September 30th, 2008

Even if your voice comes back again maybe there'll be no one listening. - Andrew McMahon, Jack's Mannequin, Glass Passenger

New music Tuesday is my third favorite day of the week. First is Pool League Thursday and second being New Comics Wednesday. Essentially the middle of the week I am over-stimulated, caffeinated, boozed up, shooting stick and rocking steady.

This week marked the release of albums from three of my favorite acts: Jack's Mannequin, Ben Folds and Bayside.

Quick words on Jack's Mannequin's Glass Passenger. This CD: I was so excited, I ripped the cellophane off with my teeth while driving. This album was worth getting excited about.

I know many of you will say, "I've had this album for three weeks from Limewire." First, you use Limewire? Ha, you suck at stealing music. Two, I have been on a kick of buying my music lately. Not because I think there is a moral imperative or because I feel am robbing the artists by stealing their music. I could give a shit about morals and convictions. As I have stated before and will again, I don't really have any convictions. I just got sick of not having something tangible. That is pretty simple. I like to hold stuff, usually soft stuff, but occasionally, a polycarbonate disc.

Getting back on track: this album is simply wonderful. I tried to take a completely objective look at it, however, I could not with all things in consideration.

Andrew McMahon's resume is as follows:
Start an awesome power-pop band and release a few very good albums: check!
Start a second just as awesome, just as successful power-pop act: check!
(this is where it gets impressive)
Kick the ever-living shit out of acute late-stage cancer and then return to release another awesome album: double-fucking-check!

Aside from all that, this album contains some of his best song writing to date, all carefully crafted with heartfelt lyrics, blah blah blah, normal CD review jargon. However, the one track that stood out to me is American Love. Not because it is the best song or because it has the most penetrating lyrics (because it doesn't, "big hearts are made to be broken", yeah, no, that is going to be on every 14 year old girls' myspace for at least the next three months) but because it sounds like an 80s rock anthem with 2000s pop-sensibility (see 'tone down the synth dude'). The song should be in the closing credits to Karate Kid or Goonies. I probably hold the world record for most times listening to that track. Go me.

I haven't even bothered to listen to the other two albums yet. However there is no chance they will beat this album out for my pick of the week. So there it is. Sorry LL Cool J. Maybe next time.

Other than that, no dogs pissing on me since last time. Hopefully this trend continues.