Why don't people like James Labrie's vocals?
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29189
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Topic: Why don't people like James Labrie's vocals?
Posted By: Sasquamo
Subject: Why don't people like James Labrie's vocals?
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 14:33
| I've noticed that on this site a lot of people seem to dislike James Labrie's singing. I've been listening to a little Dream Theater, and I don't really see anything too wrong with his singing. I'm not saying I really like his vocals or Dream Theater, but I don't see what's so bad about him. I searched the site, and found a lot about how people don't like his singing, but nothing that really said why exactly they don't like it. |
Replies:
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 14:34
They're jealous.  ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 14:43
| It's theCheese factor. |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 14:45
| OK, I'll start... He's OK if he sings in a lower register, as he does on "Train of Thought". When he hits the higher notes, though, the results are often excruciating, as in "Take the Time" (even the studio version, not to mention his utterly awful performance on "Once in a Livetime"). I'll readily admit there are much worse singers around, but I think DT would sound much better with another vocalist. He just irritates the heck out of me... I think it's a good enough explanation. |
Posted By: Visitor13
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 14:49
| His singing gets terribly, terribly maudlin at times, it just smells of cheese a mile away. |
Posted By: Angelo
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 14:50
 I was thinking about starting a thread like this one. Today when I checked the forum I found three threads in one screen with the following topics: - forum_posts.asp?TID=28342 - What to do what to do...**RUSH*** vocals - forum_posts.asp?TID=29082 - Replacing LaBrie - forum_posts.asp?TID=28929 - Hogarth singing Fish songs Struck me as kind of silly, but I guess the hype of the month is 'singers you (don't) like', just like we had 'Dream Theaters you (don't) love' over the past three months.  Anyway, here's my reaction to these three threads, and this one as well: - forum_posts.asp?TID=28342 - What to do what to do...**RUSH*** vocals Two options: either accept Geddy the way he is and depending on your personal preference listen or don't. Rush without Geddy is not Rush, that's for sure after 30 years... - forum_posts.asp?TID=29082 - Replacing LaBrie Same as above, substitute Geddy with James and Rush with Dream Theater. Oh, and change 30 years into 'almost 26' - forum_posts.asp?TID=28929 - Hogarth singing Fish songs Hogarth can sing Fish songs, but he can never replace him 1-on-1. They're two people, two very different persons and vocally they are a lot further apart than for instance John Oliva and Zack Stevens (Savatage). Accept it. - Why don't people like James Labrie's vocals? Most likely because it's too over the top for some - I have to agree that he is close to the edge of what he's vocally capable of on some tracks, but he does know how to sing - and sometimes gets a chance to show it. Well, tomorrow it's october, so I'm curious as to what next month's hype is going to bring us...  ------------- http://www.iskcrocks.com" rel="nofollow - ISKC Rock Radio I stopped blogging and reviewing - so won't be handling requests. Promo's for ariplay can be sent to [email protected] |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 14:53
I hold the completely opposite side. When he's singing in his trained operatic voice he's amazing and fits the band perfectly. However, when he tries to be this tough leather wearing, James Hetfield type it's laughable. First, his voice isn't structured to be singing like that and it comes out sounding so strained, forced, and unnatural. Also, he can't get the grit or rasp needed in his voice to pull off singing like he tries on ToT for example. He had a nice return to form on some moments in Octavarium which is what made so enjoyable. ------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Ghost Rider wrote:Posted By: RomanticWarrior
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 15:23
"i dont like his singing cause he hits high notes" <<< ridiculous...those reviews on LaBries singing are lame just dont give em any attention..
Now the real problem with LaBrie concerning his style is mainly after 93' injury i would say...
Apart from loosing his volume , what actually was the main problem with LaBrie was his lack of feeling in the songs...Thats why "Progressive Metal" fits way better in Dream Theater than "Progressive Rock", LaBrie could never be a Rock singer...i mean Neal Morse could actually be a rock singer for that matter...
Just an example, "TAKE AWAY MY PAIN" song from Falling into Infinity.... Freddie Mercury would have turned that song into something..LaBrie made it "another track"...that kind of sucks also...
So if you dont mind those 2 things and the fact he sings perfect, and uses mainly the same technique for every lyric doesnt matter if its about death, or love...than i guess its okey :)...you could say he's an awesome singer...you should also check out Leonardo The Absolute Man, or either Ayreons projects that includes him...get any of it cause it sounds pretty similar...Elements of Persuasion is also a very enjoyable disc...
