Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger

[Drew Beringer]

Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Record Label: Sire

When I read or hear about cancer survivors, they'll sometimes describe how experiencing and overcoming cancer gave them a new sense of appreciation for life and how they carry on from day to day. After listening to The Glass Passenger, you can sense Jack’s Mannequin brain trust Andrew McMahon has developed an even deeper appreciation, as each track is lively and spirited.

McMahon’s battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia has been well documented, so I won’t get into the details, but we’ve seen the photos and heard the stories: McMahon wasn’t going to let this thing beat him, and you can hear vibrant energy and beautiful compositions throughout The Glass Passenger, an album bursting with diversity.

You hear the rush of anxiety immediately on “Crashin,”which is paced by a fast tempo as melodies swirling through your head. The chorus gets your heart beating, as McMahon passionate vocals carry it. “Spinning” features gentle verses with a beautiful harmony between McMahon and guest Stacy Clark, while the chorus jumps out at you. “Swim” features some reflective lyrics from McMahon that may touch on his battle with cancer (“You gotta swim/swim for your life/swim for the music that saves you when you’re not so sure you’ll survive./You gotta swim/and swim when it hurts) as well as the end of chorus where McMahon proclaims “I’m not giving in./Swim.”

You hear the diverse nature of the album throughout, from the reggae-tinged verses of “Bloodshot” to the peaceful piano ballad “Hammer and Strings (A Lullaby),” while “American Love” channels the synth-pop for the 1980’s. The highlight of the album comes in the form of “Annie Use Your Telescope,” a dreamy track that incorporates strings to form a musical dynamic that encompasses your senses. First single, “The Resolution,” features a huge chorus, with McMahon exclaiming about being alive once again.

The Glass Passenger concludes with the stunning “Caves,” a seven and a half minute opus that begins with mesmerizing piano chords as McMahon’s calm yet strong falsetto anchors the first half. Around the three-minute mark, the track picks up, the piano chords speed up and fade out into the full band, as the guitar and drums crash together to bring “Caves” to a climatic finish.

Jack’s Mannequin debut, Everything In Transit, is loved by many, but I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t come close to measuring up to The Glass Passenger. The variety and diversity on Passenger separates it from its predecessor and most albums in the pop genre. McMahon’s lyrics and song composition continue to get better, as songs like “Caves” and “Annie Use Your Telescope” display. Andrew McMahon has cemented himself as the current scene’s best pop musician and one of the best I’ve heard in my lifetime. The Glass Passenger invites you to buckle and enjoy the ride of life. It’s one you should take.

Track Listing:
1. Crashin featuring Stacy Clark
2. Spinning featuring Stacy Clark
3. Swim
4. American Love
5. What Gets You Off?
6. Suicide Blonde
7. Annie Use Your Telescope
8. Bloodshot
9. Hammer and Strings (A Lullaby)
10. Drop Out – The So Unknown
11. Orphans
12. The Resolution
13. Caves
Produced by: Andrew McMahon and Jim Wirt

Jack’s Mannequin are:
Andrew McMahon – vocals/piano
Bobby Anderson – guitar/vocals
Jonathan Sullivan – bass
Jay McMillan - drums

Official Website (http://www.theglasspassenger.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/jacksmannequin); Official AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/jacksmannequin)

[Theow593]

Good review, 10.

[MyWorldEntire]

great review

[Chris Fallon]

Definitely one of the best albums of the year. Andrew has a remarkable ear for melody, and continues to develop his skill as a lyricist on each release.

[cereal4life]

Nice review. What's "What Gets You Off?" about? Either way, I'll get this, should be good methinks.

[Clark]

Decent review. Shorter than I expected it to be. That last paragraph needs to be broken in two. It looks like it's supposed to be, but maybe you forgot to hit enter twice.

[Kbm600]

Very nice review. This record hasn't caught my liking yet...maybe it just takes time?

[tait]

one of my favorite albums from this year. might end up as my aoty

[hockeyguitar99]

I'm waiting to hear this release but I am extremely excited. i

[End of Disc One]

I wouldn't say it's a better album than Everything in Transit, but it does have some better standout songs and is very good in its own right.

