Andrew McMahon and his band mates are at it again, with a brand new CD titled The Glass Passenger. In the months after battling his bout with leukemia, McMahon has resurfaced with his band, Jack's Mannequin, producing the band's sophomore album. While the band's freshman album was filled with the angst and hopelessness that goes along with being diagnosed with cancer, their second album is filled with optimism and hope. The band's second album's content seems to be in contrast to Everything in Transit, the band's debut album. While Everything in Transit deals with the goodbyes associated with battling cancer, we see the joys associated with survival in many of the lyrics found in the tracks of The Glass Passenger.
Throughout the tracks on The Glass Passenger, the audience is blessed with poetic lyrics which serve as a seeming portal into McMahon's feelings and emotions. These lyrics are extremely expressive, with phrases such as "I'm alive, i don't need a witness, to know that I survived, I'm not looking for forgiveness. I just need light, I need light in the dark as I search for the resolution" and "I swim for brighter days despite the absence of sun, chocking on saltwater... I'm not giving in- I swim". These type of phrases allow the audience to not only experience the thoughts and emotions McMahon dealt with but also give them an opportunity to understand how he felt about these complex emotions.
Poetic lyrics are not the only asset offered by this album, however. The tracks range in both subject and tempo. The listener can enjoy soft ballads such as "Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)" and "Caves", but also is offered up-tempo songs such as "The Resolution", "Swim" and "Miss California". The subject matter is extremely diverse as well, ranging from a ballad about perseverance in "Swim" to a tragic love tale found in "Miss California". The Glass Passenger also offers subject material such as the emptiness of hollow sex, insecurities of losing fame even when McMahon healed, survival, love and the desire to help ailing friends. The listener is exposed to songs which are filled with great sadness, such as "Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)" and "Bloodshot". However, these songs are also contrasted with songs filled with hope, such as "Swim" and "The Resolution". The audience is even subjected to songs which deal with shallow love, such as "American Love". Those who listen to this cd can expect an extensive array of material.
The soulful lyrics are paired with skilled bass, guitar, drums and melodic piano rifts. McMahon composes and plays rifts which perfectly accent the lyrics and accompanying music.
Jack's Mannequin's music throughout The Glass Passenger is refreshing and original. The music offers compositions which include great depth in an industry that produces seemingly shallow music. The lyrics have meaning and the background music is extremely expressive. It also serves as a reprieve, music which can be used as an escape or method of therapeutic release.
In an industry which does not put a premium on meaningful music, it is rare to find a band which produces music with actual meaning and depth. Jack's Mannequin serves as an oasis in a desert of mainstream bands. So, if you're looking for soulful piano rifts, beautiful vocals and well-written compositions, don't hesitate to give The Glass Passenger a listen. Just don't be surprised to be blown away by the music, the lyrics and the heart that was put into producing this album.
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