Stay Classy
------------- 
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Posted By: glass house
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 16:19
| When he hits his high notes his pronounciation stops being understandable. It just gets very annoying. He drags his notes and it is just not a pleasant sound. His singing in The Human Equation is almost bearable. |
Posted By: Selkie
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 16:39
I agree on the James Hetfield impersonations. Any of LaBrie's attempts at rapping are also quite disastrous. Some of his mannerisms when singing over mellow sections really irritate me, especially that fake vibrato he uses at low volume for dramatic effect.
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Posted By: Philéas
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 16:57
| I don't like him very much because I can't hear a word of what he sings when he's singing high notes. It's very irritating. But when he doesn't wail too much he's fine, and strangely enough I like his James Hetfield impressions (although he fails at sounding like him). I also like Geddy Lee's high-pitched vocals very much (probably because I can hear what he sings). |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 19:23
easy... I don't like the sound of his voice... and he has been SO MUCH FUN to pick on. A microcosm of Dream Theater... great instrumental skills that sound overproduced and sterile, that is when you can actally hear them (ahem...Myung), and wasted on crappy music. You asked...... ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: moreitsythanyou
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 20:34
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I'll admit his voice gets annoying when he gets too "metally" if you know what I mean (ie 6:00) but on the vast majority of Dream Theater's work, I just don't see everyone's complaints. -------------  <font color=white>butts, lol[/COLOR] |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 20:38
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I'd be interested in hearing Jeff Scott Soto sing with Dream Theater. The guy's got terrific pipes. Instead, he's singing in...Journey.
------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: September 30 2006 at 20:46
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He's a good singer, but not from those whose voice could be instantly recognized, at least for my ears. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Swanhild
Date Posted: October 01 2006 at 16:27
Ditto; I can't help smiling to myself when he does that. Also, he is not good at rapping. But apart from this, he is OK; not great but OK; I like his singing for example in Metropolis I. |
Posted By: epifreak
Date Posted: October 01 2006 at 17:01
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Initially, LaBrie's voice was very offputting for me when I checked out DT. At the time I was nearing the edge of my "Yay! 80's" phase. I was used to the high pitched vocals present in Iron Maiden. I found Images and Words in a pawn shop for like $2, so having heard good things about the band, I thought I'd give it a try. Primarily, LaBrie's voice was too nasal for my tastes. When I compared it to Maiden, I noted that the vocals in Maiden were high, but stayed clearly out of the nose; whereas DT seemed locked in them. Within a month or two, the album worked its way out of my cd collection into the "old albums" shoebox in my closet. I eventually found my way to proper prog, not through DT, but through Opeth (found Deliverance for like $5 at On Cue's going out of business clearout in my hometown about 4 years ago.) This lasted up until last year, when I impulsively grabbed a bunch of DT tracks (I was looking for some instrumental cheese) off of my college's network. It hit the backlogs of winamp until I happened to stumble across A Change of Seasons. That changed everything; the track was incredible in every way (yes, even vocals). Listening to that enough, I got used to LaBrie's voice, and have enjoyed the band ever since. So the moral of this story IMO (besides I've gotten some great deals on cds) is that LaBrie's voice is an acquired taste, much like Dave Mustaine's (Megadeth), Dani Filth's (Cradle of Filth), or John Davis's (Korn). |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: October 01 2006 at 17:09
I wouldn't know where to begin. ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: Arrrghus
Date Posted: October 01 2006 at 17:13
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People don't like LaBrie because he's too talented for them. ------------- 
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Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: October 01 2006 at 17:21
Count me in this group. |
Posted By: Arrrghus
Date Posted: October 01 2006 at 17:22
Where does he do this? Wait, "trapped inside this Octavarium!" -------------
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Posted By: Swanhild
Date Posted: October 01 2006 at 20:03
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I am not well acquainted with Metallica, but in "As I am" (ToT), after the last "Take me as I am", he does something that is characteristic of JH.
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Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: October 02 2006 at 00:56
no way, that's just him releasing so much tension build up from Images and Words or Awake, since that was the last time he sang as well as he does on Octavarium ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
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Posted By: markosherrera
Date Posted: October 19 2006 at 20:39
| the problem with la brie is that he cant transmit the emotions or feelings like for example can do peter gabriel,fish etc. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: October 19 2006 at 21:02
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very easy: because they like theatrical, un-melodical voices like peter gabriel's. Yes, he's thougth to be the one and only singer ever... actually, maybe the music got worse but the singing got better after Gabriel's departure and Collins replacing him. LABrie, he sings, he makes MELODY with his voice, he sings NOTES.
Yes, a good actor maybe LABrie it is not, but a good singer, he is.
And yes, he's not perfect. When he tries to sing "metal style", rasing his voice to much, his throat kind of gives up. But besides this, he;s really good.
Please: YES AND GENESIS ARE NOT THE BEGINNING AND END OF MUSIC.