[TooLateF0rRoses]

good review, just not a fan of the album.

[End of Disc One]

"Andrew McMahon has cemented himself as the current scene’s best pop musician and one of the best I’ve heard in my lifetime."

That's some high praise; I'm surprised the album only got 88%.

[saysmydoctor]

A+ review but you know with every DrewB review there comes controversy for something you've said.

[Timetoroll]

Very good. I will definitly pick this one up. You have me convinced Drew.

[Timetoroll]

A+ review but you know with every DrewB review there comes controversy for something you've said.

That is very true. People can't just let the reviews lay, can they?

[Hamlet]

I'll wait for release date to hear this hopefully amazing album!

[therookielot]

Awesome review. Although I love all the tracks, I don't think that "Annie Use Your Telescope" is the highlight. I would have said "Crashin" or "Spinning" But to each his own I guess :)

[The Personist]

Good review. I can't wait to hear this album!

[Klatzke]

Good review. I just haven't gotten into this for some reason.

[Heroin Robot]

i just couldnt get into this release as much as his previous ones

[crit]

Nice review Drew, right on.

[deebs823]

can't wait to get this album...great review btw.

[sofaraway]

Good review, I'm excited for this album; it's one of the most highly anticipated albums of the fall. From the tracks that I've heard, it sounds like he's going for an almost Billy Joel-esque sound, or something along that old piano rock sound. That does take getting used to, but I'm sure it'll be a great one.

[llightmas]

I'm so excited for this!

[jbaseball44]

Nice review, solid album

[sweetforever]

Well written review Drew. I need more time with this album, but Hammers & Strings (Lullaby) stood out to me within the first couple listens.

[zachff]

"Spinning" is an absolutely amazing song, the closest to SoCo I've heard from JM yet... Stop being nostalgic, I know.

[Vanilla Bear]

Andrew can do no wrong. I got everything I expected and more from this album.

[xashkox]

excellent album.

[cjrahr]

Fantastic review!
This is most definetely going to be one of my favorite albums of the year (if not my absolute favorite).

[Protested Hero]

AOTY so far for me.

[SSLYBY]

Excited to actually buy the album.

[smelltheglove]

i'm really looking forward to this. "everything in transit" was in my top 10 for 2005 and I hope I can say the same for this one. Extremely talented.

[ZeoVGM]

Nice review, though I actually would have rated the album higher. It's one of the best of the year.

[Heart-A-Tact]

So excited for this.

[!?!]

good review
can not wait to get my copy

[bailmeout13]

Nice review. Stoked to hear this album when it comes out.

[JM1018]

Great album- wasn't a fan of "Drop out" and "Orphans" but they've grown on me. "Spinning", however, I could probably play on repeat all day.

[mushroom]

I wasn't blow away by this record like i thought i would be, maybe i've grown out of Jack's Mannequin.

[loveisdead]

Great album and a great review. I would disagree about Annie Use Your Telescope being the highlight of the album. Hammers and Strings is my favorite song off the album, but to each his own.

[Protested Hero]

I wasn't blow away by this record like i thought i would be, maybe i've grown out of Jack's Mannequin.

Not really a band to grow out of.

[tacosforcharles]

Great review my friend, can't wait to pick this up.

[ashiex3]

nice.
i cant wait to get this.

[ZeoVGM]

I wasn't blow away by this record like i thought i would be, maybe i've grown out of Jack's Mannequin.

Not sure how you "grow out" of them.

[captainamazing4]

simply, this album is easily one of the best of the year whether you like JM or not ;]

[captainamazing4]

Not sure how you "grow out" of them.

simple. you become a dumbass. hahaha

[ACA]

Eit > Tgp

[leftapart]

Hmm.. I just can't get into this record. Maybe it will take some time.

[Sic Transit Zeb]

good review....love the album though

[alltimecam]

i think the vocals deserved a higher score andrew sounds incredible throughout the entire album and shows a great range, just my opinion though i guess

[robat19]

Not sure how you "grow out" of them.

Yeah, this album seems more for the older crowd I guess I would say. It isn't something that I think would appeal to 14 and 15 year olds. I could be wrong though.

