ALBUM REVIEW: Beautiful Shade Of Grey – James LaBrie
Having spent over three decades as the frontman of DREAM THEATER, James LaBrie is often inextricably linked with the world of progressive metal. However, LaBrie’s approach to solo albums has often seen the powerhouse singer move in a different direction to his day job. In particular, releases under the JAMES LABRIE banner since the early 00s have drawn more inspiration from the world of melodic death metal than they have the annals of prog, with LaBrie’s silky smooth voice countered by the extreme growls of other vocalists. Clearly having had his fill of the melodeath sound however, Beautiful Shade Of Grey sees LaBrie pivot in a much more mellow and harmonious direction.
Stylistically, Beautiful Shade Of Grey leans on the gentler side of things, walking a line between modern alternative, classic rock and acoustic. There is a classic pop music sensibility to much of the album, with songs proving short, tight and focused, free of most of the excess of prog. That’s not to say the songs are simple, mind; from the acoustically riffy romp of opener Devil In Drag, the album’s lush textures present themselves immediately. Mild Hammond organs, synth leads and deep acoustic guitars provide a rich bedding for LaBrie’s clean and powerful vocals to take centre stage. Indeed, Beautiful Shade Of Grey has more than a few things in common with the prog-rock informed pop of modern STEVEN WILSON releases, imbuing direct song-writing with a satisfyingly varied sonic landscape of both electric and acoustic instruments.
On that poppier side of things are tracks like SuperNova Girl, a catchy acoustic pseudo-ballad that – thanks to its slightly sinister chord progressions – wouldn’t sound out of place on a 90s alt rock album. Wildflower follows in a similar vein. Part GOO GOO DOLLS and part CHEAP TRICK ballad, its chock full of lilting and serene vocal melodies with just a tinge of melancholy. It also provides a great showcase for LaBrie’s lesser used tender tones, his breathy delivery effortlessly reaching delicate high notes without the need for the same projection and bravado more metallic music calls for. On the marginally rockier side of things is Hit Me Like A Brick, which follows the same acoustic riffs stylings of Devil In Drag and bounces between Nashville-inspired verses and another ear-worm of a chorus.
Outside of the aforementioned livelier moments, Beautiful Shade Of Grey places a lot of focus on gentler ballads and proves mostly successful in doing so. The spaced-out acoustic arpeggios and urgent bass guitar thump of Give And Take set the scene for LaBrie to tackle a morose ballad, with its impactful chorus proving an album highlight. Am I Right is the album’s quietest moment, with subtle guitar picking and LaBrie’s voice providing the song its enchanting body. The song gradually builds as tinkling pianos join the fold, with LaBrie’s husky and wistful vocal tone softly pulling everything along with it. It’s a song that will stop listeners in their tracks with how confidently restrained it is. Really, the only time the ballad-y approach of the album feels unwelcome is the energy-sapping Sunset Ruin, a perfectly serviceable track that simply doesn’t live up to the high-quality bar set elsewhere on Beautiful Shade Of Grey.
While the melodic and memorable song-writing across the album is compelling in itself, it’s probably no surprise to learn that the real star of the show here is James LaBrie himself. Beautiful Shade Of Grey is a showcase for the versatility of LaBrie’s voice, effortlessly able to move between the high, powerful projection we know from DREAM THEATER to this beautiful and tuneful half-whisper at the drop of a hat (oddly enough, the cover of LED ZEPPELIN’s Ramble On incorporates both styles pretty well). For a singer who has previously and unfairly been maligned by critics and fans in his career, Beautiful Shade Of Grey does a great job of showing just how flexible LaBrie is and has always been.
In all, Beautiful Shade Of Grey lives up to its name; sometimes melancholy, sometimes joyful and always captivating, this collection of pop-tinged acoustic rockers is another string to the bow of one of rock and metal’s most storied vocalists.
Rating: 8/10
Beautiful Shade Of Grey is set for release on May 20th via InsideOut Music.
Like JAMES LABRIE on Facebook.