Everything in Transit

Everything in Transit
Studio album by Jack's Mannequin
Released August 23, 2005
Studio 4th Street Recording, Santa Monica, California
Genre Alternative rock
Length 45:33
Label Maverick
Producer Andrew McMahon, Jim Wirt
Jack's Mannequin chronology
Everything in Transit
(2005)		 The Glass Passenger
(2008)
Singles from Everything in Transit
  1. "Holiday from Real"
    Released: May 10, 2005
  2. "The Mixed Tape"
    Released: July 19, 2005
  3. "Dark Blue"
    Released: June 27, 2006

Everything in Transit is the debut studio album by American rock band Jack's Mannequin, released on August 23, 2005, by Maverick Records. Andrew McMahon wrote most of the lyrics during his first summer outside of his band Something Corporate. McMahon spent almost all of his savings on recording the album before Maverick Records picked him up. The album was produced by both McMahon and Jim Wirt.

Background

In the early 2000s, Andrew McMahon served as the frontman for pop punk act Something Corporate.[1] McMahon recorded and toured with the band since high school, releasing three albums (2000's Ready... Break, 2002's Leaving Through the Window and 2003's North) within a few years. As a result, he spent little time at home.[2] Following a co-headlining US tour with Yellowcard in March and April 2004,[3] Something Corporate went on hiatus.[1] They returned to support The Offspring on an Australian tour in June.[4] Unable to work together, the members' relationships became strained. While it was proposed that the band could make another album together, McMahon thought the idea sounded "terrifying".[5]

Concerned that it would feel forced, the band broke up, and McMahon began working on a project titled Jack's Mannequin.[5] McMahon did toy with the idea of calling it The Mannequins, but was tired of bands beginning with "the". At the same time, he had finished a song entitled "Dear Jack", and merged the two names together.[6] McMahon threw himself into the project, claiming he worked harder on it than he did with Something Corporate. He rarely slept and rarely ate, and was typically wasted for over half a day at a time.[7] Within a few months, he stockpiled dozens of songs, which were influenced by Southern California's landscape and atmosphere. Though he had no plan to release the songs, he intended to record them.[2]

During this time, McMahon did session work for Hidden in Plain View and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee.[8][9] McMahon heard through mutual business associates that Lee enjoyed North, and during one night, Lee invited McMahon to work with him.[6] McMahon tracked 17 demos, most of which centred around his family and his upbringing.[10] In November 2004, McMahon revealed Jack's Mannequin, as a project with Something Corporate collaborator Jim Wirt. McMahon and Wirt played all of the instruments while the former handled the writing.[11]

Production

McMahon financed the recording sessions from his own funds, and would co-produce the album with Wirt. For the sessions, a few of McMahon's friends contributed to the recordings: Wirt (vocals, bass and guitar), Something Corproate guitarist Bobby Anderson (guitar), session musician Patrick Warren (organ, strings and arrangements) and Lee (drums).[2] Out of the 17 demos, only one was recorded for the album, "Holiday from Real".[10] The drum tracks were made up of samples by CJ Eiriksson, before they were mixed with live drums by Lee,[2] which Lee tracked in a single day.[12]

As the songs were starting to form an album, he approached major label Maverick Records[13] three quarters through the recording process and signed with them.[2] After finishing the initial track listing,[14] McMahon showed the album to his label. An A&R representative suggested adding one more song;[10] instead, he went back and reworked the track listing.[14] Ultimately, three new songs were recorded and added to the record: "La La Lie", "Dark Blue" and "Into the Airwaves".[10]

Composition

Everything in Transit is a concept album that details McMahon's return to his hometown, which he left to pursue a career in music, and the end of a long relationship[2] with Kelly Hansch as a result of it. The pair would later reconcile and get married.[15] Throughout the album, references are made to being in hospital and becoming sick. McMahon mentioned that the lyrics were about recovering from his frequent touring with Something Corporate, which he compared to recovering from an illness of sorts. While writing, he began consuming a lot of pop albums from the 1960s and 1970s that he considered better than his own material.[13] When working in a band, decisions are often made as a collective democratically. While working on the project alone, it allowed McMahon to write a song more so towards what he could hear in his head.[6] McMahon scribbled lyrics accompanied by drawings into a private sketchbook, selected pages of which can be accessed through a web-link to a secret homepage on the enhanced CD portion of the album.