[littledudeman]

so psyched. Waiting for the retail release ordered the special edition pretty excited. and the ep tonight! can't wait!!!

[airik625]

One of my favorite albums of the year.

[TSLataris]

simply, this album is easily one of the best of the year whether you like JM or not ;]

If one doesn't like JM, then I'm pretty certain this won't be one of their albums of the year.

Nice review though, it has given me incentive to re-listen to the record. Some stand-out songs but it just didn't do it for me the way "Everything in Transit" did.

[forget_december]

Amazing review! I got goosebumps as I was reading it! I can't believe that it's only 3 weeks until I finally get this album in my hands. :)

[salmarnirecho]

there are only like 3 songs on this album that I like. I was severely disappointed.

[meghanlail]

Great review. I can't wait to get this.

[WFUJerseyJon]

Great review, greater album. I have not stopped listening to this since it leaked, and I will be at Best Buy at 8:00 pm the day it releases as soon as I get out of work to get it (I'd go at lunch but it's cheaper to buy in NJ with the tax). Andrew has been one of if not my favorite musician since the November 3, 2002 when I saw Something Corporate open for NFG, and his growth is incredible. This is without a doubt the album I've been waiting for from him since the first time I heard something corporate so long ago, and I couldn't be happier with the result.

[daphnexcupcakes]

GAHH...
this review made me anxious.
CANNOT WAIT for september 30th. :]

[onewheeledrider]

I didnt really think Annie Use Your Telescope was one of the best songs on the album, but maybe it just takes time? besides that great review and I thought it was a great record

[ZeoVGM]

"Caves" is amazing.

[Andrew Love]

great review man!

[tragedyco]

there are only like 3 songs on this album that I like. I was severely disappointed.

Wow, what a bummer. I haven't heard many say anything remotely like this. Glad I don't hold such high expectations. I can't imagine what one what expect to be disappointed by this album.

[caLLmEnOoNe]

cant wait for the release. good review

[butrfli1234]

great review, the album is truly amazing :)

[beeyekah]

Really not a fan of this album, it feels too over-produced, at least compared to Everything in Transit.

[mms13]

not sure if i agree about it being better than everything in transit, but its somewhat close. There are some really good songs and some really bad ones (read: annie use your telescope)

[bulls2213]

no offense to Drew in any way whatsoever, because it is a well-written review, but i was kind of hoping Jason was going to write the official review for this album, being that it's arguably the most anticipated album of the year.

but i'd definitely go with hammers and strings as my favorite at this point... love crashin, spinning, swim and drop-out too. ha.

[Zacko18]

I have yet to read a review that mentions the interludes that Andrew mentioned when it leaked. I want to hear something substantial on them (are they still on it or what). I'm probably the only one who cares... hahaha. anywho, so excited for this album (Sept 30th = day of AWESOME)!

[Chris Fallon]

no offense to Drew in any way whatsoever, because it is a well-written review, but i was kind of hoping Jason was going to write the official review for this album, being that it's arguably the most anticipated album of the year.

but i'd definitely go with hammers and strings as my favorite at this point... love crashin, spinning, swim and drop-out too. ha.
Jason doesn't write reviews any longer. You can check his blog for his thoughts on albums though.

[ACA]

"American Love" is huge and the closest to Springsteen McMahon has written. Absolutely love it.

[looksthatkillbn]

Annie Use Your Telescope is the only song on the album that I skip.

[AloneInTheDark]

Not a great review, which isn't usually what I think about your reviews Drew. It's a great album, and it doesn't even seem like you wanted to touch on some of the better elements of it.

[Ailite]

This is one of the best records I've ever heard. I absolutely love it. Good review, Drew.

[JacquelineNancy]

Excellent review. I can't wait for this album.

[circasurviver]

Listened to it 3 times and the only song I remotely like is bloodshot. This is coming from a guy who loves EIT and Something Corporate. I took my mom to the doctor today and when she got in the car resolution was playing and she asked if it was U2. Granted she doesn't know shit about music, but it's still sad.

[Gleebo]

Not downloading this so far has been one hell of a battle for me thus far..... feel like I would be cheating myself and the album unfair if I didn't get the full impact driving away from the record store I bought it from and not wanting to leave my car when I get home until the album is over.

