Marcy Playground Album: “Shapeshifter”

Let's say you're some Indie-savvy music snob who came across this cd by accident. Although ashamed of the 1 hit wonder status of the band, you can't help it. These songs will not get out of your head and you don't want them to. That's been my experience, and I'm certainly glad it was. Years of searching every area of music imaginable has produced very few albums as enjoyable as this one. I don't think I've ever had so many songs from one album continually stuck in my head. The songs are catchy, but not cheesy, melodic but not boring, and pensive, but not over-dramatic. For example "Wave motion gun", one of my favorites, takes the child-like notion of watching Starblazers, relates it to the loneliness and pain of addiction, and manages to keep it from being self-loathing dribble.

There's something about the sound of John Wozniak's voice and the simplicity of the songs, it's almost as if they create this nice, comfotable setting, and you get to go hang out there with every listen. The first album had that same aura about it, but this one is much more interesting. "Secret Squirrel", "It's Saturday", great little groovy, sort of light-hearted numbers add that kick the debut was lacking. It's nothing revolutionary or experimental, it's just a great cd. Which, unfortunately, does in fact make it a rarity. don't pass this one up.

You probably know Marcy Playground as the band that sings "Sex & Candy". Well they aren't a one hit wonder. Their simple melodic music can create moods between moods. If you can't decipher the lyrics you can still soak in the warm guitar strums and versatile tempos. Marcy Playground themselves may not even know how good they are. Less is MORE and you will get MORE for your money when you buy this CD. After you listen to it all the way through a few times you buy the self titled first CD and cross your fingers for the next one.

When I first heard the song Sex and Candy I was an instant Marcy Playground fan. Then I bought their self-titled CD and loved them even more and I wondered why don't more people like this band. I felt like I was the only one listening to them. Then this CD came out and decided to buy it. At first it took a while to get used to the new style of music but then I grew to love this CD even more than the first. It even seemed liked those that loved Sex and Candy had forgotten who Marcy Playground was. Then this summer I forced one of my extroverted friends to listen to this CD . Now he loves them just as much as I do and luckily he talks about them all the time so hopefully I have earned THE GREATEST BAND ALIVE, MARCY PLAYGROUND just a few more fans. Amen.

There is no doubt about it, this release both rocks and is pop as well. I hope a lot of skeptics didn't write off Marcy Playground with the success of "Sex and Candy", off there first excellent release because this definately is not a sophomore slump by any means. There is not one cut that doesn't stand out from the rest. The music just flows from song to song, taking the listener on a ride. First there's a hauntingly beautiful song, then the music blasts you off to places and machines and even back to the days of Secret Squirrel! Never boring, fresh and solid, the band makes one wonder how long they will have to wait for a follow-up. All cuts are standouts, but my favorites include ... "It's Saturday", "America", "Secret Squirrel", and the best of the bunch to me would be "Wave Motion Gun". Truly a GREAT ROCK song if there ever was one. Marcy Playground is a breath of fresh air, and an excellent bunch of musicians as well. Rock on guys.

Great album! Not one bad track. "Sunday Mail" and "Pigeon Farm Boy" rank up there with the greatest songs of the 1990s. If you liked the first album, you will not be let down by this spectacular release. A very underrated effort.