Madmen & Sinners

Tim Donahue, Donahue/labrie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cleopatra
• ASIN: B000778J6S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,157 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A landmark collaboration between two prog metal giants, guitar genius Tim Donahue and Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie!

Donahue s fretless guitar work puts the crunch in these 10 magnificent compositions and provides the perfect backdrop for LaBrie s intense singing!

As the leader of perhaps the most well-known prog metal band around, LaBrie s presence on M&S guarantees this album will be generating a lot of press!

Massive ad campaign planned with ads in Revolver, Metal Edge, Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles and others plus full service to press and radio!

Over two years in the making, the Madmen & Sinners project is the result of an awe-inspiring collaborative effort by guitar viruoso Tim Donahue and accomplished vocalist James LaBrie, recognized worldwide as the lead singer for progressive metal giants Dream Theater. Guitarist and singer met for the first time in July 2002 to disuss Donahue s musical vision and ideas for Madmen & Sinners. Over the course of their brainstorming sessions, LaBrie suggested bringing drummer Mike Mangini (Extreme/Steve Vai) on board, having worked with the skinbasher on LaBrie s MullMuzzler side project. With complex arrangements, chanting Gregorian choirs and exceedingly brilliant guitar playing, M&S looks to be one of the most amibitious prog metal releases this year and certainly a high point in the careers of both of these incredibly talented artists. Press ourtlets have already begun heaping praise on the album, calling it well-written, brilliantly executed and features some fine moments for those that like their music a little more complex than a simple 3 minute pop song and one to add to the collection of any self-respecting prog metal fan. --Cleopatra Records

Product Description

1. Million Miles
2. Let Go
3. My Heart Bleeds
4. Feel My Pain
5. Morte et Dabo
6. Children Of The Flame
7. The End
8. Wildest Dreams
9. Master Of The Mind
10. Madmen And Sinners

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tim Donahue - Madmen & Sinners featuring James Labrie, June 25, 2004

By 

Murat Batmaz (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Madmen & Sinners (Audio CD)

I have been listening to progressive metal for over 10 years and it's strange cause I've never heard anything from Tim Donahue before. It's even more strange that he has released six albums already none of which I heard of until Madmen & Sinners came out.

This is so far one of the best progressive metal albums of 2004. I believe one of the factors Donahue has managed to reach a broader audience this time must be the inclusion of Dream Theater vocalist James Labrie. Obviously Donahue wrote this album constantly with Labrie on mind. When he finally got the chance to contact and invite him to sing on this disc, his dreams came true. Honestly I can't fathom a better choice as the singer of this disc since James Labrie does an outstanding vocal performance which matches the atmosphere of the album perfectly.

Madmen & Sinners is a 68-minute long progressive metal album consisting of Tim Donahue on fretless guitar, bass and keyboards; James Labrie on vocals and Mike Mangini on drums. I have been a huge fan of Mangini ever since I first discovered him in Extreme and then Annihilator, Steve Vai and finally Labrie's solo project Mullmuzzler. He recorded his drum parts back in the USA and sent his copies over to Donahue who mixed it at his home studio. The drumming sounds absolutely fresh and creative on the entire disc.

The fact that Tim Donahue has always played fretless guitar gives him his own edge. The sound of the fretless guitar is very distinctive and gives him a lot more freedom in his writing and playing. It has to be pointed out that Donahue's playing is very articulated, smooth and emotionally engaging. Although Madmen & Sinners is primarily his own project, this album in no way sounds like a one-man band project. There is plenty of room left for James Labrie's expressive and dark vocals plus some Gregorian chants which all give this album its own character. James Labrie sings quite differently from his role in Dream Theater and what's so interesting is that whenever Labrie takes part in a side project (Frameshift, Ayreon, Mullmuzzler), he has so much to offer. His singing style shifts from dark soothing vocals on "The End" to a really aggressive style on "Master of the Mind" or "Million Miles". You've never heard him sing the way he sings in "My Heart Bleeds" or "Children of the Flame". It's a pity he is severely criticised by most of his own fanbase for not sounding 'harsh' enough, but at least he has got a 100% James Labrie voice that is instantly recognisable. Instead of sounding like another dated Halford, Dickinson or Kiske clone, he sounds like himself -- the one and only James Labrie.

The first 10 plus times I listened to this album, I was reminded of Dream Theater's SFAM, only less complex and less flashy. But then slowly my opinion started to change and the similarities between to two albums began to wither. This album is definitely its own thing. The added Gregorian chants and fat organ sound with Latin language and the few spoken parts give way to the dark and brooding melodies of the album. You can tell why it took Donahue nearly three years to finish this album since he handled the recording, mixing and production duties solely by himself. Everything is so balanced and each instrument plays in perfect harmony with Labrie's vocals beautifully layered on top of it.

By listening to this album I have realised that Tim Donahue has created a great album and has every right to be proud of it. Hopefully we'll be hearing more from him but I'm in no hurry. This is already one of those discs that I will be playing on and off, for there is so much to discover here. Very highly recommended to prog metal fans who like their music intense, powerful and emotionally charged.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A testament to creativity, artistry and musical evolution., April 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Madmen & Sinners (Audio CD)

With six releases under his belt, Donahue decided it was time to take his music to the next level. After recording Into The Light (2000) and long before the ever meeting James LaBrie(Dream Theater),Donahue began writing M&S with LaBrie's voice in mind thinking in terms of a progressive metal album in the vein of a bombastic Dream Theater. A chance meeting with a mutual friend of LaBrie's in the summer of 2001, put Donahue in touch with the singer following a spontaneous listening session of the initial demo material. Phone calls were made, LaBrie was suitably intrigued by the offer and Donahue began writing in earnest with realization of the Madmen album in sight.

Guitarist and singer met for the first time in July 2002 to discuss Donahue's musical vision and ideas for Madmen & Sinners. Over the course of their brainstorming sessions Labrie suggested bringing drummer Mike Mangini (Extreme/Steve Vai) on board, having worked with the skinbasher on his Mullmuzzler side project. Recording took place in January 2003,with Mangini put to tape in Boston,LaBrie's vocals recorded in Barrie,Ontario. The year that followed saw Donahue holed up in his home studio playing and recording all the fretless guitar, bass and synth parts,engineering and mixing the album himself,all while having to deal with a temperamental computer intent on eating precious recorded data at random.
Donahue prevailed in the end,coming out of the studio with the best album of his career.

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't plan on listening to anything else for several days, June 7, 2011

By 

Andrew C. Stahlgren (NORTH WALES, PA, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Madmen & Sinners (Audio CD)

If you are a prog metal lover , buy this right away, don't ponder, hit one click.....!!

Donahues arrangements have strong hooks as well as savvy very intriguing arrangements. Manginis work is a bit back in the mix unfortunately but for the discerning ear his work is very solid as always, Labrie lyrics are well thought out, performed and sustainable.

First and third tracks rival Dream Theater arrangement with very strong hooks. You will find yourself wanting to listen to these over and over.

Track 10- Madmen and Sinners is a 9 minute journey that explores many feels with a portion that almost resembles Broadway Melody on Genesis' Lamb.

Track 5 opens with a GORGEOUS haunting melodic chorus that will impress anyone that hears it !!!!