It might be September already but there are still some records I am anticipating more than I have anything in the past year.

What my list of HIGH priority albums are:

The Cure - 4:13
Copeland - You Are My Sunshine
Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger

Looking forward to FOB and All American Rejects, but im going in to both of those with low expectations of surpassing previous efforts. The other ones I have every intention of being some of each group's best efforts.

[Here It Goes]

Great album and great review, but I do have a couple of beefs:

1) You barely touched on "American Love", which I think is easily the best song on the album. It's catchy, and its got hit single written all over it. Oh well, to each his own.

2) You said: "Andrew McMahon has cemented himself as the current scene’s best pop musician and one of the best I’ve heard in my lifetime."

Really? I'll assume we're talking simply musicianship here, because while I think Andrew has mad piano skills, his voice rarely ever does it for me. In fact, throughout the song "The Resolution", its sounds strained and downright mediocre. Oh well, again, just my opinion.

Good job, though.

[MCSmate]

Great review. I can't wait for the album.

[runningohfive]

great review, now I'm excited to buy this album when its released

[thedondeluge]

getting this, I like Drews Reviews. hehe.

[katieissweet]

This album is wonderful.

[captainamazing4]

If one doesn't like JM, then I'm pretty certain this won't be one of their albums of the year.

Nice review though, it has given me incentive to re-listen to the record. Some stand-out songs but it just didn't do it for me the way "Everything in Transit" did.

i was winking because it was meant to be sarcastic!!!

[funployee]

album of the year

[lolliot]

album of the year

qft.

And nice review, although I personally wouldn't pin Annie Use Your Telescope as the pinnacle of the album, but that all comes down to personal taste. Every time I listen to the album, I want to review it myself, but I'm holding off until the official release date, I think. Gives me more time to appreciate it, and find a more balanced viewpoint.

[fearthesloths]

great review... although personally 'Annie Use Your Telescope' is my least favourite on the album. I think that Hammers and Strings is my favourite so far.

[Bakerofpies17]

Nice review. Haven't heard much from the album but pretty damn excited already. The review only makes me happier.

[rhinitus]

I really wish that I liked Annie...it just hasn't clicked yet.

[WordsAndFears]

Can't wait for this album. *thumbs up*

[funployee]

Hammers and Strings is simply amazing in my mind

[Loch_Doun]

So whatever happened to those video interviews of Andrew explaining each song???
We've all heard the whole album already, but it would still be nice to hear Andrew's explanations of the songs...

[SeanEBoy2686]

less than a month... i'm looking forward to this more than any other album this year

[TSLataris]

i was winking because it was meant to be sarcastic!!!

Ah okay, my bad. :)

[Imperfektion]

This album is awesome, but not as good as Everything In Transit. "Caves" is instantly one of my favorites off this album.

Good review Drew.

[SlowCarBoost]

I think the album is great. EIT is in my top five albums of all time and at this point, I doubt The Glass Passenger surpasses it but we'll see as I keep listening to it. A couple things...Annie Use Your Telescope...the pinnacle of the album? Come on! The most experimental? Yes. A good song? For sure...but hardly the best song on the album. The best new song i've heard so far is still Miss California. I still can't believe it's not on the album. Besides Miss Cali, I think a few of the best are Caves, Suicide Blonde and Hammers and Strings. The whole album is amazing though. After having unbelievably high expectations, The Glass Passenger has actually managed to live up to all of them

[MFBucket]

Your opening line looks similar to English, but yet it's it's so far from English, I've chosen to stop there. If you are Miss South Carolina, please send me a PM because maybe we can make out some time.

[WaltWizzle]

Great review Drew.

Jason doesn't write reviews any longer. You can check his blog for his thoughts on albums though.

I'm expecting a Sycamore Meadows review from you when it gets released buddy.

[Russellmcdoogle]

I was disappointed with the album.

