I thought for my final blog entry I’d write something to go along with the majority of my past entries.  I wanted to look at a song not on the original “Everything in Transit” album.  It seems appropriate to close my blog with a song like this, one full of meaning and open to many interpretations.

The song “Last Straw” opens with a line I love. It has no specific meaning to me because it’s about Andrew’s ex-girlfriend.  His friend tells him that his ex was out the other night and she looked better than ever.  As the song progresses, it’s easy to see what Andrew’s talking about. He’s sitting home thinking about his ex, the President, and everything that’s wrong with the world. His alcohol and Vicodin intake subsequently influence the song as well. I think that makes it interesting because he’s obviously upset, and the circumstances only make for a better song. It’s a personal song; it’s his therapy almost, to handle the situation and just write about what he’s thinking.  He might be realizing how much he misses her, or doesn’t miss her.  Their relationship obviously couldn’t work because she was fed up waiting around for him.  She’s the one saying this is the “last straw;” she doesn’t want to wait around while he’s on tour.  The mention of JFK and wasting years of her life can be related to the waiting and possible infidelity.  But of course that’s open to interpretation.

He’s talking about the President, politics, and life; nothing uncommon at all. The questioning of the President seems appropriate since the song was written in 2004 after the re-election.  All of his pondering seems normal to that of what many people think about-love, relationships, politics, society, religion, and just life in general.

The piano solo right before the last chorus is amazing; it shows Andrew’s immense talent.  The moments in his songs when it’s just Andrew playing the piano are probably my favorite.  The lyrics are very interesting, but once you listen to them and take a closer look, it’s easy to see the deeply rooted inspirations for the song.

So as I close this last blog with the “Last Straw,” I hope I’ve given you somewhat of an insight in the amazingness that is Jack’s Mannequin. And I hope if you’ve never heard of them, what I’ve presented here will influence you to check them out.  You might just have to buy their new album, which actually (for sure) comes out at the end of the summer now! : )

So I had planned on writing this blog about “The Glass Passenger” album. That was one of the main aspects of this blog when I first thought of the idea.  I was going to talk all about the new music the day after it was released, and just share my reactions with everyone. My overwhelming excitement for new music has been a part of every one of my previous blog entries.  Watching the number of days in the album countdown get fewer and fewer was probably one of my favorite parts.  But it turns out my countdown was ultimately useless because the album was not released yesterday!! The release date has been changed to June 3^rd.

This past weekend my boyfriend told me that he read online about the later release date.  At first I didn’t believe him, mostly because I didn’t want to.  “Everything in Transit” came out in 2005, so you can imagine my anticipation when I heard that Jack’s was recording a new album.  I suppose something good could come from this though.  Of course I assumed the album was finished because of yesterday’s planned release.  And I obviously have no idea why the album date was changed, but I guess now this extra six weeks gives Jack’s more time to really perfect the album.  There’s something really exciting about a great second album, following an incredible first one, from your favorite band.  It will be well worth the wait no matter what!  Still I can’t help but be a little upset about this.  But I’ve waited almost three years; I can wait 41 more days.

Friendship is something everyone has in common.  Everyone knows what it feels like to have a friend; someone who’s with you through the good times and the bad.  Friends are there to make you feel better, but sometimes the wrong ones can betray you.  Many artists write songs that focus on this idea, and Andrew McMahon is no exception.

“La La Lie” can be interpreted in several ways, but the underlying theme is friendship.  He needs his friends, even though they’re lying just to make him feel better.  The situation with his girlfriend is most likely not the best, and his friends “la la lie” to tell him what he wants to hear.  He talks about not doing the things he used to do for her when he mentions writing her songs and drawing her pictures.  He’s done putting up with everything, and he can’t do anything to fix all of the lies, so he’s leaving.  The bottom line is whether or not his friends are lying to him; he doesn’t need his girlfriend because he’s got them.

As for the musical aspect of the song, it’s very upbeat and the “la la lies” are a clever way to add something more to the song.  Plus they coincide with the lies and deception in the song.  It’s an interesting song because it talks about being lied to and somewhat betrayed, but the beat is happy.  But this connects to the fact that he has his friends no matter what. I also really like the “la la lies” in unison towards the end of the song.  

Now although this blog is about Jack’s Mannequin, I thought it appropriate to include a Something Corporate song just this once because they are extremely talented, and it is Andrew’s band nonetheless.  “Ruthless,” from their album North plays on the same theme as “La La Lie” but in somewhat of a different way.  It’s most likely a girlfriend (or a friend) who he’s stabbed in the back, and they’ve in turn stabbed him in the back even worse. He finally knows what type of person they are.  The bottom line is the kinds of things people who you thought were close to you are willing to do to betray you.  The deception comes from both ends, but he’s finally realized how things are-something he should have known in the beginning but didn’t.

This song is one of my favorite Something Corporate songs.  It’s really interesting and personal. The piano is incredible, and I like how in the beginning verse Andrew’s voice is quiet, but as the song goes on and the chorus approaches, it gets louder and more intense. 