McMahon wrote "The Mixed Tape" about making the perfect mixtape for his girlfriend.[16] McMahon has stated "Bruised" to be his favorite song on the record.[17] When first written, the song "La La Lie" was originally titled "West Coast Winter" and featured a different chorus. The original demo was released in late 2006 on the band's website. "Dark Blue" was the last song recorded for the album. It is about the months McMahon and Hansch spent separated from one another.[18] The song's lyrics were completely re-written from its original draft, which included the placeholder lyric "I'm black and blue". It was one of three tracks, alongside "La La Lie" and "Into the Airwaves", that were later added after meeting with the A&R guy. As it was the last song, McMahon was initially unsure what to talk about. It then became the album's centrepiece, with McMahon explaining: "...all of a sudden I knew what the story was, and I was having these crazy dreams about tidal waves and the characters … became this story about this massive storm coming and sweeping us off into the water."[10]

Release

On April 17, 2005, Jack's Mannequin debut album was announced for release in summer of that year through Maverick Records.[19] Another announcement followed four days later, revealing the album's title, Everything in Transit, and the release date of July 12.[20] On May 10, "Holiday from Real" was released as a 7" vinyl single,[21] featuring two versions of "Kill the Messenger" (album version and an acoustic version) as B-sides.[22] In May, the group embarked on a six-week tour to build up hype for the album.[14] On May 20, two songs were made available for streaming through the band's Myspace account.[23] In late May, McMahon started feeling sick while on tour,[13] suffering from chronic fatigue,[24] and even cancelled one show due to problems with his voice.[25] During a mastering session for the album, McMahon received a phone call[10] and was subsequently hospitalized for laryngitis in New York City. As a result, the rest of the tour was cancelled.[13]

On June 1, McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.[25] All forthcoming tour dates were postponed indefinitely, and the album's release date was pushed back to August 9.[26] He contacted the label and told them that he would be unable to promote the album until he was completely healthy. He was undergoing two rounds of chemotherapy, which could've potentially last several years if he was unable to receive a transplant. McMahon said the prospect of "waiting three years to put out a record that was so personal and immediate to me ... was just not an option to me."[10] In early July, it was announced that album's release date would be pushed back a further two weeks to August 23.[27] By the time the label decided on this date,[10] six weeks of chemotherapy had gone by.[13] "The Mixed Tape" was released as a single on July 19.[28] Due to the multiple rounds of chemotherapy, his white blood cell count was almost at zero, coupled with a immune system, he contracted pneumonia. His white blood cell count increased, and he was given the choice of having a stem-cell transplant or bone-marrow grafting. With the possibility that the pneumonia could return, he opted for the former.[24] After finding out his sister Katie was eligible,[10] he received the stem-cell transplant on the same day the album was released,[15] and went into remission.[29]

He spent the next few months recovering, and had to use testosterone patches due to the chemotherapy reducing his testosterone.[24] He met with his doctor weekly to check his blood count.[30] "The Mixed Tape" was released to radio on September 20.[31] The animated music video, directed by Michael Perlmutter and Full Tank, was filmed while McMahon was being treated in hospital.[12] McMahon contracted a prolonged bout of shingles, which didn't subside until December;[24] he played his first two concerts since his diagnosis later that month.[25] By January 2006, he was still on some medication, but was almost completely healthy.[12] McMahon performed the song on an episode of One Tree Hill, in which Hilarie Burton's character holds a benefit concert. While filming the episode in Wilmington, North Carolina, a second music video was filmed for "The Mixed Tape". In the clip, McMahon delivers a package to Burton's house, which contains a mixtape a flier for a Jack's Mannequin show. Burton's character eventually listens to the tape and goes to the show.[12] He slowly started performing one-off shows with a backing band in California, before eventually going on a short five-date tour out of the state in March.[13] "Dark Blue" was released to radio on June 27.[31] McMahon began touring again, and appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.[25]