[TheUnderFighter]

Phenomenal album, great review. I preordered the album 2 months ago, but I downloaded the leaked version about 3 weeks ago. And in that version, "The Resolution" was the opening track, and it got me high with every listen, an amazing song. That, and "Hammers and Strings" caught my ear. Crashin, Swim, and Caves are also great. As is Suicide Blonde. Pretty much the whole album. I haven't quite learned to like "Annie Use Your Telescope" yet, but I'm sure I will come around to it, as I have with every single thing written by Andrew McMahon.

[salmarnirecho]

Wow, what a bummer. I haven't heard many say anything remotely like this. Glad I don't hold such high expectations. I can't imagine what one what expect to be disappointed by this album.

I dunno, I just got the album, and I've been listening to it, and I just cannot get into it. I find much of his lyricism hokey, really. "Swim" is inspirational, I suppose, but horrendously cliche. I suppose I just expected more of McMahon as a lyricist, which is probably my own fault. The songs I do enjoy though, are "Hammers and Strings", "Caves", and "Spinning". I really wish I liked this album, because I loved "Everything in Transit", but I can't get into it.

[cheybuzzie]

This album is one of the best to come out this year. Great review.

[con40dmitri]

Good review. decent album imo, so damn poppy tho!

[ZeoVGM]

Good review. decent album imo, so damn poppy tho!

... It's the least "poppy" album he has ever released.

[breathingmusic]

Nice review. What's "What Gets You Off?" about? Either way, I'll get this, should be good methinks.


it's really good!

[sandro]

Album
Of
The
Year.

[LifeInDecay]

Yeah, this album seems more for the older crowd I guess I would say. It isn't something that I think would appeal to 14 and 15 year olds. I could be wrong though.
I'm a fan of EIT and I'm going to check this one out. Maybe I can see how a typical 15 year old would not be into this though.

[dom_182]

loving “Hammer and Strings (A Lullaby).”
my favourite track on the album.

this man is a genious and deserves so much recognition for this album.
easily in my top 10 of 08.
easily

[ohstumbleine]

perfect album. i'm in love with anything andrew does.

[radxbandit]

i think this album is ok so far, and i've played through it a few times. i don't think i'll get over his singing style on this album; i think he's trying to be too loose with his singing, when i know he can be much more on pitch, and much stronger. though i realize that there are times when you want your vocals to sound a certain way, the constant vulnerable/shaky approach is often more annoying to me than it is effective at conveying any specific emotion. songs are good, but they don't grab me on first listen like many from EIT or soco did, with the exception of spinning, and hammer and strings. i'm going to give this more time, but the singing...ugh.

[myhearturhands]

in my health class we were talking about people in the public eye who like came over obsticals or whatever and i was like ANDREW! and noone knew who i was talking about :[

[boomy2008]

I'm so amazed by the album! Andrew is one of the best musician in the world. This album is the best album of the year! Thnx for the great return Andrew! I love u <3

[Bakerofpies17]

Just got a chance to listen to this album and I'm really liking it. At first a few songs sounded too similar but after a couple listens I'm sold. Although I didn't dig Orphans or Suicide Blonde too much. The other 11 tracks are great though.

[Vismund_Cygnus]

I think this album will be one of the best of 2008.

Right now, it's second behind the new Sigur Ros album...

[Indoor Living]

I really hope he gets big from this. He deserves mainstream recognition.

[Fork.andKnife]

Its always hard to read a review of something you're really hyped up to see.

Nonetheless, great review. I was trying really, really hard to avoid reviews for the album but I couldn't help myself.

[sean4123]

I don't understand why everyone keeps saying "i need more time to listen to this album" or "im not sure what to think."

This is one of the few albums that upon first listen i was blown away. This guy is an excellent musician. He's amazing. That is all.

[TMS2787]

I've been hearing this is better than Everything In Transit, if this is the case, come 9/30 I might just end up losing my mind!

[SeanEBoy2686]

this cd will get me more upset i'm missing their cleveland show... i wish it were at a bigger venue so more people could enjoy it

[jrock]

this album is worse than everything in transit in my opinion....half the songs drag on and while instrumentally it may be better i think the singing has gotten worse, and neither compare to any of the something corporate albums either...so id say if anything it keeps gettin worse to me....but maybe it will just take time to grow on me, i guess only time will tell

[c_rob2700]

something corporate = piano-driven pop punk
jack's mannequin = piano driven rock
know the difference.

i think Andrew's voice needs time to grow on people.

i'm kinda perplexed by the 88% though, he praises the album throughout the whole review, but it ends up at an 88?

