Andrew McMahon’s Jack’s Mannequin can come off as oh-so emo & overwrought, but there is more there. Sophomore release The Glass Passenger (QRO review) was written not about a break-up, but after McMahon’s diagnosis & defeat of leukemia – earning him an appearance on The Daily Show (QRO Indie on Late Night TV). People and Things feels overdone on first listen, but more spins can find you singing along.
The best example is first track & first single "My Racing Thoughts", which evolves from cheesy in your ear to catchy and effective the more that you hear it. Other pieces that grow on the listener include "Amy, I", the more pressing "Television", the quite enjoyable emo-call "People, Running", and evocative "Hostage".
Not that all songs on People grow that way. Second track "Release Me" and closer "Casting Lines" never move beyond being torch-rock anthems, while "Platform Fire" remains just overwrought no matter how many times you hear it. The "That’s Just the Way It Is" style keys that work on "Hostage" aren’t as effective on "Amelia Jean".
In the end, emo folks will love People while indie-hipsters will never listen to Things, but there is definitely more to Andrew McMahon & Jack’s Mannequin.
MP3 Stream: "My Racing Thoughts"
