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MullMuzzler
MullMuzzler 1 (1999)
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| Reviewer: lach (96) |
Two solo albums from Dream Theater singer, James LaBrie. For contractual reasons the record label wouldn't let him use his name.. (how stupid/pathetic can you get), so he had to come up with a new name for the band. Choosing possibly the most confusing name for a solo album, these albums feature keyboardist Matt Guillory (from Dali's Dilemma), Mike Keneally (guitar), Mike Mangini (drums), Bryan Beller (bass). The last three have all played in Steve Vai's touring band, this being the primary reason why I was excited about the first CD. The music is a pretty high quality standard progressive rock/metal. The opening track "His Voice" is great, and Matt Guillory's keyboard are very cool. Track seven "Lace" is also a favourite, with a cool guitar solo that morphs into a keyboard solo. I managed to have a quick chat to Keneally about this (backstage at a Vai concert), and he said that it was initially supposed to be a guitar/keyboard doubled solo, but in mixing time this is what they did to it, and I think it's pretty cool. While I was initially impressed, over time it's slowly started getting on my nerves. There's a couple of quite good songs here, except Labrie seems to be quite excited about the prospect of not being limited to what Dream Theater want him to do. Unfortunately this means he's determined to sing as loud and as high as possible. Ok, that's not normally a problem, but after while it gives me a headache. By the time the eighth track rolls around, I've generally had enough. The final track opens with Labrie singing on his own, but unfortunately he quickly goes out of key (from E to Eb)! By the time the guitars kick in he's a semi-tone flat.. errouugh. Or maybe it was done on purpose?? But anyway, there's still enough material here to get your teeth stuck into. Most of the songs are very interesting with some inventive material. |
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MullMuzzler 2 (2001)
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| Reviewer: lach (96) |
With the same band as the previous album, Mullmuzzler are turning into a band as opposed to a solo work. Apparently they are doing a bunch of gigs - a quick check on dreamtheater.net reports that their first one is tommorow (as I write this!). I'd be interested to see how they pull this stuff off live. Anyway, opening track "Afterlife" is pretty cool, with Matt Guillory's keyboardist shining as always. The rest of the album is perhaps a bit less heavy as Mullmuzzler 1. Ballad "Falling" is very good. There's still some rockin' tracks, "Save Me" is great, "Stranger" is a fav, albeit very DT. Lyrical content is great as well: "Now I'm with God again Just you and me my friend I know You'll never leave my side My body simply slips away" They say I should leave you But they've never met you If you touched them Then they'd understand Great song. "Tell Me" is also nice. Well, it's a good album with some nice songwriting. Same as the first one, really. |
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