It’s not like I want to necessarily focus on the bad side of friendship, but it does happen.  And I caught on to that theme in a Jack’s Mannequin and a Something Corporate song, so I thought I’d go with it. These songs seem perfect to me because 1) they’re by my all-time favorite artists, 2) they have an upbeat tone while still talking about something negative, and 3) they’re easy for young people to relate to, which is important to me.

“The Glass Passenger” in 6 days…

Since summer is slowly but surely on its way, I thought it would be fun to discuss a couple songs by Jack’s Mannequin that give off somewhat of a “summertime vibe.”  There are songs that make me feel a certain way, or remind me of a time and a feeling.  The feeling of being outside in the sunshine when it’s eighty degrees, or driving in the car with the windows down, singing and laughing with my best friends. It doesn’t get much better than the wind through my hair, the sun on my face, and Andrew McMahon’s voice all around me.

I already briefly mentioned “Holiday from Real” in my last entry, but it’s definitely worth explaining in a little more detail.  The music itself is upbeat and just makes me think of summer.  Something Corporate originates from Orange County, California, so it only makes sense that some of that So-Cal feeling resonates in a Jack’s Mannequin song like this.  Andrew’s basically singing about a perfect situation, an escape from reality; living in California in the summertime, with his friends and whatever else he has.  He’ll do whatever he wants, no matter if anyone else agrees with it, and when the summer’s over he’ll come back again next year.  Andrew’s voice is in typical form; he really enhances the vibe of the song and the feeling of being in the sunny California weather.

Another song I feel I need to mention is “Made for Each Other.”  It’s a very upbeat song, and that’s always something good in the summertime.  The lyrics are so uplifting and the song will put anyone in a good mood.  The trumpets after the first chorus bring an exhilarating feeling to the song, and Andrew’s voice is happy and upbeat.  As far as the lyrics go, everything is just right because he’s with someone who he knows is perfect for him. He talks about good times and just enjoying life. Who doesn’t want to listen to a song about being happy?  Both songs illustrate the happiness and freedom that come with summertime, and I thought them appropriate as the summer months are approaching.

Needless to say, “Everything in Transit” is now playing on repeat in my car and on my iTunes until the new album comes out!

“The Glass Passenger” in 13 days…

Now that everyone is somewhat familiar with Jack’s Mannequin, you’re probably curious as to where to find them.  Speaking in terms of television, movies, the internet, and obviously music, there are several ways to see and hear the band.

Television: There aren’t many places to catch Jack’s on TV, but it is pretty exciting to have my favorite band on my favorite TV show. Jack’s Mannequin was on an episode during Season 3 of One Tree Hill called “Just Watch the Fireworks.” The band plays at a benefit concert, along with Fall Out Boy.

Movies: Andrew McMahon’s documentary “Dear Jack” comes out later this year.  It follows him through the release of the first album and his diagnosis and treatment of Leukemia.  From the preview on the dearjack website, it looks pretty intense, but also very interesting and inspirational.

Internet: There are several ways to find Jack’s online.  Obviously there is their website, jacksmannequin.com.  There’s also their Myspace page, their purevolume page, and others.  There’s an acoustic performance of their song “Holiday from Real” on VH-1.com.  It’s pretty much a fantastic song, as usual, and it’s somewhat more of a personal performance which makes it even cooler.

Music/Concerts: Music is the obvious category.  The “Everything in Transit” or the upcoming “The Glass Passenger” albums are the best ways to experience the band.  There are also a couple of upcoming chances to catch Jack’s in concert.  On April 17^th they’re playing with Ben Folds in Oshkosh, and on June 29^th at Summerfest.

“The Glass Passenger” in 20 days…

I realize that I can’t write every blog about a favorite song, although I have many, but while I was listening to this song the other night I became inspired and decided to share another song with everyone.

“Dark Blue” seems to be about a feeling. Things are moving too fast for him and he doesn’t like the situation around him. I’m sure other people have felt alone in a crowd; it’s as if you could be surrounded by hundreds but still feel alone. The flood he talks about represents the feeling of loneliness and confusion that takes him over. For some reason, in that moment, all he has is that person he’s closest to. Everything could be going wrong in the world, but no matter what he’s here with her. As for the dark blue, it seems to represent a feeling of misery or loneliness. The use of the color blue is significant because these feelings are overcoming him in this moment, and he feels “blue.” The piano is constant throughout the entire song, and Andrew’s voice builds as the song progresses.

Towards the end of the song, he talks about stars, Mars, and the West Coast. I think this is referent to how far away he feels in that moment. The flood of emotions he feels reaches him on the West Coast and takes over everything. It’s only him and the girl, and all they can do is be with each other. In the end of the song, he states that if someone has felt like he has, they’ll understand exactly what he’s talking about. The momentum of the song slows just before this section of the song begins, then builds and builds as the water’s rising; the pace speeds up until he realizes he can’t do anything else, and then the song slows down. This adds a sense of urgency and confusion that fades away with his conclusion.

I think that parts of this song are meant to be not understood. Andrew wrote the lyrics for himself, and sometimes other people aren’t meant to completely understand them. The piano

“The Glass Passenger” in 33 days…

In my past entries, I’ve talked about some of my favorite Jack’s Mannequin songs.  The studio album recordings are beyond amazing of course, but when they’re played live, they’re that much better. 

