LaBrie's Mullmuzzler, James - James LaBrie's Mullmuzzler 2

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Magna Carta
Catalog Number: MA 9056-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 52:34:00

I must admit that, recently, in the last meetings amongst prog-lovers here in the Italian Adriatic coast, I was too much critical about James LaBrie, the well-known vocalist of Dream Theater. Well ... the thing is that, I firmly believe in the amazing talent that the aforementioned vocalist possesses, and I'm happy to announce that with the second Mullmuzzler album, these qualities finally return to gleam like gold, a thing not always demonstrated in recent live recordings (for example Once In A Livetime). In fact I think that this album is the crowning achievement of James as a solo artist, (an artist) helped in these songs by a great team of musicians, equally impressive as his DT companions. The line-up includes, amongst the others, Trent Gardner (omnipresent! Nda), Shadow Gallery's Gary Werkhamp and Carl-Cadden James, all focused on giving the best they've got to the listener. However, the one that works himself out to give the best performance is clearly James, who lashes out his powerful and melodic voice with perfect pitch in every one of the ten songs featured on the CD. I have in mind the great Glossolalia album made last year by Steve Walsh as a good comparison for this one, a comparison that can be seen also in the strange cover that graces the record. For example, as was the case for Glossolalia in Mullmuzzler 2 we clearly hear that the music, albeit strongly influenced by the artist's background, has a lot of modern arrangements going on as well, and is always submitted to the voice and its shades. The vocal lines remain the focal point of everything, from delicate and smooth songs like "Falling" and "Listening", to heavy prog anthems like "Tell Me" and "Stranger", with James giving a helluva effort every time and everywhere. So boys, here it is, highly recommended prog-stuff, in the wake of the next Dream Theater album, expected around January 2002.

Tracklisting:
Afterlife (4:54) / Venice Burning (6:26) / Confronting the Devil (6:20) / Falling (3:52) / Stranger (6:32) / A Simple Man (5:20) / Save Me (4:11) / Believe (5:00) / Listening (4:14) / Tell Me (5:14)

Musicians:
James LaBrie - lead and background vocals
Matt Guillory - keyboards/piano
Trent Gardner - keyboards/piano
Mike Mangini - drums
Mike Keneally- guitars
Mike Borkosky - guitars
Bryan Beller - bass

Discography:
Mullmuzzler (1999)
James LaBrie's Mullmuzzler 2 (2001)
Elements Of Persuasion (2005)
Prime Cuts (2008)
Static Impulse (2010)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: August 16th 2001
Reviewer: Igor Italiani

Artist website: www.mullmuzzler.com/
Hits: 2808
Language: english