Jack's Mannequin - "Annie Use Your Telescope" (2008)

By now you may already be familiar with the story of Jack’s Mannequin. It started as the solo side project of Andrew McMahon, front man of Something Corporate. It has since morphed into a more of a full band as well as more of a full time gig as Jack’s Mannequin has now released their sophomore album The Glass Passenger. You may have also heard about McMahon’s bout with leukemia, which he was diagnosed with right after finishing Jack’s 2005 debut Everything In Transit. He is now in remission and healthy but I think it will be a long time before people stop equating Jack’s Mannequin and Andrew McMahon with cancer. There is no doubt that his experience with the disease the past three years has influenced his music, however McMahon chooses not to dwell on it and allows the songs on The Glass Passenger to encompass broader themes. McMahon also takes bigger musical leaps on this record. Everything In Transit was a great album, but there was little that would distinguish it from a Something Corporate record. I hate to use the word “mature” because it seems overly used when talking about how an artist has changed from one album to the next but I will say that The Glass Passenger is a more grown up record and perhaps more fully realized with more lush instrumentation and excellent production value. McMahon’s piano prowess is still evident on this record but he allows it to be subdued and let the guitar take the lead on songs like “American Love” and the excellent “Bloodshot.” Today’s song is one of the slower ones with a great piano and string melody that holds it all together. The Glass Passenger shows McMahon is one of the best songwriters in alternative music today and I think this album will help be remembered as more than “that guy from Something Corporate that had cancer.” On the album opener “Crashin” McMahon is open about his fear of rejection by fans as he sings “Even if your voice comes back again, maybe there’ll be no one listening.” I think it’s safe to say he can put those fears to rest.


Jack's Mannequin - "Annie Use Your Telescope"