Band: Jack’s Mannequin
Title: iTunes Live from SoHo EP
Genre: Alternative
Label: Sire Records

Tracks:
1. The Resolution (Live)
2. Swim (Live)
3. Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby) [Live]
4. Crashin’ (Live)
5. Caves (Live)

The first time I had the pleasure if seeing Andrew McMahon live was when he opened a Good Charlotte show as the lead singer of Something Corporate. I was blown away, and immediately became a fan. Six years later, McMahon still doesn’t disappoint, and Jack’s Mannequin’s iTunes Live from SoHo EP will allow everyone to fall in love with that piano rock the way I did.

The live album presents select songs from Jack’s Mannequin’s second full-length album, The Glass Passenger, which was an intimate look into McMahon’s quest at beating leukemia. The first track on iTunes Live from SoHo EP is “The Resolution (Live).” This track basically let’s you know up front what you’ll experience through the rest of the record. It’s an uplifting, life-affirming song. The chorus starts with “Yeah, I’m alive, and I don’t need a witness. You know that I survived.” He’s resolved his issues with battling leukemia, and realizes that all he needs is to keep that light, that hope, to keep going. For those of you that like to compare the live version to the version on The Glass Passenger, I think the live one is way better. The piano is much fuller, and the vocals more soulful; but normally good music such as this is always best heard live.

The second track, “Swim (Live)” continues the story of the battle. To sum it up, it says to never give up, fight through the pain, fight through everything to make it for yourself, and for your loved ones. “I swim for brighter days despite the absence of sun” is one of the best lyrics; it’s what originally pulled me into the song when I first heard it on The Glass Passenger. The live version is just as personal as the recorded version, if not more so. McMahon lets his true feelings flow through his piano and microphone. One of the things I’m not sure I really enjoyed is that the guitar seemed to overpower the piano. Overall, it’s not a bad performance, but I think I enjoyed The Glass Passenger version a little more.

In “Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby) [Live],” McMahon slows down the tempo and takes a chance to reach out to his fans through the song. The song starts with just simple piano and soulful vocals detailing how his piano has followed him around from his garage to thousands of clubs. It’s super simple, but perfect in everyway possible. My favorite part of this song is when McMahon sings “lullaby.” You can feel the passion and sweetness seep through with that one word.

The last track, “Caves (Live),” is about an eight minute look at McMahon’s battle with leukemia. It’s almost like a diary; very intimate and personal, more personal than anything I’ve ever heard from McMahon. The song starts with painful and yearning vocals accompanied by piano (of course). At about the three minute mark, the tempo starts to pick up and the guitar joins in leading to an arpeggio on the piano. After that, the full band swings into gear and the song becomes a classic piano pop/rock gem McMahon is known for crafting. For those that have ever witnessed him play the full song live, you saw something special.

For not knowing how to exactly talk about his battle in the first place, McMahon definitely got his message through, not only through the deeply intimate “Caves (Live),” but through every other track on the iTunes Live from Soho EP. I think doing a live album was a great move because the songs featured are much better in there live format than the recorded version Jack’s Mannequin fans can hear on The Glass Passenger, with the exception of “Swim (Live).” I wish that McMahon would have done a full-length live album featuring songs from both Jack’s Mannequin albums because that would be, and should be, a must buy for everyone. Go check it out on iTunes, and if you like the samples you hear, then buy it because it will be worth much more that $4.95 you’d have to fork over for it.

*Written by: Kelsey Fales*
Score: 9.5/10

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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