Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger Review

Sep 30

adminmusic , , , , 3 Comments

::UPDATE::

As per your requests, I have added a section including my favorite tracks.  I am also proving a link to all of the  Jack’s Mannequin lyrics.  You can read and post your opinions for all of his songs at songmeanings.net

::

I’ve been a huge fan of Jack’s Mannequin for a few  years now.  ”Everything in Transit” the band’s first album was amazing.  Their mix of piano and electric guitar struck perfect chords in many of the bands songs on the first album.  Needless to say when I heard that Andrew McMahon was coming back to do a second album, I began jumping with glee.  

Jack’s Mannequins second album “The Glass Passenger” was released today September 30th, 2008.  In anticipation of this album, Andrew and Co. released two EP’s including The Glass Overview and In Valleys.  You can read my respective reviews of the Ep’s here and here. 

So far, The Glass Passenger is a great album.  It’s still a little early to give it the lead on Everything in Transit, but from what I’ve heard I’ve really enjoyed.  In listening to this album, you can actually hear the differences of what is going on after Andrew’s bout with cancer.  The focus has shifted in the music from many of the negative and lonely connotations implied in the band’s first attempts.  Don’t get me wrong, many of the elements are similar, but there definitely is a shift. 

Currently, the lowest professional review of the album is an 88%, which is fantastic.  I hope that this album begins bringing Jack’s Mannequin the same type of success Andrew enjoyed as the frontman of Something Corporate.  

As I listen to the album more, I will let you guys know my favorite songs.  Right now, I’m listening to The Resolution the most.  you can listen to it on my myspace page here. 

I’d Give the album a 4/5 stars. 

 

 

I have included a list of the tracks in order (From wikipedia)

  1. “Crashin” – 4:10 (featuring Stacy Clark)[21]
  2. “Spinning” – 2:53 (featuring Stacy Clark)
  3. “Swim” – 4:16
  4. “American Love” – 3:43
  5. “What Gets You Off” – 5:06
  6. “Suicide Blonde” – 3:28
  7. “Annie Use Your Telescope” – 3:12
  8. “Bloodshot” – 3:57
  9. “Drop Out / The So Unknown” – 3:33
  10. “Hammer and Strings (A Lullaby)” – 4:44
  11. “The Resolution” – 3:06
  12. “Orphans” – 2:38
  13. “Caves” – 7:28

B-sides

  1. “Miss California” – 3:55 (bonus track)
  2. “Holiday from Real (Live from SIR)” – 3:48
  3. “Kill the Messenger (Live from Rock Xentral)” -3:31
  4. “Cell Phone” – 3:58
  5. “Sleazy Wednesday” – 4:32
  6. “At Full Speed” – 3:44 (bonus track on limited edition CD/DVD.)
  7. “Doris Day” (bonus track on Japanese pressing of the album)
You can learn more about Jack’s Mannequin here. 

Jack’s Mannequin – In Valleys EP

Sep 12

adminmusic , , 5 Comments

Jack’s Mannequin released ANOTHER EP on itunes in anticipation of The Glass Passenger LP called In Valleys.  I am totally excited about the new album and wasn’t expecting this second EP at all.  Honestly though, I was kind of disappointed.  The main track is titled Swim and is very good, but the rest of the tracks aren’t nearly as promising.  Yes, the other 3 tracks are B-sides, but I was kind of upset with the quality.  Cell phone (the second track on the album) shows some promise, but seems like a rough cut.  

Hopefully, Jack’s next album is more like the first two songs from the respective EP’s.  Both Resolution and Swim are spectacular tracks.  If Andrew can keep the quality of the rest of the album similar to these two, the album shows a lot of promise.  

Although the quality suffered a little bit with this release, I am still very glad that the band decided to release two different EP’s while we wait for the final product to be completed.

::update::

track listings

  1. “Swim” – 4:16
  2. “Cell Phone” – 3:59
  3. “In Slow Motion (Sleazy Wednesday)” – 4:33
  4. “At Full Speed” – 3:44
apparently Jack’s Mannequin are also offering ”Annie Use Your Telescope” for free on their myspace.