Tim Donahue Featuring James LaBrie
Madmen + Sinners

Tim Donahue - Guitar, Bass and Keyboards
James LaBrie - Vocals
Mike Mangini - Drums

Without a doubt, an ambitious project by multi-instrumentalist Tim Donahue. Perhaps too much so. By enlisting the external collaboration of Mangini on drums and James LaBrie as vocalist, he offers us an hour of raw progressive, aggressive at times, but not very intense or captivating.

Many ideas, perhaps, but certainly lacking flair. The album undoubtedly presents some interesting points, but fundamentally it's based on eccentric guitar flourishes and myriad uninspired riffs, alongside several solos seasoned with little sentiment. The sound and choice of tones were also not particularly fortunate.

In general, the album heavily rides on the voice-guitar duo, although honestly, LaBrie's performance is below par compared to what we've heard with Dream Theater, Mullmuzzler, or even Frameshift. Still, it's always respectable (in fact, I'd say it might be the main attraction of the album). Mangini manages quite well, although his drumming sometimes fades into the background as happens with several tracks on this work. What stands out from the first listens is also the lack of bass presence in the rhythm section and the keyboards' lateral sense as mere background padding and nothing else. Far too little in my opinion.

But let's proceed in order. The album opens with "Million Miles", which, if we listen closely, is a good prelude and promise but nothing more. "Let Go" is introduced by a church organ, which then gives way to a brief, very melodic acoustic track. The third and fourth tracks lack bite, are uninspired, rather anonymous. "Morte Et Dabo" is a sort of ecclesiastical chant preluding a dignified "Children Of The Flame". Generous guitar riffs and vocals for "The End", and subsequently "Wildest Dreams" and "Master Of The Mind" revive the album's appreciation a bit, before falling back into a dull and nagging "Madman & Sinners", a track that incidentally names the entire work.

After listening, I realized that the whole thing didn't communicate much to me. That I didn't experience any particular sensations. That sometimes I even got distracted and lost interest because I wasn't engaged in the unfolding of the work. Perhaps the saying "to each their own trade" is not entirely out of place. By enlisting a well-known bassist and keyboardist, "Madman & Sinners" might have enjoyed greater verve and enjoyment. With this, I don't intend to downgrade an album that still can be listened to and may be appreciated by the most passionate, but in my heart, I've heard better. Rating 2.