In the early aughts pop punk scene Something Corporate stood out for one distinct reason– lead singer and songwriter Andrew McMahon. His use of piano as both a composition tool and for lead hooks was unique in the genre and immediately set the band apart from their peers sonically in a way that was similar to Yellowcard’s use of violins. But outside of that somewhat obvious distinction was how it shaped the band’s songwriting– there was a sense of maturity beyond their years (McMahon was two years post high-school graduation when Leaving Through The Window was released), and a pace to their songs that had a shuffle-like groove unlike their contemporaries. It wasn’t just bang-bang on the 2’s and 4’s underpinning their arrangements played at as fast of a BPM as possible– there was a swing to their songs that felt fresh, dynamic, and different. In a way it was the gateway drug for a legion of teenage pop punkers as they transitioned into adulthood and began to experience music that wasn’t just loud and fast for the sake of it.
McMahon’s songwriting and lyrical capabilities were also up to the task of accentuating those sonic differences that Something Corporate embodied. Although I would argue his storytelling didn’t fully become realized until his solo project Jack’s Mannequin released Everything In Transit in 2005, Leaving Through The Window was frankly a bit of a masterpiece for a 20-year old kid filtering his life experiences through the prism of pop punk angst. Between “The Astronaut” which details a feeling of loneliness and finding your place, “Hurricane” which covers the blinding nature of young love/obsession, “Cavanaugh Park” which is a heart-touching study of nostalgia and the power of reflection, and “I Want To Save You” which is basically the musical representation of every rom-com released in the late 90’s, McMahon blasts through common pop punk tropes in a way that feels earnest but never put on. It’s basically the perfect amalgamation of what it feels like to be in your young 20’s searching for your place with a bit more wisdom between your ears. Of course this isn’t always the case on the album (“Drunk Girl” always makes me laugh– only in 2002 could you kiss an inebriated woman and unironically write a song detailing how you were the victim in that situation) but by and large McMahon hits it out of the park every time he steps behind the mic.
In the pop punk genre he’s one of the greats. Leaving Through The Window still holds up after all these years and is a great walk through memory lane that still sounds as good as it did back in high school.
Standout Songs: “I Want To Save You”, “The Astronaut”, “Hurricane”, “I Woke Up In A Car”, “Cavanaugh Park”, “Fall”
