Table of Contents
James LaBrie, identified internationally because the vocalist for progressive steel icons DREAM THEATER, embarks on uncharted waters along with his fourth solo album, titled “Lovely Shade Of Gray”, due out on Might 20 by way of InsideOut Music. Right this moment sees the launch of the album’s first single and opening observe, “Satan In Drag”, and you may watch the Wayne Joyner-produced video beneath.
The brand new endeavor sees him traverse private maturation, loss, a myriad of complicated relationships and, most significantly, LaBrie‘s burning ardour for music. On paper, the newest studio providing from the Canadian singer first took form shortly after the worldwide pandemic started to emerge. However in actuality, LaBrie fashioned a bond along with his fellow collaborator, bassist Paul Logue (EDEN’S CURSE), almost a decade earlier.
The 2 first met in 2011, when James would lend his voice to a characteristic for Logue‘s band, U.Okay. melodic steel outfit EDEN’S CURSE, on the music “No Holy Man”. As years glided by the 2 remained in contact, sometimes kicking the tires on the concept of working collectively on one other undertaking. However when DREAM THEATER carried out in Glasgow throughout the late winter of 2020, LaBrie and Logue would run into one another on the airport — as soon as once more asking the query. However this time, armed with the information {that a} drastic change on this planet was all however imminent, LaBrie made the choice to set issues in movement.
On the album, Logue performs acoustic rhythm guitar (each six- and twelve-string) and acoustic bass, whereas guitarist Marco Sfogli, who’s contributed on all of LaBrie‘s solo albums since 2005’s “Parts Of Persuasion”, dealt with the leads and solos. Logue recruited EDEN’S CURSE keyboardist Christian Pulkkinen to lend his taking part in on the report, whereas the suggestion to recruit James‘s son Likelihood to play drums would additionally come from Paul. “Lovely Shade Of Gray”, as LaBrie describes it, was a title that solely got here to him as soon as he recognized the report’s two core themes all through its observe checklist.
“A whole lot of these lyrics are coping with the fantastic thing about human beings, and lots are coping with the gray areas of the in between,” James says. “You are not precisely blissful, however you are not precisely unhappy both.”
The report begins off (and ends) with the observe “Satan In Drag”, which emerges as a wall of synthesizers and acoustic strumming earlier than exploding right into a full-blown ensemble. LaBrie expresses that the music was written about “somebody who began out as an honest human being, however alongside the best way misplaced contact with their roots — over time turning into self-serving, narcissistic and devoid of ideas or values.” Happening to say, “‘Satan In Drag’ is written from the angle of somebody who’s identified all of them their life and, seeing them now, asking ‘what occurred?'”
“Lovely Shade Of Gray” will likely be launched as a restricted CD digipak, 180-gram LP, CD and as a digital album, with art work by Thomas Ewerhard.
“Lovely Shade Of Gray” observe itemizing:
01. Satan In Drag
02. SuperNova Lady
03. Give And Take
04. Sundown Damage
05. Hit Me Like A Brick
06. Wildflower
07. Conscience Calling
08. What I Missed
09. Am I Proper
10. Ramble On
11. Satan In Drag (Electrical Model)
Final December, LaBrie instructed Full Steel Jackie‘s nationally syndicated radio present about how Nineteen Seventies rock music influenced and impressed “Lovely Shade Of Gray”: “I am an enormous [LED] ZEPPELIN fan. I am an enormous [fan of] PINK FLOYD and AEROSMITH and DEEP PURPLE and all that. These bands had been so iconic again within the ’70s. So a variety of the inspiration, after I sat down with Paul Logue, who’s the opposite musician that I wrote the album with, and he is from Scotland, I mentioned, ‘Paul, I simply need us to assume extra about…’ If you concentrate on the acoustic finish of ZEPPELIN and their natural method to their songs, it was nonetheless lovely, it was nonetheless highly effective, extraordinarily melodic, and it simply sort of reached deep inside, it resonated deep inside every one among us that listened to any ZEPPELIN. In order that was the catalyst to set issues in movement. It turned a full ensemble. I imply, I’ve keyboards, drums, bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar after which myself doing all of the vocals. So it is considerably acoustic however it’s additionally a full ensemble as nicely. So it nonetheless has the total band sort of sound and orchestration.”
Relating to the lyrical themes lined on the LP, James mentioned: “‘Lovely Shade Of Gray’ has lots to do with the lyrics that I wrote for this album. And a variety of my lyrics are coping with the human situation and all of the dynamics of life in itself that every one among us expertise and, to a sure diploma, it’s normal for many of us to undergo the identical experiences. So I wished to jot down lots about that. In order that’s sort of what impressed this entire enterprise.”
Final October, James instructed “The Everyman Podcast” about how his collaboration with Logue took place: “I sang on one among [EDEN’S CURSE‘s] songs again in 2010 referred to as ‘No Holy Man’; so I visitor on that. And I actually appreciated Paul‘s writing. To me, Paul‘s writing was extra from a classical period — just like the ’70s; that basic rock method. And I had a variety of concepts in that vein.
“Paul and I truly ran into one another — you assume destiny is not there with you; holy shit… The day after we completed the present — DREAM THEATER in Glasgow [on] February twenty third [2020]. I am ready for my flight on the twenty fourth to go to London after which Toronto, and Paul walks by me and he goes, ‘James!’ I am, like, ‘Oh my God!’ He goes, ‘You recognize I used to be on the present final evening.’ He saved attempting to e-mail me on my previous e-mail handle. And he goes, ‘Pay attention, let me know. You wanna get collectively? You wanna do some writing?’ And I mentioned, ‘I might like to.’ On the time, I mentioned, ‘I do not know. Some freaky shit’s happening. You are listening to about this virus?’ ‘Yeah. Yeah.’ [I said] ‘We have gotta go to Asia, then we have gotta go to freakin’ South America and North America and all that.’ I mentioned, ‘So we’re most likely not gonna be achieved until October, however why do not we begin writing then? Or why do not we begin throwing concepts again within the meantime, and I may even be on the highway and dealing on it?’ And he goes, ‘Nice.’ Unexpectedly, the world closes down. So we received on it… It was most likely… All the things closed down March fifteenth, I consider, and by March twentieth, him and I had been already passing concepts backwards and forwards.”
Elaborating on the songwriting course of for “Lovely Shade Of Gray”, LaBrie mentioned: “We began as, we mentioned, ‘Let’s simply hold it actual uncooked and acoustic-based — that’ll be the basic of this album,’ after which it sort of morphed into extra of an ensemble, so [with] keyboards… Marco Sfogli is taking part in lead guitar on all of the tracks. Paul is taking part in all of the rhythm acoustic guitars and bass. After which [my son] Likelihood [LaBrie] is doing drums. Christian Pulkkinen is the keyboard participant, who’s a unbelievable keyboard participant, piano participant. All of the lyrics, besides one, I penned.
“It was actually fascinating the way it got here collectively, whether or not I might be throwing [Paul] a riff or I might be throwing him a melody concept that turned a refrain to one of many songs or verses,” he continued. “After which he’d throw me again his concepts musically. And we slowly however absolutely put all of it collectively. We had all people absolutely concerned. And it got here out unbelievable. The label is actually stoked about it. It has that sort of ZEPPELIN-esque really feel to it, however nonetheless the modern-day points of it as nicely are there. So it is nice.”
Picture credit score: Thomas Ewerhard
