The story of Jack’s Mannequin front man Andrew McMahon is an attention-grabbing tale and clearly reflects in his song writing. Following the powerful debut album Everything in Transit, McMahon was diagnosed with leukemia and the resulting chemotherapy and treatments meant that it was difficult for him to enjoy the traditional success that comes with such an impressive offering. Three years later, McMahon and his band are back with long-awaited second album The Glass Passenger and the good news for fans of the band’s punchy piano-driven ballads is that none of the unique magic from the first record has been lost. It’s a more emotional reflection of McMahon’s life; the trials and tribulations he has suffered are self evident in the raw emotion of tracks such as Swim and Hammer and Strings (A Lullaby).
It’s clearly a slightly darker album but the powerful, fast-paced hooks are still there. Early in the album, we’re treated to the excellent Spinning, a swelling, rousing number that is definitely one of the highlights of the record. Additionally, The Resolution is a forceful, feel-good anthem, evoking memories of some of the finer moments from Everything in Transit.
McMahon’s journey from the first album to this one is fraught with emotion and he deals with some hard-hitting topics in his lyrics. What Gets You Off is a slow, swaying effort that discusses the recovery of his sex drive and Hammer and Strings (A Lullaby) is a classic, reflective piece where McMahon confirms his return to his fans and promises them his very best work.
All things considered, The Glass Passenger certainly lacks the free-flowing happiness of Everything in Transit but that certainly doesn’t make it an inferior album. There’s an honesty here, a genuine realisation that not everything is perfect and the truthful emotion emanating from McMahon’s voice makes it a first class effort and bodes well for the future of this talented band.
(reviewedonline.co.uk, 2009)
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