[jmlove88]

Yeah, this album seems more for the older crowd I guess I would say. It isn't something that I think would appeal to 14 and 15 year olds. I could be wrong though.

This isn't true, I'm 15 years old and this album is one of my favourites. I don't think age is really an issue here, unless I'm musically advanced for my age, but I don't think there's really such a thing. Anyway, this album is absolutely amazing, different to Everything In Transit, not necessarily better but certainly just as good. Andrew is a very talented lyricists, one of my favourites.
Good review, but I think it deserves higher than 88%, according to the high praise you've given it.

[qwertyboy5000]

Maybe it's just me, but Andrew's vocals really annoy me on this album. He sounds so whiny!

[baton]

amazing album, i just listened to it 3 times straight (at first it didn't get to me that much)... really good and diverse songs. vocals are different indeed, but i feel the emotion, it's good...
i'm only massively disappointed with stacy clark's contribution to the songs - i hoped that she would have a bigger part (at least in spinning) - but it's still great that she did the songs with him :)

[RetardedInLove]

Maybe I am missing something here, but I do not like this album at all. Everything In Transit was amazing but this one lacks the hooks that EIT had. I dunno maybe it needs to grow on me but as of right now I am disappointed by it, nothing really seems to stick out.

[SeanEBoy2686]

I think the lyrics on this album are amazing. I really don't have any complaints about anything on the album, but the lyrics stand out big time.

[konstantine008]

i really enjoyed this album, and i really enjoy the songs live. i recently went to the big ass show in slc and he played a few songs from this record and they are amazing live.

[personLman]

come on guys-listen to his vocals. how can you give his vocals a 8.5 or whatever it was? they are SO sloppy. the music is probably the best stuff he's ever written but he hasn't sounded worse. he's becoming the next tom delonge and thinking that sloppy sounds good. do you understand how AMAZING this cd would have been if he put more behind his vocals? expressing the emotion behind the song does NOT mean you have to sing lazily...i'm just saying. I think the music is phenomenal but the cd doesn't BLOW away thanks to the vocals. could have been GREAT-but it has to settle for less in my opinion.

[caLLmEnOoNe]

i really love at full speed. anyone else?

[WakeUpBlondie]

This might even be better than everything in transit

[A_Rolling_Stone]

i really enjoy this cd, i liked everything in transit. but it never truly appealed to me like this release does

[Sic Transit Zeb]

This might even be better than everything in transit

I think so

[Sic Transit Zeb]

come on guys-listen to his vocals. how can you give his vocals a 8.5 or whatever it was? they are SO sloppy. the music is probably the best stuff he's ever written but he hasn't sounded worse. he's becoming the next tom delonge and thinking that sloppy sounds good. do you understand how AMAZING this cd would have been if he put more behind his vocals? expressing the emotion behind the song does NOT mean you have to sing lazily...i'm just saying. I think the music is phenomenal but the cd doesn't BLOW away thanks to the vocals. could have been GREAT-but it has to settle for less in my opinion.

haha, well I'm big Saves The Day fan and most other people are...so the whiny vocals don't bother me.

[theredtree]

Yeah, this album seems more for the older crowd I guess I would say. It isn't something that I think would appeal to 14 and 15 year olds. I could be wrong though.

i completely agree. i think this is a much more mature release than the previous one. a really amazing cd...

[cassusriff]

Fantastic Album. Thats all I can really say. Andrew McMahon is one of the best songwriters of our generation.

[c_rob2700]

Add on 8% and you'd have my score.

[dunder mifflin]

I think this album needs multiple listens for it to be fully appreciated. Taking each song in context with the entire meaning of the album makes it much more enjoyable. It's not quite as upbeat as EIT but it's ups and downs are symbolic of Andrew's struggle to survive, its a nice concept.

[Hamlet]

Received the CD in the mail today, currently halfway through the album on my first listen.

And I'm blown away. Every song is masterfully crafted.

Album of the year, most likely.

