Jack's Mannequin is catchy, emo, angst-ridden and air guitar worthy
By: Bryan Lesswing and Gerard Pannekoek
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Features
Welcome back, Jack's Mannequin. It's been almost four years since the group played here to a sold-out crowd in the Lily Center.
The quartet hails from Orange County, Calif., where they began in 2004. Members include pianist and lead singer/songwriter Andrew McMahon, guitarist Bobby Anderson, bassist Jonathan Sullivan and drummer Jay McMillan. Prior to their formation, McMahon served as front man for the band Something Corporate. He initially formed Jack's Mannequin as a side project after Something Corporate decided to take a temporary hiatus in 2004. Even though Something Corporate has little to show over the last six years, it will reunite for a few tour dates in 2010 and plan on re-recording two old songs. Additionally, Jack's Mannequin plans on releasing its third studio album in the fall of 2010. Sounds like a busy year for McMahon.
Although both groups have a similar music style, that of piano-led pop punk, more personal, intimate lyrics separate Jack's Mannequin from its predecessor. The most likely cause for this shift is McMahon's fight with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when the band first started. Luckily, he made a full recovery, and Jack's Mannequin has gone on to release two full length studio records; "Everything in Transit" (2005) which peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200, and "The Glass Passenger" (2008) which peaked at number eight.
The band performs at 8 p.m. Saturday evening in Kresge Auditorium, with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for pre-sale in the Union Building, room 100 and in the Green Center before the concert. The cost for tickets is $10 for DePauw students and$15 for guests.
Jack's Mannequin - "Everything in Transit" - 3 stars out of 5 stars
Catchy melodies. Laid-back vibes. Emotive lyrics. Teen/College-age angst. These are the descriptions that critics have used to capture the sound of Jack's Mannequin. What this demonstrates is that critics, more often than not, reach their final verdict based on the image, the representation and the "worth" of the band in the greater music world, rather than musical quality. Even if their lyrics do emulate a sort of youthful naivety and "emo" tone, it certainly doesn't take away from the enjoyment of listening to a band that our generation can relate to.
The quartet hails from Orange County, Calif., where they began in 2004. Members include pianist and lead singer/songwriter Andrew McMahon, guitarist Bobby Anderson, bassist Jonathan Sullivan and drummer Jay McMillan. Prior to their formation, McMahon served as front man for the band Something Corporate. He initially formed Jack's Mannequin as a side project after Something Corporate decided to take a temporary hiatus in 2004. Even though Something Corporate has little to show over the last six years, it will reunite for a few tour dates in 2010 and plan on re-recording two old songs. Additionally, Jack's Mannequin plans on releasing its third studio album in the fall of 2010. Sounds like a busy year for McMahon.
Although both groups have a similar music style, that of piano-led pop punk, more personal, intimate lyrics separate Jack's Mannequin from its predecessor. The most likely cause for this shift is McMahon's fight with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when the band first started. Luckily, he made a full recovery, and Jack's Mannequin has gone on to release two full length studio records; "Everything in Transit" (2005) which peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200, and "The Glass Passenger" (2008) which peaked at number eight.
The band performs at 8 p.m. Saturday evening in Kresge Auditorium, with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for pre-sale in the Union Building, room 100 and in the Green Center before the concert. The cost for tickets is $10 for DePauw students and$15 for guests.
Jack's Mannequin - "Everything in Transit" - 3 stars out of 5 stars
Catchy melodies. Laid-back vibes. Emotive lyrics. Teen/College-age angst. These are the descriptions that critics have used to capture the sound of Jack's Mannequin. What this demonstrates is that critics, more often than not, reach their final verdict based on the image, the representation and the "worth" of the band in the greater music world, rather than musical quality. Even if their lyrics do emulate a sort of youthful naivety and "emo" tone, it certainly doesn't take away from the enjoyment of listening to a band that our generation can relate to.
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