Flying Colors - feat. Dave LaRue, Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy

[nick g.]

So there's this album that just came out. Pretty rad. Features Casey McPherson, Steve Morse, Neal Morse, Dave LaRue and Mike Portnoy.

A little preview:
Flying Colors EPK - New band of Mike Portnoy, Steve Morse, Casey McPherson, Dave LaRue & Neal Morse - YouTube

Anyone else have this yet?

[videomagician]

Downloaded it day it was released and have been listening to it every since. Very Nice!

David

[WoodyG3]

Just got the CD in the mail. This is some really great music. Interesting lyrics, fantastic musicianship, and the production is amazing. I highly recomend checking this one out!

[LB75]

I was looking forward to the release of this album since I first heard about it awhile back. I really like the Steve Morse Band and The Dregs and some of Steve and Dave's side projects. I guess it's just me but I don't like this album. While the music is interesting the vocals really get in the way to me and make it almost unlistenable. Not that he's not a great singer, I just don't like the style. But I could never stand Dream Theater either, not because of the music which I really liked but the vocals killed it for me. I tried to like them but I walked out the last time I saw them live. It's not that I dislike vocals, heck I really like Rush, go figure, but some vocals are just unbearable to me. I'm very disappointed. All the reviews seem to be glowing, so like I said, I guess it's just me.

[nick g.]

Weird. I think the vocals are fantastic on this album. Several lines gave me chills. This, to me, is an example of an album in perfect balance. I couldn't really pick out anyone as the star.

[bassbrad]

Flying Colors is my favorite CD right now, can't seem to hear it enough, hope the band can do more.

[jerry]

I took me a few listens but I dig it. Mcpherson has a bit of Todd Rundgren in his vocal phrasing.

[Stingray5]

Had a first casual listen tonight. I like it! A lot of different styles going on, and some great playing. I dig the singer, but part of me wanted to hear Neal Morse doing the vocal parts..

[bryan.worley]

Originally Posted by Stingray5

Had a first casual listen tonight. I like it! A lot of different styles going on, and some great playing. I dig the singer, but part of me wanted to hear Neal Morse doing the vocal parts..

+ a lot

[Rich L]

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Flying Colors is my favorite CD right now, can't seem to hear it enough, hope the band can do more.

+1 and then some!

[jmac]

Been listening to this album the whole month of May. I love it. I have to give props to Portnoy. I really thought he'd be overplaying. But I really think he served the songs well.

[bunkaroo]

I can't believe they let Portnoy sing a lead on this. That seriously needs to stop trying to sing. It's so nice to have a DT record without defiling it with his "vocals".

[Epitaph04]

I was about to say that it's refreshing to see that people actually liked an album despite having MP on it, yet here we go with the unnecessary bashing against him. It's not like he tried to supplant McPherson or Morse on the album. Like it or not MP's backing vocals are on a few of the songs anyway so get over it.

[bunkaroo]

It's not bashing - it's the truth. And I don't have to "get over" anything - I just won't listen to the record again. And I'm sure I'm not the only person turned off the record by his vocals.

Your average band member who has a voice like his would never be let anywhere near a mic, but because he ran his last band, he interjected his "vocals" more and more, and it was not good for the music. That tells me he's more interested in doing what he wants to do than what's best for the music. Don't tell me any producer would hear those vocals and say "yeah, that sounds good". I can envision a scenario where he only agrees to doing the Flying Colors record if he's allowed to sing a lead vocal.

His voice just grates - it's nasal, non-musical...ugh. It's a distraction on otherwise good music. I have yet to meet anyone who thinks he has a good voice. So why are we hearing it?

[LB75]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

It's so nice to have a DT record without defiling it with his "vocals".

Of course DT records are already defiled by LaBrie's vocals.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by LB75

Of course DT records are already defiled by LaBrie's vocals.

My thoughts exactly. Haven't heard Portney's voice but I have a hard time believing it's that much worse that Labrie's .

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by LB75

Of course DT records are already defiled by LaBrie's vocals.

My thoughts exactly. Haven't heard Portney's voice but I have a hard time believing it's that much worse that Labrie's .

To clarify, I don't think LaBrie is an awful vocalist just that he's never seemed to fit in all that well with DT unless he had his voice effected.

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

My thoughts exactly. Haven't heard Portney's voice but I have a hard time believing it's that much worse that Labrie's .

To clarify, I don't think LaBrie is an awful vocalist just that he's never seemed to fit in all that well with DT unless he had his voice effected.

Trust me - it's that much worse than LaBrie. Sounds like some nasally Long Island guy who wants to be a singer.

LaBrie may not be the best fit for DT, but at least he can actually sing. Portnoy just sounds like some dude trying to sing and not succeeding.

Personally I'd love to see someone like Russell Allen in DT. That would be something.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

Personally I'd love to see someone like Russell Allen in DT. That would be something.

Agreed. I'll add Jem Godfrey to my wishlist as well... at this point ANY change would be welcome, honestly.

[LB75]

I definitely would have been into them if they were an instrumental band.