The opening song "His Voice" is reminiscent of the best parts of his Dream Theater influences, a prominent guitar riff that punctuates a keyboard-dominated melodic song, which suits Labrie's vocals perfectly. The guitar and drums do not dominate here, which probably highlights that the writers on this album are not those that are seen in his full time band. This theme continues in "Statued", where again it is the keyboard that dominate the song, along with major keyboard solo again but not so much from the guitar. In a way it is probably a good thing that Labrie and Mullmuzzler have tried to change things up from what you would normally here from the Dream Theater conglomerate, but although I do enjoy both of these opening songs on the album, I really feel it misses a real guitar and drum influence, to help balance out what is here. Perhaps that would bring too much heaviness to the music that the band was looking to avoid. I'm not sure. "Shores of Avalon" continues in this same vein, with Labrie's soaring vocals tending to paper over the oversights in the music itself. The keyboards in the middle of the song are very much front and centre here though, leaving the guitar to be almost an afterthought in the distant background.
None of that can prepare you for "Beelzebubba", the jazzy, swing tempo song that is all about the horns, trumpet, sax and trombone, mixed in with more subtle keys in a song that is so diverse and different from anything that has been heard before with his vocals attached to it that it is a real shock on first listen. Sadly, it really doesn't improve on subsequent listens to the album. It really is like a sore thumb, even sticking out amongst the different tones that are gathered together on Keep It to Yourself. This is certainly one way to garner attention to your music, but I would question as to whether it is a good thing.
The album's best song follows this hiccup. "Guardian Angel" raises itself to a better tempo, and is a more concentrated guitar and drums based song, though even here it is amazing that it the bass guitar is the main guitar in question, until we get to the guitar solo, which is the first on the album where it truly does dominate. The bass and keys also get a chance to shine on their own. A much better return than its predecessor.
"Sacrifice" is very much of the power ballad variety, with James crooning through, and even having the soft rock power guitar solo as a reference point. James sounds great, but when you are not a fan of these kinds of songs it would take a hell of a lot more to save it. "Lace" is probably my second favourite on the album, with several characteristic time changes and switching between guitar riff and keyboard riff as the headline act of the song, and even James singing with James in places with some excellent harmonies. "Slow Burn" returns to the power ballad genre, starting out slow and mournful with keyboards and guitar underneath Labrie's soaring vocals. The closing song "As a Man Thinks" is another abstract piece of music writing, one that really probably just drags on way too long. It is almost like a freeform jam, without any structure and relying on keys and computers as the lead instrumentals. It makes me think of Max Headroom for some reason, not always a pleasant thought. A very strange way to finish off.
There is a lot to like here, along with some stuff that you would have to be a fanatic to love. While it may not be to everyone's tastes, it is good to hear Labrie and his band experimenting with lots of different styles through the genre of the album, and not being locked into an album where all the songs sound the same and act the same. Mullmuzzler give you a chance to appreciate their talents through many mediums, and whether you like it will be up to the individuals taste. For me, I don't find it is an album I would drift back to very often, but when I do, as I have today, I am still mostly pleasantly surprised at the outcome. If I listen to it without "Beelzebubba" and "What a Man Thinks" I enjoy it a lot more, and would certainly rank it higher without them.
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