Jack’s Mannequin
Everything In Transit
Maverick
Jack’s Mannequin is Something Corporate front man Andrew McMahon’s much-anticipated side project, and it effortlessly confirms his status as one of the most gifted singer/songwriters of his generation.
Something Corporate’s music is a world away from the dumb punk-pop of the outfits they are often unfairly lumped with, and much of McMahon’s highly personal material on Everything In Transit sticks to the same kind of frenetic, yet cerebral piano-based emo rock, with more than a few hints at a more mature, broader canvas.
The pure pop overtones of opener “Holiday From Real” and the first single, “The Mixed Tape,” demonstrate McMahon’s mastery of wrapping incredibly bright melodies around quite melancholic lyrics, while the heartfelt “Into The Airwaves” powerfully portrays the last rites of a long-term relationship. But perhaps the most radical deviations from McMahon’s previous songwriting are “MFEO,” a memorable two-part epic inspired by the Beach Boys, and the electronica-flavored “Miss Delaney,” which gives a new platform for the vocalist’s affecting, pleading voice. Various loops and effects lend the infectious “Bruised” an air of contemporary cool, while the synths and keys on “Dark Blue” add another dimension to McMahon’s trademark sound. “Kill The Messenger” evolves from a delicate piano intro into a Police-inspired rocker with some stellar drumming from Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee.
McMahon’s new-found creative expression, together with a combination of wildly evocative, autobiographical lyrics and memorable melodies, make Jack’s Mannequin’s Everything In Transit an album with real depth and quality; a rarity in an age of disposable and ultimately forgettable music.
Jack’s Mannequin: http://www.jacksmannequin.com
