Jack’s Mannequin “People and Things” Review

By Alexa Cortese

The men of Jack’s Mannequin have certainly matured in the three year gap between their sophomore effort, “The Glass Passenger,” and the release of their most recent album, “People and Things.”  The band’s third album still has that familiar feel to it – the pounding piano, riveting drums, and Andrew McMahon’s heartening vocals – but fans who are expecting the poppy, catchy tunes that the band is famous for may be disappointed.  Not to worry, though.  Fans who are thirsty for an album that is a bit more profound, serious, and reflective of the time that has passed since the band’s first album, “Everything in Transit,” are in for a treat.

The album has more of a rock feel to it than the previous albums have.  Many of the lyrics are dark and contemplative, such as in “Amy, I,” where McMahon laments his frustrations with a crumbling relationship, and in “Television,” where McMahon confesses, “You were right I’ve always been a sinner/You were right I’ve wasted all your time.”  The title says it all in “Hey Hey Hey (We’re All Gonna Die),” and listeners can see that as the band grows and matures, their own mortality is becoming more of a reality and they are gaining new perspective on life.  “Amelia Jean” tells the story of the girl who got away while the singer was busy chasing his dreams around the country.  Perhaps the most somber of the songs on the album is “Restless Dream,” with a slower melody and lyrics about shortcomings of love that Jack’s Mannequin fans can certainly relate to.

Overall, this album is less catchy than the band’s previous albums, and whereas on “Everything in Transit” every track stood out from the others, the songs on “People and Things” are a little more monotonous and blend together.  Still, it’s the kind of album that takes more than a few listenings to get into, but absorbing the deeper meanings behind the songs is worth the wait.

Itunes- http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jacks-mannequin/id74214170

Amazon- http://amzn.com/B005OC9T4W