This....

To my ear (and I have much expierience using Melodyne and other pitch "fixing" software) it sounds like a word or a syllable every now and then....99% or more is untouched to me...

a lot of examples I have seen over the years have seemed like syncing issues more than re-recordings...just my .02...

"Be careful.  You're a man who makes people afraid, and that's dangerous."

"It's what people know about themselves inside that makes em' afraid."

Well, mostly due to touring...try to hit all those high notes every show, there's a point where your throat doesn't give in anymore.

The studio version will always sound cleaner, since they do takes in between.

Not one of my fav singers though...I prefer Matts Leven or Russell Allen instead, they would make DT sound a whole lotta SWEETER!

Liquid Drum Theater


All I know is that JLB is sounding better and better as each year goes by. He was practically flawless on the BC&SL Tour.

That's what I wanted to say with my post.
Wasn't it obvious in my post?

colty42


So Madman, did he not use that technique before the Cuba incident? Or during earlier tours, most likely pre-Train of Thought?  Because to me his voice has two distinct periods (the vocal rupture notwithstanding): Pre-2002 and Post-2002. 

Yes, I'm pretty sure that is about when he changed his style.

If you remember from the DT book, they were close to kicking James out in 2002 because his on stage performances weren't as consistent.  In other words, he couldn't hit all the notes and had to sing an octave lower (among other things).  He went to a new vocal coach and she said that everything he was taught before was crap (his almost exact words from an interview I read a while back).  Then, from the WDADRU show, he is talking with Charlie about a new technique he uses called Passagio which uses the nasal passages.

So what you get is the occasional nasal sounding tone in concert.  You can really tell on live albums but not so much when you are actually there.  This also means his performances are more consistent though not quite as powerful.

Pre 2002 he would occasionally hit notes that would blow everyone away but those would really kill his voice.  Back on the Images & Words tour before the Cuba incident, he would still blow his voice out occasionally.  In fact, Kevin Moore's last show was ended early for that very reason leaving "Eve" the last song he ever played with the band rather than what they planned.

So anyway, thats all I know. 

Just for the record. Last night gig in Mexico City, he sounded like he was in the studio. Awsome.

I think a reason for the nasal tone in the live environment is that James uses a technique which keeps his voice in a good condition, without straining it.
I found out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCH2efeC_g8&feature=related at JLB forum, and at the end (5:20) he hits some very high notes and sounds like 20 years before, so i think he is still able to kick serious ass (i think he does) but he keeps it low so he doesn't do any damage to his voice.

Xulid


Well YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

http://jlbscream.ytmnd.com/old/

I know, I know, it's been posted a billion times.  But i LOVE it.

THE MAN IS A GOLDEN GOD

http://www.myspace.com/corelliasd

Guys, this is a great discussion.  Thanks for keeping it so positive and to the point, and polite, because I know this topic gets out of hand all the time (for no reason, Mr. LaBrie is one of the greatest singers alive).

One question, does this nasal passage technique make it harder to sing in tune?  I know Mr. LaBrie isn't straining, but sometimes notes can be quite flat at times...but then, playing in a huge arena makes it hard to hear!

One question I've had for a while, is why he can't sustain the vibrato on the tough sections in Another Day?  Even now with how great he sounds, he doesn't do it.  I haven't actually heard him sing the song properly since 1994, before the accident.  Could anyone shed some light on that?

I have to admit that I haven't noticed the difference between live and studio tone quality. But what I can say is that I think his voice has become darker and richer as the years go by. Some of that has to do with age. I'm not a vocalist, but I went to school with a bunch of them. I recall (and somebody please correct me if I am wrong about this) that many vocalists reach their peak in their late 30s and early 40s. So if you're comparing the tone of a song from Images and Words to a current live performance, I think there is a noticeable difference.

http://www.thecontrapuntist.com/

I saw the title of this thread and imagined a strict teacher - "I DON'T LIKE YOUR TONE, LABRIE!"

Staker

I saw the title of this thread and imagined a strict teacher - "I DON'T LIKE YOUR TONE, LABRIE!"

"Absolute rubbish, LaBrie! Get on with your work!
Repeat after me: An acre is the area of a rectangle..."

ViolinTheater


Guys, this is a great discussion.  Thanks for keeping it so positive and to the point, and polite, because I know this topic gets out of hand all the time (for no reason, Mr. LaBrie is one of the greatest singers alive).

One question, does this nasal passage technique make it harder to sing in tune?  I know Mr. LaBrie isn't straining, but sometimes notes can be quite flat at times...but then, playing in a huge arena makes it hard to hear!

I would imagine.  I am by no means an expert but from what little experience I have I know that the strongest styles of singing are often the hardest on your voice.  That is why his performances were more inconsistent in the I&W days but when he was on he fucking KILLED.

Now he can hit 98% of the notes but if you were to hear it directly from the mic into your ears you could tell a difference.  Sometimes its flat, sometimes its not as powerful. 

Plus, age is a factor.  Even a vocalist like Dio can't hit a lot of notes anymore.  Don't get me wrong, he is still a vocal god, but he makes a few more compromises than he used to when he performs live.