The Glass Passenger by Jack’s Mannequin

The Glass Passenger is the second studio album by American rock band Jack's Mannequin. Frontman Andrew McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in mid-2005 following the recording of their debut album Everything in Transit. He did not return to perform shows until the end of that year. These were soon followed by a handful of supporting and headlining US tours. While touring, McMahon suffered from writer's block, which did not dissipate until mid-2006. As touring wrapped up in early 2007, McMahon was able to spend more time writing, with many of the songs that would appear on The Glass Passenger written mid-to-late 2007. The group were due to tour at the end of the year, however, McMahon suffered from exhaustion and fatigue and the dates were cancelled. The band wrote new material instead. The Glass Passenger was produced by McMahon and Jim Wirt and co-produced by CJ Eiriksson; the tracking marked the first time McMahon worked with the band in the studio. Though the main recording sessions took place at two California-based studios (4th Street Recording and Sound City), additional recording followed at several other studios in both California and Texas. Most of the recording was done by December 2007, but problems with his label and the business process started to creep into the sessions. As a result, McMahon went on a sabbatical in January 2008; recording was eventually finished in May. McMahon avoided writing about his illness and instead focused on the aftermath and the recovery that followed, backed with a new-found perspective on the world. Around the time of McMahon's sabbatical, the band signed to Sire Records and scheduled the album's release for April/May. A club tour, a stint on the Warped Tour and a support slot for Paramore led into the release of two iTunes-exclusive EPs: The Ghost Overground in August and In Valleys in September. "The Resolution" was released as a single in mid-August following The Ghost Overboard EP; author Stephenie Meyer directed its music video. A song title mix-up with In Valleys resulted in "Annie Use Your Telescope" being posted online. The Glass Passenger was eventually released through Sire and Warner Bros. Records on September 30. It sold 49,000 copies in its first week, charting at number eight on the Billboard 200, and reached the top 10 on other Billboard charts. The album received a positive reception from critics, with a few commenting on lyrics and the record serving as a good follow-up, or even besting, Everything in Transit. The band closed the year with the Hammers and Strings club tour performing the record in its entirety, before playing shows in Japan and Australia in early 2009. A two-month US stint titled the Father from the Earth Tour took place, leading into a three-month support slot for the Fray. "Swim" was released as a single, and two music videos for the song—an unofficial one in June, featuring tour footage, and an official one in July—were released to promote this tour.