to Octavarium for whatever reason. With the release of the new Dream Theater album, there is an instrumental only CD available. I think it is kinds of ridiculous since the album is mostly instrumental as it is. Then it had crossed my mind that maybe DT might be looking for a new singer . It sounds a little far fetched, but you never know.

Edited by darksideof - June 04 2009 at 13:18

UMUR wrote: LaBrie sounded great on Images & Words and Awake because the song lines were outstanding and fit his voice perfectly. I´ve always felt that it was the songlines that weren´t as good on later albums and not problems with James voice. This only counts for studio work though because he absolutely sucks live. Saw Dream Theater on both the Awake and the Falling Into Infinity tours and he sounded strained and uncomfortable. He dragged the overall performance down quite a bit IMO. Haven´t bothered to see them since then though. He might have bettered his performance?

LaBrie ruptured his vocal chords on either the Images and Words or Awake tour (cant remember which and it was because of food poisoning). His vocal performance of the last 10 years are far better than that of Falling Into Infinity.

sleeper wrote: UMUR wrote: LaBrie sounded great on Images & Words and Awake because the song lines were outstanding and fit his voice perfectly. I´ve always felt that it was the songlines that weren´t as good on later albums and not problems with James voice. This only counts for studio work though because he absolutely sucks live. Saw Dream Theater on both the Awake and the Falling Into Infinity tours and he sounded strained and uncomfortable. He dragged the overall performance down quite a bit IMO. Haven´t bothered to see them since then though. He might have bettered his performance? LaBrie ruptured his vocal chords on either the Images and Words or Awake tour (cant remember which and it was because of food poisoning). His vocal performance of the last 10 years are far better than that of Falling Into Infinity.

StyLaZyn wrote: sleeper wrote: UMUR wrote: LaBrie sounded great on Images & Words and Awake because the song lines were outstanding and fit his voice perfectly. I´ve always felt that it was the songlines that weren´t as good on later albums and not problems with James voice. This only counts for studio work though because he absolutely sucks live. Saw Dream Theater on both the Awake and the Falling Into Infinity tours and he sounded strained and uncomfortable. He dragged the overall performance down quite a bit IMO. Haven´t bothered to see them since then though. He might have bettered his performance? LaBrie ruptured his vocal chords on either the Images and Words or Awake tour (cant remember which and it was because of food poisoning). His vocal performance of the last 10 years are far better than that of Falling Into Infinity. In all honesty, I can't tell. He sounds the same as he ever did. One thing is for sure, he can't sing that metal type stuff. As a matter of fact, that band can't really play it that well either. They need to stick to Prog.

Didnt matter too much in the studio as it can be fixed up, but his voice really wasnt any good live at that time.

The T wrote: Mr ProgFreak wrote: ^ why would someone buy 6 or more albums of a band that he hates? Nah, I'm not buying that.   Oh buy it. I own all 4 Mars Volta albums and probably will buy the fifth as a song is titled after a volcano in my country. So i will end with 5 cds of a band I almost hate  (with the exception of the first album). It's just that sometimes you try hard, and think that the next album will be the one you'll like. Alas, it doesn't happen.   Regarding the thread, I would actually have serious problems digesting DT without LaBrie.

That's not for me. The most I'll have of any band I don't like is two. I'll try something once and give it a second chance, if the second chance doesn't pan out, I'm done. I'm still open to more music by said band, and if what I hear online convinces me otherwise, sure I'll go for it again.

Using your own Mars Volta comparison; their EP Concertina intruiged me. I love De-Loused in the Comatorium so I purchased Amputechture when that was released and I couldn't stand it (though I will give it another go in the future) I already knew I didn't like Frances the Mute. So I think they were a two-trick pony for me.

I hope not, I think LaBrie is a great singer.  I was listening to SFAM in the car this morning and thinking how great his vocals are, especially on 'Home'.

Hunh, I like LaBrie's voice and I think that it's a big part of Dream Theater. You know, Myung is an amazing bassist technically, but I probably wouldn't notice if he was changed for someone else who has the same technical skills. I don't know if the same would go for Petrucci and Portnoy (hm... I don't know? Maybe not?) but for LaBrie - no way. He has a distinct voice and when so many people hate his voice it can't be anything but true. I, for one, love his voice. :O So I don't hope he will be changed...

Greg W wrote: Seriously, Labrie did a solid job on Human Equation. With DT, he is happy singing in that old hair spray metal style of voice which is extremely annoying. He has proven, he is quite capable of singing in a more modern style, so why does he still sing with that cliched 80's style glam metal voice? YUK!

Whhaaaat? I just listened to Human Equation a few days ago and I must say that I was disappointed to his performance! Sure, I could stand it but it couldn't stand out from the group. (Comparing to, for example, Marcela Bovio. A beautiful voice, that one <3) I would say that it was one of his worst performances (from what I've heard) and then again, Black Clouds & Silver Linings one of his best performances. But of course this is just my opinion. :P


Edited by Tzibo - July 23 2009 at 06:25

Labrie is a good vocalist. Live, he is just average. His studio work is awesome. One of his best performances is Another Day.

StyLaZyn wrote: . . . DT is actually truly MP/JP/JM . . .

Actually, DT is MP, and that's it. Everything starts and ends with him. He's very controlling on what he does or doesn't like in the band. If he would someday decide to get a new vocalist, it wouldn't matter if the other guys still wanted to keep LaBrie; he would still get replaced. Because what Portnoy says goes.

Now having said that, LaBrie is one of my favorite vocalists, and I would be quite upset if he were replaced. I realize that his vocal rupture had some negative effect on his range, but he is still more capable than most vocalists his age despite that incident. I realize a lot of people would be overjoyed if James got kicked out, but honestly, I have never understood why so many people hate him as a singer. I think he's bloody great.

Here is the reason I oersonally don't think LaBrie is getting replaced; the guys in DT had a hell of a time finding a singer the first time around. Mike said that it was one of the most frustrating periods they ever went through. I honestly don't think they would want to go through that again, especially now that they are beginning to regain their popularity a bit. Looking for a new singer now would just delay things.

moshkito wrote:   M@X wrote: Maybe you are right or maybe not because as you may not know that PORCUPINE TREE released an intrumental version of "Fear of a Blank Planet". So maybe it's just a new market trend to improve the quality and content of CD-package  !   I thought it was Steven Wilson's version for the Karaoke crowd! ... I mean ... why not?

Let's not forget something. SW is well known for his 5.1 mixes focusing on the music aspect. On the other hand, DT is not.