The date was June 28^th, 2007. The city was Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The event was Summerfest 2007.  What a day. Jack’s Mannequin performed for hundreds of fans. Among them, myself and several friends. Our love for Andrew and the band brought us there, with many others, to experience all the band had to give.  On a cool night, after the sun went down, Jack’s took the stage. It was incredible. The show was great; everything from “The Mixed Tape,” to “Dark Blue,” to “Holiday from Real.” Next came the technical difficulty. How would Andrew perform without his piano? With an acoustic version of Something Corporate’s “The Astronaut” of course. I can’t really describe how incredible this was. You’ll just have to watch it yourself if you’re interested. 

–Something Corporate is another project of Andrew’s. Created before Jack’s Mannequin, they’re equally as good and their talent is unbelievable. Curious? Check them out.

Summerfest 2007 wasn’t the only time I’ve gotten to experience how amazing Jack’s Mannequin live. September 2006 brought the band to The Rave in Milwaukee. I and several other friends were there, and this was the first time I saw the band live.  Words can merely begin to describe how incredibly amazing they are, so I won’t even try.  The Summerfest link above should speak for itself. 

“The Glass Passenger” in 41 days…

So since my last entry was about favorite songs, I thought I would discuss another one of my favorites from Jack’s Mannequin.

From the way I see it, “Kill The Messenger” is about a relationship gone wrong.  Things aren’t the same as when the relationship began.  He starts the song by mentioning something hurting, like he’s having a bad dream; I take this to be whatever went wrong in their relationship.  He isn’t the same person as he was in the beginning, or he’s not acting like himself anymore, either because of the way the relationship was going or what she’s done to him.  He’s in a sad place, and he wants her to feel the same way.  He wants her to feel alone, with nothing but the rain to make things worse.  I understand, and I’m sure other people have has well, what it’s felt like to want that person that hurt you, or made you feel sad and alone, to feel exactly the same way.

My insights may not be correct, but all I know is that I connect with this song.  I come back to it whenever I’m sad, particularly if I’m having trouble relationship wise, or boys are just being stupid. I don’t always listen to it when I’m feeling sad, but whenever I hear it I instantly remember how much this song has helped me when I needed it.  I haven’t listened to it in a long time, which is somewhat of a good thing I suppose.  Although I don’t associate everything about this song with something negative; it’s amazing, and as always, Andrew is incredible on the piano. 

“The Glass Passenger” in 48 days…

Everyone has a favorite song, or at least several favorite songs.  It’s that song that you listen to whenever you’re in a bad mood and you’re instantly cheerful again; the song you know every word to, and you could listen to it a thousand times and love it even more every time.  As you can probably guess from the topic of this blog, mine is by, yes, Jack’s Mannequin.  “The Mixed Tape” from their album “Everything in Transit” prevails over every song I’ve ever heard.  Not only are the lyrics good, but Andrew McMahon is amazing on the piano.  Needless to say I’m listening to it as I compose this entry, for inspiration I guess.

I take the song to be about a girl he likes.  He makes her a mixed tape of songs that have some sort of meaning, or he’s trying to get a point across. The words of the songs he chooses fit so perfectly with what he’s trying to say, as if he wrote them himself.  She must either be far away from him, physically or emotionally, and he’s trying to reach her through these songs. 

So here it is: my official countdown to the release of Jack’s new album, “The Glass Passenger.”  56 days remain, and my anticipation is growing.  I’m sure this album will be just as amazing as the first.  I recently heard a track from it, and not surprisingly, it’s incredible! Wow this makes it so hard to wait for the entire album, but what can you do right?

My blog is dedicated to one of the greatest bands of all time (in my opinion), Jack’s Mannequin.  Words can merely describe the respect I have for them, especially Andrew McMahon. His talent is undeniable and his words are like magic.  As the front man for one of my other favorites, Something Corporate, Andrew has created some of the most amazing lyrics and melodies I’ve ever heard.  It’s difficult to describe using only words, but I’ll try my best.

I first heard of Jack’s Mannequin on the TV show One Tree Hill, and luckily for me I haven’t heard them anywhere else on TV or radio. It ruins it for me when I discover a band I really love, and then I hear them on the radio. Then their songs get overplayed and I become bored with them altogether.  Next came my purchase of their album “Everything in Transit.” It’s hands down one of the best albums I’ve ever owned, and every time I listen to it I find something new that I like.  It contains so many incredible lyrics that I can relate to, for the most part. I can find meaning in little parts of each song, such as “Kill the Messenger” and “The Mixed Tape.”

My aim for this blog is to convey my love for this band; my thoughts, feelings, opinions, and so on. I’ll look at many of their songs and give my take on them. I’m also impatiently awaiting April 22-the release of their sophomore album “The Glass Passenger.” I’ll be counting down the days and sharing my excitement with everyone.  So for those of you who’ve never heard of them, I welcome you to explore the amazingness that is Jack’s Mannequin.