By July, McMahon finished taking his medicine.[25] A music video was released for "Dark Blue" on September 7, and takes place at the site of a dance marathon in Venice anno 1950. In September and October, the band went on the Tour for a Cure tour, with support from Copeland, the Hush Sound and Daphne Loves Derby.[32] Proceeds for the tour went to cancer research for the 15–22 age span.[33] The album was re-released on November 7, featuring a DVD of live performances, music videos for "The Mixed Tape" and "Dark Blue", and interviews.[34] In November and December, the band supported Panic! at the Disco on their US arena tour.[35] In February 2007, the band went on their first headlining tour. They toured the US with support from Head Automatica and The Audition.[36] They extended this tour into March, with support from The Audition and We Are the Fury.[37] The constant touring over the preceding 14 months resulted in McMahon suffering mental exhaustion and physical fatigue. His management said: "The extensive travel has taken a toll on his mind and body - ... [we believe] that it is in his, and his fans', best interest for him to be home so that he can regain his strength." As a result, tour dates in October were cancelled.[38]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk (2005)(95%)[39]
AbsolutePunk (2015)10/10[40]
AllMusic[41]
IGN7.2/10 [42]
Melodic [43]
The Morning Call3/5[44]
PopMatters[45]
Sputnikmusic[46]
Ultimate Guitar10/10[47]

Everything in Transit debuted at number 37 of the Billboard 200, selling over 22,000 copies sold in its first week of release.[25] Orange County Register ranked the album at number 1 on their best local releases of 2005 list,[48] and number 28 on the best albums of the 2000s list.[49] A 10th anniversary edition of the album, which included bonus tracks, was released in October 2015.[50] Following this, the group performed the album in its entirety on tour in December 2015 and January 2016.[51]

Track listing

All tracks written by Andrew McMahon.

No.TitleLength
1."Holiday from Real"2:58
2."The Mixed Tape"3:14
3."Bruised"4:02
4."I'm Ready"3:55
5."La La Lie"3:54
6."Dark Blue"4:11
7."Miss Delaney"3:44
8."Kill the Messenger"3:24
9."Rescued"3:56
10."MFEO Pt 1 – Made for Each Other / Pt 2 – You Can Breathe"8:01
Total length:45:33

