New solo albums from JLB and JP

[Fiery Winds]

One thing I don't understand, maybe you guys can clarify for me. 

Why is the JLB solo album considered a solo album when he's just a vocalist?  I don't believe he writes the music, and I'm not sure how much input he has on the writing besides the lyrics and vocal melodies.  It seems kind of unfair for the rest of the musicians in the band.

[abydos]

Why are DT albums called Dream Theater albums when probably 90% of the music is what JP/MP want?

[contest_sanity]

One thing I don't understand, maybe you guys can clarify for me. 

Why is the JLB solo album considered a solo album when he's just a vocalist?  I don't believe he writes the music, and I'm not sure how much input he has on the writing besides the lyrics and vocal melodies.  It seems kind of unfair for the rest of the musicians in the band.

Because he is the creative director of the whole musical enterprise, although with heavy input from his keyboard player.  But more importantly -- if they don't call it 'James Labrie,' then no one would know to buy it.

[Fiery Winds]

Because he is the creative director of the whole musical enterprise, although with heavy input from his keyboard player.  But more importantly -- if they don't call it 'James Labrie,' then no one would know to buy it.

That's what I was thinking.  However, don't you think the only people who know who JLB is would be the ones to keep track of what group he's in? 

[contest_sanity]

Because he is the creative director of the whole musical enterprise, although with heavy input from his keyboard player.  But more importantly -- if they don't call it 'James LaBrie,' then no one would know to buy it.

That's what I was thinking.  However, don't you think the only people who know who JLB is would be the ones to keep track of what group he's in? 

Obviously, yes, we true fans would.  But perhaps for the more casual fan?  Anyway, there was a whole discussion about this issue of the name in the 2nd ed. of Lifting Shadows, and basically it came down to better name recognition.  Maybe he should pull a Tom Petty, though, and go with James LaBrie and The ........... -- whatever it is they would be called.   

[Fiery Winds]

I think it would only be fair to the other members of the band.  They're not washed out rockers, they're decent musicians, and I think some more recognition would be good.

[contest_sanity]

I think it would only be fair to the other members of the band.  They're not washed out rockers, they're decent musicians, and I think some more recognition would be good.

Marco's definitely more than a decent guitarist; he rocks!!! 

James LaBrie And The Not-The-Rest-Of-Dream-Theater-Guys. 

[LCArenas]

James LaBrie and the F#s

[contest_sanity]

James LaBrie and the F#s

[Bone_Daddy]

One thing I don't understand, maybe you guys can clarify for me. 

Why is the JLB solo album considered a solo album when he's just a vocalist?  I don't believe he writes the music, and I'm not sure how much input he has on the writing besides the lyrics and vocal melodies.  It seems kind of unfair for the rest of the musicians in the band.

Because he is the creative director of the whole musical enterprise, although with heavy input from his keyboard player.  But more importantly -- if they don't call it 'James Labrie,' then no one would know to buy it.

+1

[abydos]

James LaBrie and the Knockouts?

[hefdaddy42]

I don't think it's about "fair" or "unfair" to the musicians.  These are professional musicians, and this is a gig.  It's not a real band, in the sense that DT is a band.

[Ultimetalhead]

James LaBrie and the Shovels?

[antigoon]

James and "la" Bries.

[Adami]

James LaBrie and the people who write all the music for him.

[LCArenas]

James LaBrie and the people who write all the music for him.

Just Matt Guillory and Himself? They're the main songwriters of all the songs

[Adami]

James LaBrie and the people who write all the music for him.

Just Matt Guillory and Himself? They're the main songwriters of all the songs

Fine.

James LaBrie and the guy who writes all his music and most of his vocals and a bunch of other guys who play all of his music.

[Slain]

yay for the James...nay for the John..his first attempt was pretty weak tea.

I agree that Suspended Animation was kind of weak. But then again, I think LaBrie's first two solo albums were pretty weak as well.

It had some pretty sweet tracks though, but I will agree that it isn't amazing

[DT05]

That 2010 album was so killer