Search - Jack's Mannequin :: Everything In Transit (CD/DVD)

The second coming of a future legend.

Elizabeth Dixon | Lexington, KY United States | 11/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I won't waste my time and yours by doing a full review of 'Everything In Transit', Jack's Mannequin's flawless gem of an album; there is already ample gushing in the review section of the disc's original release. What I will do is tell you why, even if you already own the album, you owe it to yourself to purchase this re-release for the spectacular DVD footage it contains.



If you've never seen piano-playing frontman Andrew McMahon play a live show before, you're in for a treat. The 24 year old is a born entertainer and one of the most charismatic young performers you'll ever have the pleasure of encountering. But the shows recorded here are exceptional in that they represent the singer's return to the stage after a battle with leukemia that very nearly claimed his life. The first show on the disc took place a mere 100 days after the stem cell transplant that saved him and there is a touching irony to the record's seemingly carefree lyrics as Andrew, rail-thin and still bald from chemotherapy, sings, 'California in the summer / and my hair is growing long'. If the fans in the audience appear subdued, it is out of sheer relief. And after all he's been through, McMahon delivers a quiet but pitch-perfect set sprinkled with dialogue that is upbeat, gracious, and even, endearningly, a little nervous.



The second show set in New York City has a completely different vibe. Now sporting one of his trademark nerdy sweater vests and a headful of reassuring fluffy regrowth, McMahon gives his fans the kind of show they've come to expect from him; the kind that rocks one's face off. And while he's still a long way from flipping his piano over and lighting it aflame, stunts he was infamous for during his Something Corporate days, it is clear that his irrepressible energy and enthusiasm for music has returned full force.



And if that weren't enough, the disc also includes two beautifully crafted music videos. The animated floral explosion that is The Mixed Tape Version One (animated because McMahon was physically unable to record a video at the time it was released) and the stunningly gorgeous Dark Blue, which features a painful looking 40's era dance marathon (watch for Tommy Lee's cameo).



So, boys and girls, if you've always wanted to see a pheonix rise up from the ash, well, here's your chance. Despite being entirely too short, the poignant and triumphant live performances included with this rerelease are well worth the full price. And you can always use another copy of Everything In Transit, you know, for when your other one melts from overplaying. ;)"

JACKS MANNEQUIN = AMAZING

Matthew J. Depaolo | CT | 02/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow. This album blew me away. I loved SoCo to death, but I love Jack's Mannequin just a little bit more. Literally, EVERY SONG IS AWESOME!! Words can't describe how great of an album this is. This CD is worth every penny. You must own this CD.



Standout Tracks : EVERY SINGLE SONG.. AMAZING BAND .. AMAZING CD"

You should know Jack

Jeffrey L. Giltenboth | Asheville, NC, USA | 09/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For starters, "Deep Blue" should have been a hit. I can only guess that poor promotional support prevented this. It is a song that grabs you on first listen and eventually becomes one of those melodies that lingers in your mind. The key then to this disc is the melodies. While I was never enthused over Something Corporate, Andrew McMahon has found a fine vehicle in Jack's Mannequin to frame an entire lp of aurally satisfying songs. I only dicovered this disc two years after it's release because of hearing "Dark Blue" on an old various artist promo disc. I play it often and recommend this disc to anyone wanting sing along music that does not resemble the pablum of pop."