I understand what you're saying, and hear what you're talking about as well. I also know he's not as good as he used to be in the 90's or on Six Degrees, but I still think his newest solo album and this newest DT release features some of his best vocals he's done in years. My comments didn't mean that I think he is just as good as he used to be, but rather he has improved immensely over their last few albums.
I'm not a Labria d-rider, but to say he's the sole cause of their musical degradation just seems a bit shortsighted or narrow-minded. On older DT albums, I used to be constantly wowed by Petrucci's guitar riffs, solos, ... chord voicings. The keyboard/piano parts were inspiring and very melodic. The drums were natural feeling and everything seemed to 'click' together in the mix. But on their last few albums it just doesn't seem like that spark is still there musically for any of them. I was hoping that Menghini being in the band would help re-fuel their fire, and it sounds like a very good attempt. Is it IWaW2? No. But it does have a more musical and prog. feel to it than other stuff they've done lately. While Labrie's vocals aren't as good as they used to be, he has improved on what he's done in the last 7 years or so. I can't say that about Rudess, or Petrucci, as all their parts sound bland, uninspired, and boring. HOWEVER, I do enjoy quite a bit of John's playing on their new album, but the vocals are the catalyst for me as to what makes this new album good.
I wouldn´t say the new DT sounds like a catastrophe - it doesn´t prevent the listening experience for me.
