Media Review

Jack's Mannequin

The Glass Passenger (CD)

Sire Records
website | mySpace | pureVolume

Overall Rating:

9.5

Music Quality: 9.0

Production: 8.0

Originality: 9.5

While several years have passed since the Something Corporate debunking into Firescape and Jack’s Mannequin, I can’t help but feel a sort of nostalgic appeal when I listen to Andrew McMahon’s voice. “Everything In Transit” was a record I secretly loved to listen to—it felt young, inspired, and almost perfectly juvenile.

So when “The Glass Passenger” was put in the batter’s box and some of my reviewing peers were referring to the record as the “Beach Boys Pet Sounds” of our generation, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of excitement. Maybe, possibly, McMahon has grown up like I have in the years since “Everything In Transit” was released—and who couldn’t help but notice all the stories and tumultuous life changes that had occurred in his life since? Needless to say, I think the life-shaking events and changes in McMahon’s life leading up to the release of The Glass Passenger contributed to some sort of an inevitable hype, whether he wanted it or not.

Of course, most of the impacts—I thought, anyways—would be tailored to improved lyricism. So, when time came and I finally got a glisten of the music on The Glass Passenger, I was enthralled to hear the actual songwriting and musicianship had also significantly improved, shifting to more organic, raw, and textured sounds. No longer a boy, it’s hard not to take note of the elevated musicianship; once simple, straight-forward pop songs are less deliberate and more complex.

Most improved is McMahon’s more delicate, fragile voice, sounding intentionally under-polished and raw. On “Crashin,” his voice often breaks and sounds like the first take instead of the last of several attempts. “Annie Use Your Telescope” launches into a whimsical chorus that is miles and years beyond any of the chorusing on “Everything In Transit.” And on the debut single “The Resolution,” it becomes undeniably clear that McMahon has found his voice while delivering its soaring, powerfully resonating chorus.

For almost the entire spin of “The Glass Passenger,” the journey fails to remind listeners that Andrew McMahon was originally the singer in Something Corporate; “If U C Jordan” is clearly a thing of the past. And as he moves into his matured years and reflects upon his near-death experiences and eye-opening epiphanies , Andrew McMahon takes us on a journey we never thought capable. For this and this alone, it’s not that huge of a stretch to call “The Glass Passenger” the “Pet Sounds” of our (still young) generation. Strongly recommended.

reviewed by Andrew Martin