The Glass Passenger cover

The Glass Passenger

Jack's Mannequin · 2008

56 min · 14 tracks · rock music

A blend of introspective lyrics and vibrant melodies creates an uplifting yet reflective soundscape throughout the album.

Top tracks — play these first

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    Swim — This track encapsulates the album’s overarching theme of resilience, using water as a powerful metaphor for overcoming struggles and moving forward.
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    Crashin — Opening with an infectious piano riff, this song sets the tone for the album while exploring themes of vulnerability and self-acceptance.
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    Annie Use Your Telescope — This track highlights McMahon's knack for storytelling through its vivid imagery and relatable narrative about longing and perspective.
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    The Resolution — With its driving rhythm and reflective lyrics, this track serves as a call to action for personal growth and embracing change.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100
Treeline
Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album features strong songwriting and production, with a cohesive sound that balances introspection and vibrancy.

What we noticed

  • The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
  • Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that build in intensity, particularly in the choruses.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic emotional journeys
  • long, immersive listening sessions
  • wave-like pacing and flow
  • introspective late-night vibes

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in early 2008, The Glass Passenger is Jack's Mannequin's second studio album, following their debut, Everything in Transit. At this point, lead singer Andrew McMahon had just recovered from a battle with leukemia, which deeply influenced the album's themes of resilience and hope.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Crashin 4:06
  • 2 Spinning 2:52
  • 3 Swim 4:16
  • 4 American Love 3:43
  • 5 What Gets You Off 5:12
  • 6 Suicide Blonde 3:28
  • 7 Annie Use Your Telescope 3:08
  • 8 Bloodshot 3:57
  • 9 Drop Out - The So Unknown 3:33
  • 10 Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby) 4:34
  • 11 The Resolution 3:06
  • 12 Orphans 2:39
  • 13 Caves 8:19
  • 14 Miss California 3:54

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata