Spring Break
McMahon takes inspiration for 2nd album from cancer struggles
John Holmes
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Entertainment
10/08/08 - When Andrew McMahon, the former lead singer of piano-rock pop-punk band Something Corporate, recorded his debut album with his side project, Jack's Mannequin, in 2005, he did not realize the twist that life had in store for him.
On the last day of production for that debut album, Everything in Transit, McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As Jack's Mannequin's debut album had been finished before McMahon's condition was diagnosed, none of the songs on Everything in Transit contain any reference to his struggle with his treatment.
Now, more than three years later, after having undergone chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, McMahon has released his sophomore album with Jack's Mannequin, The Glass Passenger. This album is deeply inspired by the frontman's experience with illness and recovery. The Glass Passenger delivers a highly personal collection of songs- and luckily for us, the songs are not just personal, but damn good.
The album begins with the energetic, up-tempo "Crashin,'" which finds McMahon expressing doubts about his career after his recovery, singing "even if your voice comes back again, maybe there'll be no one listening."
Soon after, the uplifting "Swim" finds him declaring, "the currents will pull us away from our love, just keep your head above."
The tracks do not all focus on McMahon and his illness however. "Bloodshot" profiles two characters who are overwhelmed with the struggle of their everyday lives, while in the bridge McMahon sings "we wait in valleys while the clouds come in, we see no shadows 'cause the shadow's all there is," over a synth and drums breakdown.
"Hammer and Strings (A Lullaby)" is a dark piano ballad, featuring gorgeous lyrics like "come on, write me a song, give me something to trust, just promise you won't let it be just the keys that you touch."
These, and all the other tracks work to lead to the album's highlight, the seven-minute epic closing track, "Caves," describing in excruciating detail McMahon's experience of being hospitalized. The track begins slowly and somberly, with just piano and McMahon's emotional falsetto vocals delivering poetic lyrics such as "no peace, just clicking machines, in the quiet of compazine, the walls caved in on me."
Three minutes in, the piano riffs speed up and distort, leading to an explosion of electric guitar and drums, as the lyrics get more graphic: "beat my body like a rag doll, you stuck the needles in my hip, said 'we're not gonna lie, son, you just might die, get you on that morphine drip, drip."
This track is clearly the strongest track on the album, but there are no weak tracks either. The Glass Passenger is a cathartic, pain-fueled artistic statement- the kind that defines careers.
You don't need to get cancer to appreciate the uplifting, resilient message presented by Andrew McMahon's art and life. Jack's Mannequin's The Glass Passenger is a breathtaking album that is eminently worthy of your attention.
On the last day of production for that debut album, Everything in Transit, McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As Jack's Mannequin's debut album had been finished before McMahon's condition was diagnosed, none of the songs on Everything in Transit contain any reference to his struggle with his treatment.
Now, more than three years later, after having undergone chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, McMahon has released his sophomore album with Jack's Mannequin, The Glass Passenger. This album is deeply inspired by the frontman's experience with illness and recovery. The Glass Passenger delivers a highly personal collection of songs- and luckily for us, the songs are not just personal, but damn good.
The album begins with the energetic, up-tempo "Crashin,'" which finds McMahon expressing doubts about his career after his recovery, singing "even if your voice comes back again, maybe there'll be no one listening."
Soon after, the uplifting "Swim" finds him declaring, "the currents will pull us away from our love, just keep your head above."
The tracks do not all focus on McMahon and his illness however. "Bloodshot" profiles two characters who are overwhelmed with the struggle of their everyday lives, while in the bridge McMahon sings "we wait in valleys while the clouds come in, we see no shadows 'cause the shadow's all there is," over a synth and drums breakdown.
"Hammer and Strings (A Lullaby)" is a dark piano ballad, featuring gorgeous lyrics like "come on, write me a song, give me something to trust, just promise you won't let it be just the keys that you touch."
These, and all the other tracks work to lead to the album's highlight, the seven-minute epic closing track, "Caves," describing in excruciating detail McMahon's experience of being hospitalized. The track begins slowly and somberly, with just piano and McMahon's emotional falsetto vocals delivering poetic lyrics such as "no peace, just clicking machines, in the quiet of compazine, the walls caved in on me."
Three minutes in, the piano riffs speed up and distort, leading to an explosion of electric guitar and drums, as the lyrics get more graphic: "beat my body like a rag doll, you stuck the needles in my hip, said 'we're not gonna lie, son, you just might die, get you on that morphine drip, drip."
This track is clearly the strongest track on the album, but there are no weak tracks either. The Glass Passenger is a cathartic, pain-fueled artistic statement- the kind that defines careers.
You don't need to get cancer to appreciate the uplifting, resilient message presented by Andrew McMahon's art and life. Jack's Mannequin's The Glass Passenger is a breathtaking album that is eminently worthy of your attention.
