Label: http://www.insideoutmusic.com/
Release Date: April 5, 2005
Home Page: http://www.jameslabrie.com/
Say you found me lying face down in the gutter, passed out after a weekend long alcohol marathon, gave me a little kick in the ribs and said, Hey, drunk guy, whos your least favorite singer? Even my unconscious brain, soaked in bourbon and dazed from the fall which landed me in said gutter, would be able to force the name James LaBrie past my lips. So, with that in mind, on to the review.
Elements of Persuasion is James LaBries 3rd solo release, but his first without the MULLMUZZLER moniker. Having heard neither of his first two releases (see opening paragraph), Im unable to draw comparisons between his latest effort and his previous works. LaBrie, his vocal shortcomings aside, is not a stupid man. Hes surrounded himself with exceptional players, most notably drummer Mike Mangini.
The music on Elements of Persuasion is excellent. Its played with immense skill and maturity. While many DREAM THEATER side projects tend to offer little more than flashy musicianship, the songs here are well crafted and thoughtful. The musicianship is impressive, but not at the expense of the songs. As a whole, the CD is very well balanced, and has a real sense of flow to it. Had another singer been involved with this project, I would purchase this disc without hesitation. Unfortunately, LaBrie just ruins it for me.
As youve probably surmised, for me, this CD boils down to the singer. If youre one of the millions of loyal Dream Theater fans, and you enjoy James style, Id highly recommend Elements of Persuasion. Its very song-focused, and features some amazing performances by his backing band. If like me, youre not a fan of James voice, you would do well to avoid this disc.
Rating: 5/10
Reviewer: General Zod