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Monger, James Christopher. "Jack's Mannequin | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Everything in Transit (booklet). Jack's Mannequin. Maverick Records. 2005. 2A-49320-B.
  3. ↑ Heisel, Scott (March 7, 2004). "Yellowcard/Something Corporate co-headlining tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Offspring 2004 Tour Dates". The Offspring. Archived from the original on July 23, 2004. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Borensztajn, Jordana (April 3, 2009). "Interview with Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin: A Fateful Struggle (page 3)". The Aquarian Weekly. p. 3. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Herbel, Brandon (August 29, 2005). "Jacks Mannequin (Andrew McMahon) - 08.29.05". AbsolutePunk. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  7. ↑ Borensztajn, Jordana (April 3, 2009). "Interview with Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin: A Fateful Struggle (page 1)". The Aquarian Weekly. p. 1. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  8. ↑ TommyLand: The Ride (booklet). Tommy Lee. Steamhammer. 2005. SPV 99742 CD.
  9. ↑ Life in Dreaming (booklet). Hidden in Plain View. Drive-Thru. 2005. DTR# 54.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Whitney, Aylse (August 24, 2015). "Andrew McMahon Looks Back at Jack's Mannequin's Everything in Transit 10 Years Later". Glamour. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  11. ↑ Moser, John J. (November 19, 2004). "Something Corporate frontman is all business". The Morning Call. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Moss, Corey (January 26, 2006). "Andrew McMahon Plays First Full Post-Leukemia Gig; Tommy Lee Joins In". MTV. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Moser, John J. (April 1, 2006). "Everything IS in transit for McMahon". The Morning Call. p. 1. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 Moser, John J. (May 14, 2005). "Jack's Mannequin frontman finds something of his own". The Morning Call. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  15. 1 2 Moser, John J. (February 17, 2007). "Jack's Mannequin happy transitioning to the brighter side". The Morning Call. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  16. ↑ Lakshmin, Deepa (May 12, 2016). "A True Love Story Inspired 'The Mixed Tape' By Jack's Mannequin". MTV. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Talking with Andrew McMahon". PunkPressOnline. Archived from the original on January 10, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2005.
  18. ↑ "40 Minutes with Andrew McMahon". Mammoth Press. Archived from the original on 2006-10-31. Retrieved June 28, 2006.
  19. ↑ Roth, Kaj (April 17, 2005). "Jacks Mannequin debut out this summer on Maverick". Melodic. Archived from the original on 2017-02-14. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  20. ↑ Roth, Kaj (April 21, 2005). "Jacks Mannequin produced by Jim Wirt". Melodic. Archived from the original on 2017-02-14. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Holiday from Real - Jack's Mannequin | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  22. ↑ Holiday from Real (sleeve). Jack's Mannequin. Maverick Records. 2005. 7-16027.
  23. ↑ Roth, Kaj (May 20, 2005). "Jacks Mannequin posts new songs online". Melodic. Archived from the original on 2017-02-14. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Wener, Ben (April 14, 2006). "Andrew McMahon: Will to survive". Orange County Register. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Jack's Mannequin to make tour stop in Lincoln". Lincoln Journal Star. February 8, 2007. Archived from the original on October 14, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  26. ↑ Shultz, Brian (June 2, 2005). "Something Corporate frontman diagnosed with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia". Punknews.org. Aubin Paul. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  27. ↑ Roth, Kaj (July 9, 2005). "Jacks Mannequin album pushed back to Aug.23rd". Melodic. Archived from the original on 2017-02-14. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  28. ↑ "The Mixed Tape - Single". iTunes. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  29. ↑ Fadroski, Kelli Skye (December 18, 2015). "Andrew McMahon back on display with Jack's Mannequin". Orange County Register. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  30. ↑ Moss, Corey (October 17, 2005). "Something Corporate Singer In Remission After Stem-Cell Transplant". MTV. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  31. 1 2 "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Jack's Mannequin announce Tour For A Cure with Copeland". Alternative Press. August 7, 2006. Archived from the original on 2016-08-21. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  33. ↑ Moser, John J. (April 1, 2006). "Everything IS in transit for McMahon". The Morning Call. p. 2. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Jack's Mannequin to re-release Everything In Transit Nov. 7". Alternative Press. October 23, 2006. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Panic! At The Disco announce arena tour with Bloc Party". Alternative Press. August 24, 2006. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Jack's Mannequin announce tour with Head Automatica". Alternative Press. November 27, 2006. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Jack's Mannequin extend spring tour with theAUDITION". Alternative Press. January 23, 2007. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Jack's Mannequin postpone tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on 2017-03-20. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Jack's Mannequin - Everything in Transit - Album Review". AbsolutePunk. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012.
  40. ↑ "Jack's Mannequin - Everything in Transit - Album Review". AbsolutePunk.
  41. ↑ "Everything in Transit - Jack Mannequin". AllMusic.
  42. ↑ JR (September 28, 2005). "Jack's Mannequin - Everything in Transit". IGN. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  43. ↑ Roth, Kaj (August 11, 2005). "Jacks Mannequin - Everything in Transit". Melodic. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  44. ↑ Moser, John J. (August 20, 2005). "Jack's Mannequin "Everything in Transit" (Maverick)". The Morning Call. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  45. ↑ Bernard, David (September 13, 2005). "Jack's Mannequin: Everything in Transit". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 2005-11-04. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  46. ↑ SowingSeason (June 26, 2011). "Jack's Mannequin - Everything In Transit (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on 2017-11-08. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  47. ↑ UG Team (September 8, 2005). "Everything In Transit review by Jack's Mannequin". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Orange Pop: Best of the best". Orange County Register. December 30, 2005. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  49. ↑ Wener, Ben (January 10, 2010). "O.C. Oughties: 30-21 best albums of the '00s". Orange County Register. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Everything in Transit [10th Anniversary Edition] - Jack's Mannequin | Release Info". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  51. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (November 30, 2015). "Jack's Mannequin to reunite for 'Everything In Transit' 10-year tour". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on December 3, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  52. ↑ "Jack's Mannequin: Everything In Transit (10th Anniversary Edition) - Music on Google Play". Google. Archived from the original on 2015-11-26. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
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