[Chris Fallon]

I think this might be in my top three for the year ... fuck, it's so good.

[SeanEBoy2686]

I think this album needs multiple listens for it to be fully appreciated. Taking each song in context with the entire meaning of the album makes it much more enjoyable. It's not quite as upbeat as EIT but it's ups and downs are symbolic of Andrew's struggle to survive, its a nice concept.

I agree... at first the thing that really stood out to me were the lyrics (and they still do), but after multiple listens the overall album has grown on me more and more. And I think it's really tough to compare it to EIT b/c the circumstances under which each were written. A lot has happened in between the writing of that album and this one and it's all reflected in this album. It will easily make my top five albums of the year (assuming there are no late-year stunners).

[wordslikeknives]

great review.
great album.

[tm24x]

yes, this is very different than everything in transit, but equally if not more amazing. it does take a few listens to get into it.

[SimplyChaotic17]

Good Review.
I personally loved the album and swim is one of my favorite songs it just
makes you want to be a stronger person.

[Jordan_Huyser]

i'm a little dissapointed that what i loved about jack's mannequin was the elements of their first album, which aren't all present in the glass passenger.
i definitely do not think that the glass passenger beats their first album,
although i do like the glass passenger very much,
their music has started to change.
as opposed to everything in transit, most of the songs on the glass passenger have emphasis on the guitars, and were driven by andrew mcmahon's piano tracks.

but the one thing i probably miss the most from everything in transit,
was the piano solos! where are they in the glass passenger?! there's only a piano solo in crashin, and there's GUITAR solos in swim and spinning. i miss jack's mannequin being a piano rock band.

but i'm completely happy with the change, i still love the glass passenger, and i'll always have everything in transit to listen to.
You took the words right out of my mouth.

[jonayy]

this is an amazing cd. great review.

[jonayy]

yes, this is very different than everything in transit, but equally if not more amazing. it does take a few listens to get into it.
sooo true. i listened to it the first time. and was so disappointed. but there my favorite band so i put it on repeat. and listen to it over and over now.

[tpnations]

Wish I could hear what the majority of you people do, because to me this album was a step in the wrong direction. "Hammers and Strings" is amazing, and possibly better than anything on EiT...but other than that this album simply is not that good.

Here's hoping the next one is better.

[xapplexpiex]

If I love this band (which I do), would I also like SoCo? I've never actually heard them before...
How similar are the two?

[bulls2213]

i wish at full speed had made the album. such a phenomenal song.

all the b-sides for this album were pretty damn awesome, really. anything that man touches turns to fucking gold.

and to the post above, i'd check out SoCo's "North" first if you're a big fan of Jacks. "Leaving Through the Window" is way more punk-ish... i'm sure you'd like them both though.

[supersonic182]

Great review. I've listened to this album for nearly six months straight and it feels like I Just picked it up yesterday instead of last September. I have to say Everything in Transit and the Glass Passenger are completely different albums though, the Glass Passenger has less of the catchy pop hooks, but the piano and the lyrics definitely if not completely make up for it.

i'm a little dissapointed that what i loved about jack's mannequin was the elements of their first album, which aren't all present in the glass passenger.
i definitely do not think that the glass passenger beats their first album,
although i do like the glass passenger very much,
their music has started to change.
as opposed to everything in transit, most of the songs on the glass passenger have emphasis on the guitars, and were driven by andrew mcmahon's piano tracks.

but the one thing i probably miss the most from everything in transit,
was the piano solos! where are they in the glass passenger?! there's only a piano solo in crashin, and there's GUITAR solos in swim and spinning. i miss jack's mannequin being a piano rock band.

Well, the thing is, like somebody mentioned above, the circumstances from which the albums were written are completely different. In one, he had just switched from writing in Something Corporate to writing in Jack's Mannequin, in the second album he had just finished chemotherapy.

I notice a lot of piano on Hammers and Strings...maybe that's just me? I dunno. But listen to a couple of the b-tracks like At Full Speed, there's a lot of piano in those.

I think it takes at least two or three listens to fully appreciate it. One go around didn't convince me, the second time did once I read the booklet lyrics while listening.

[DPDurden]

this cd may be no EIT, but i still love it