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Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: October 19 2006 at 21:14
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For me, since SFAM LaBrie has had a really good voice, one that Ilike a lot. However, on the early albums, especially Awake, his high notes were really grating and uninelligable. He doesseem to be getting better with each album though.
------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: SolariS
Date Posted: October 19 2006 at 22:34
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FALSETTO -------------  
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Posted By: OpethGuitarist
Date Posted: October 20 2006 at 00:12
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i won't even start with this topic let's just say people have their differences of opinion on this one and they are very extreme, much like peoples opinions of Ted Nugent ------------- back from the dead, i will begin posting reviews again and musing through the forums |
Posted By: Chus
Date Posted: October 20 2006 at 00:18
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he's just too generic metal... and the way he pronounces with his high-pitched notes is quite annoying. he has a refined voice, but the way he wants to degenerate into a Dio or Hetfield wannabe is also a factor ------------- Jesus Gabriel |
Posted By: tardis
Date Posted: October 20 2006 at 00:19
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I love his voice
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Posted By: markosherrera
Date Posted: October 20 2006 at 00:35
| WELL WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LA BRIE ,BUT I DONT BELIEVE THAT COLLINS IS BETTER THAN GABRIEL PLEASE LISTEN MORE MUSIC OF GABRIEL. |
Posted By: DarioIndjic
Date Posted: October 20 2006 at 01:55
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Lack of emotions ------------- Ars longa , vita brevis |
Posted By: Chicapah
Date Posted: October 20 2006 at 15:21
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I love his work on "Octavarium" in that he seems in harmony with his
voice and has found his comfort zone. On "Scenes from a Memory"
he shrieks a few times and that did bother me some but he kept it to a
minimum and didn't overdo it. However, I recently got "Awake" and
realized what everyone was referring to in that his overuse of the
higher register and his laughable "scary" voice almost made the cd
unlistenable to my ears. I've since gotten to where I can ignore
his frantic vocals (after all, it was recorded in 1993-94) and admire
the great musicianship going on and the album isn't a complete waste of
money. In essence, LaBrie seems to be getting better with
age/wisdom and learning how to sing with more honesty (as he does on
the inspiring "I walk beside you") and control of his emotions. I
haven't listened to TOT and just got my copy of "Six Degrees" this week
and have yet to give it a spin. As long as it's more like
"Scenes" and less like "Awake" I'm sure I'll enjoy it. All in
all, James' vocals are still a lot better than most and fits the music
of DT just fine for me.
------------- "Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: October 20 2006 at 15:31
 I'm no expert, but I'd hazard to guess that people don't like the sound they make.
Mystery solved!
 Now, ask me why I don't like death metal, or the Mars Volta....  ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: October 20 2006 at 16:30
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^Why dont you like death metal, or The Mars Volta (you asked!)
------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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Posted By: blindtoad
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 10:58
I don't think Labrie can be compared with lee.... because all the greatest DTR songs are instrumental:P ------------- quelqu'un pour un jam? blindtoad = Poor english... |
Posted By: Angelo
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 11:14
Duh (And of course almost 26 should be almost 20 in my post) ------------- http://www.iskcrocks.com" rel="nofollow - ISKC Rock Radio I stopped blogging and reviewing - so won't be handling requests. Promo's for ariplay can be sent to [email protected] |
Posted By: Yito
Date Posted: October 28 2006 at 12:23
Have you ever listen the live versions of "Wait For Sleep", "Vacant", "Octavarium" and "Endless Sacrife" this guy sing with the heart
a complete genius  .------------- Psalm 96 1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. |
Posted By: blindtoad
Date Posted: October 29 2006 at 09:03
Yes I was in the past I was a DT fan... and (IMO) the greatest song of DT is Dance of Eternity... Labrie is not in the good band... his place is in a cheezie power metal band(IMHO) ------------- quelqu'un pour un jam? blindtoad = Poor english... |
Posted By: Anguiad
Date Posted: October 30 2006 at 19:08
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It could be his face, he is an ugly man! I never imagined someone like him to have that singing style, nowadays I'm used to but it was strange earlier on.
ummm...I dunno...maybe because he sings way too high? I like that way of singing, the only drawback is that he can`t always sing high pitches live. (however, I haven't heard Score, it'll probably change my mind) Let the people who don't like him listen to LTE only, I am happy with LaBrie. ------------- "Tis your birth and faith that wrong you...not I." |
Posted By: Melisma
Date Posted: October 30 2006 at 23:01
Good Job Angelo! Couldn't have said it better! ------------- Melisma Life is a trip! Death is an odyssey... |
Posted By: Pnoom!
Date Posted: October 31 2006 at 08:39
That's basically it. Octavarium was a good song until the vocals came in.
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