Did you hear a
high-pitched buzzing noise last Tuesday? That was the sound
of millions of teenage girls squealing in joy as Jack’s
Mannequin released their third album, People and Things.
Jack’s Mannequin, the solo project of Something Corporate
frontman Andrew McMahon, has been releasing piano fueled pop
rock since 2005, and it would be shame if only teenage girls
appreciate the new effort. If you can get past the "scene"
stigma, you’ll notice that McMahon has grown up a lot, and
adulthood sounds good on him.
The first single off the album, My Racing Thoughts,
is an upbeat anthem of romance that wants so badly to be a
Bruce Springsteen song. Although McMahon’s mancrush on
Springsteen is obvious on several tracks, that "epic" tone
tends to highlight what McMahon does best - emotions and
piano riffs. Perhaps my favorite song on the record is
Hey Hey Hey (We’re All Gonna Die). Although the title
may sound a bit macabre, it's actually quite beautiful and
peaceful, as McMahon accepts the fact that, yes - we are all
gonna die someday. So why not have a distinctly 90s alt rock
guitar jams in the background, right?
Mad props to McMahon for the Austin shout out in the lyrics
to Restless Dream, and speaking of Austin, Jack’s
Mannequin will be headlining Emo’s East on October 20th with
the ever-awesome Motion City Soundtrack. I’ll be out of
town, so please go and shriek as loud as possible for me.
:Jack's
Mannequin - My Racing Thoughts:
:Jack's
Mannequin - Hey Hey Hey (We're All Gonna Die):
- Zoe Cordes
Selbin -
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