Sean Rowe is emerging as one of the most notable new singer/songwriters of his generation thanks to poignant songs filled with poetic detail and vivid story arcs as well as lingering melodies and subtle but effective arrangements. Nonetheless, it’s his pealing baritone voice that remains his true calling card—Rowe’s voice rings out with particular impact on the mournful “It Won’t Be Long” and the stripped-down “Razor of Love.” An archetype of song dynamics and craft, the gentle but upbeat title track kicks off the album as if it were a statement of intent. And while his guitar playing makes fine accompaniment on several bare-bones gems like the bluesy rave-up “Shine My Diamond Ring” and the waltzing “My Little Man,” Rowe also has some musical tricks up his sleeve—his original “Desiree” sounds like a long-lost soul classic out of Motown, and the revved-up boogie of “The Real Thing” also reveals a broad creative range. Madman continues Rowe’s upward creative trajectory as his most fully realized and ambitious effort yet.