The Glass Passenger

The Glass Passenger
Studio album by Jack's Mannequin
Released	September 30, 2008 (US) October 4, 2008 (AUS)
Recorded	Santa Monica, California
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	(56:54 regular version) (140:50 deluxe version)
Label	Sire
Producer	Andrew McMahon and Jim Wirt; Co-producer CJ Eiriksson
Jack's Mannequin chronology
In Valleys (2008) The Glass Passenger (2008) Dear Jack EP (2009)
Singles from The Glass Passenger
"The Resolution" Released: August 5, 2008 "Swim" Released: July 30, 2009

The Glass Passenger is the second studio album by American rock band Jack's Mannequin, released through Sire Records on September 30, 2008 in the United States.^[1] It is the band's first studio album on Sire Records after Everything in Transit (2005) was released through Maverick Records. Sire released two of the album's new songs on the The Ghost Overground extended play (EP), on August 5, 2008, including "The Resolution", the album's first single.

Lead singer Andrew McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2005, on the day the band finished mastering the last song for their debut album. The band didn't return to playing shows until the end of that year, and didn't begin writing until after the summer of 2007. The Glass Passenger was produced by Andrew McMahon and Jim Wirt, co-produced and recorded by CJ Eiriksson with additional Production by Bobby "Raw" Anderson and additional engineering by Max Coane in November 2007 - March 2008.^[2] It was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge. It experienced a series of delays, originally being given a tentative April 2008 release, then being pushed back five months to the end of September.

Background

The band's first album Everything in Transit was released in 2005. Following its recording, frontman Andrew McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and spent several months receiving cancer treatment for his disease. During this time, the documentary Dear Jack was filmed. Jack's Mannequin played its first concert since the diagnosis in December of that year, and the band began several tours over the next two years, both supporting the likes of O.A.R. in 2005 and Panic! at the Disco in 2006 and also headlining shows, including Tour for the Cure and the West Coast Winter Tour.

Composition

McMahon began writing songs for the band's second record following the summer of 2007.^[2] He had about ten songs written by that December and hoped to start mixing and recording the album in January 2008.

Release

Delayed release

The band's official blog was updated in December 2007 with the album's title, in February 2008 with song lyrics, and in March and May with tentative tracklists. Jack's Mannequin played college shows in January and February, premiering "Suicide Blonde"^[3] and "Caves"^[4] at Ramapo College in New Jersey. Stacy Clark's MySpace blog confirmed in April 2008 that she provided guest vocals on the track "Spinning".^[5] She also lent her voice to the track "Crashin'".

In interviews with AbsolutePunk.net and Alternative Press, the release date was tentatively given as April 22, 2008, but an AbsolutePunk.net notice was posted on March 18, 2008, stating that the album would be pushed back to June 3. On June 3, 2008, AbsolutePunk.net reported that the album had been mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, and was being mastered in New York.^[6] A month later, however, McMahon told the Montclair State University student newspaper that the release date would be moved to late August or early September 2008.^[7] and on June 13, he told Alternative Addiction the album was expected sometime in the first two weeks of September.^[8] Jason Tate of AbsolutePunk.net reported on July 15 that the album had been pushed back from the reported September 9 date;^[9] four days later, Jonathan Lally reported that the official release date would be September 30, 2008.^[1]

Eventual release and EPs

On August 5 an EP titled The Ghost Overground was released exclusively on iTunes to "tide Jack's Mannequin fans over until the release of the Glass Passenger." The EP contains two new songs titled "The Resolution" and "Bloodshot", and also includes live versions of "Kill The Messenger" and "Holiday From Real" from the band's first album, Everything in Transit. "The Resolution" was released to radio on August 19, 2008.^[10] A new EP entitled In Valleys was released exclusively on iTunes on September 9 featuring b-sides and new tracks from The Glass Passenger.^[11] Tracks include "Swim", "Cell Phone", "In Slow Motion (Sleazy Wednesday)" and "Annie Use Your Telescope".^[12] However, Jack's Mannequin later posted a bulletin on MySpace, which pointed out that the track "Annie Use Your Telescope" was actually "At Full Speed." As a consolation for the mix up, the band posted the real version of "Annie Use Your Telescope" on their MySpace account. The issue was rectified by Apple and the song was correctly named soon after release.^[13]

A third EP, The Resolution EP, was released on September 23 as a Verizon and Rhapsody exclusive. The EP includes the songs "The Resolution", "Annie Use Your Telescope" and an acoustic version of "The Resolution".^[14] A music video for "The Resolution", the album's first single was co-directed by author Stephenie Meyer for release on September 29.^[15][16]

The Australian iTunes edition features all songs from The Ghost Overground EP and the In Valleys EP. However, it does not include the track "Doris Day".

Preorders

There were several different preorders for The Glass Passenger.^[17]

• Bamboozle Exclusive: includes a limited edition lithograph, the digital album, and The Glass Passenger album book (available only at the Jack's Mannequin and Warner Bros. Records merch booths at the 2008 Bamboozle)^[18]
• Warped Tour Preorder: includes a lithograph and a physical copy of the album. (available only at the Jack's Mannequin merch booth at select dates of the 2008 Warped Tour)
• JacksMannequin.com Preorder: includes the digital bonus track "Miss California" along with "exclusive extras" and the album in digital, physical, or vinyl (available at JacksMannequin.com on July 30, 2008)^[19]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	(88%)[20]
Allmusic	[21]
Alternative Press	(#243, p. 147)
Entertainment Weekly	(C+)[22]
PopMatters	[23]
Rolling Stone
Spin	[24]

The album debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200, moving 49,000 units in its first week.^[25]

Track listing

All tracks written by Andrew McMahon^[26]. 

Personnel

• Andrew McMahon - vocals, piano, keyboards, B3, kazoo, stomps/claps, accordion, glockenspiel, wine glasses on "Cell Phone"
• Bobby "Raw" Anderson - guitar, background vocals, kazoo, wine glasses on "Cell Phone"
• Jay McMillan - drums, stomps/claps,
• Jonathan Sullivan - bass, talk box, contrabass, stomps/claps
• CJ Eriksson - drums, programming, percussion, backing vocals on "Sleazy Wednesday"
• Stacy Clark - background vocals on "Crashin'" and "Spinning"
• Jim Wirt - background vocals, bass solo on "American Love", kazoo
• P.J. Smith - background vocals
• Patrick Warren - bells, keyboards, additional arrangements, chamberlain, pump organ, effects for "Caves"
• Max Coane - additional percussion, programming
• Grooveline Horns - horn arrangement for "American Love"
• Fernando Castillo - trumpet on "American Love"
• Raul Vallejo - trombone on "American Love"
• Carlos Sosa - saxophone on "American Love"
• Aaron Dixon - additional guitar on "Orphans"
• Chris Rezanson - sound effects for "Sleazy Wednesday"

Extra content

A conceptual, short film entitled, "Choke, California", directed by James Minchin III, and starring Andrew McMahon, was included in the traditional pre-order package found on the official band website. A trailer for the film is featured on the band's YouTube page. In addition, a long-form trailer featuring the b-side "At Full Speed", was featured on the album's website on August 13, upon completion of a puzzle.^[29]

References