Customer Reviews

Leaving Wonderland...In a Fit of Rage

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4 star:		(2)
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Returning to the spotlight once again is Marcy Playground. Most famous for their self-titled release in 1997, featuring the hit singles "Sex and Candy" and "Sherry Fraser", MP seemed to fade into deeper obscurity with each of their successive albums, Shapeshifter and MP3. While each of these were terrific efforts, they failed to garner the attention of their debut album. Marcy has returned on July 7 with Leaving Wonderland...In a Fit of Rage. I've kept up with Marcy over the past year and a half and I've waited enthusiastically for this album to find its release. Originally, this was to be a solo effort by frontman John Wozniak, featuring his songs with performers such as Daniel Powter (yes, the fellow behind "Bad Day") in his backing band. John decided, though, that this may as well have been a MP release, and thus got the ol' band back together for another go. I'm glad he did--if the previous albums are any indication, then good things are in store for the boys. I've heard many of these songs in various stages of completion through the band's myspace and what I've heard that was catchy as heck. The songwriting and instrumentation were excellent. Aside from their brush with mainstream, MP is one of the best-kept secrets of the 90's. The band are noted for their energetic performances and their polite and down-to-earth interactions with their fans. On this record, John has embraced more of an adult-alternative sort of sound, but it's fitting given his age and life experiences since we've last heard him on a record. He doesn't err, though, in saying that this is his most personal effort. It shows. What results is nothing short of terrific, a touch of personalization that's near-impossible to find in the days of manufactured music. These are songs you'll be hearing on the radio soon enough, especially "Good Times". Please, do yourself a favor and pick up this record. You won't regret it. By the time it comes on the radio, you'll already know all the words.

As the saying goes ..... good things come to those who wait. Well, Marcy Playground follows up their excellent release, MP3 with another hit. Leaving Wonderland in a Fit of Rage is consistant with their other releases giving their fans a mature, balanced album. My favorites include: Devil Woman, Star Baby and I Must Have Been Dreaming. Their last release (MP3) was quite heavy. Shades of alt rock echoed through songs like Blood in Alphabet Soup and Hotter Than the Sun. Leaving Wonderland has some heavy songs but this release is a little "tamer" than MP3. My favorite MP release is Shapeshifter. Leaving Wonderland is just as good. Woz has once again penned some poignant, timely tunes for his fans. I'll be honest, when I saw the cover of MP3 I didn't recognize them. With this release they're still in focus and rocking. Keep up the good work guys! I'll look for your next release in a couple of years. In the meantime I'll play Leaving Wonderland to death. Like the next to the last song on Leaving ........THANK YOU.

This is a great album. Full of so many catchy little gems. Longtime Marcy Playground fans will love it. "Irene," "Good Times," "Devil Woman," "I Must Have Been Dreaming," "Blackbird," and a re-recording of one of my favorites, "Memphis," are highlights. I am very happy there is a new Marcy Playground album out there for us all to enjoy. I've only played it once and think half of the album are highlights! Thank you John. Great stuff! Time to spin it again.

Leaving Wonderland...In a Fit of Rage is unlike any of Marcy Playground's other offerings, although it still carries the signature Playground sound with acoustic-driven guitars, mid-tempos, and John Wozniak's deep-registering, sing-along voice. Marcy Playground have always been one of my favorite bands, and I've followed them ever since their first album came out when I was in high school. I never understood why there were so many years between each album - I guess good music can't be rushed. Their long-awaited fourth album is refreshingly mature without sounding jaded or tired. You can tell that when band leader Wozniak grew up, his music did, too. After the last several months of listening to and digesting this morsel, I've determined it's the best of the four, and one of my new favorites in my whole collection.

Musically, you can still see shadows of 90's grunge, but that era's hard, bleak edge has been tempered with time, maturity, and a pop-oriented sensibility. Though the songs here are easy to pick up and follow, they don't lose their luster with time like other pop music albums do (you know - "hear two days, gone tomorrow"). Every song is easy to sing in the car, which is important for me.

When it comes to subject matter, this album is a little darker than the others. For example, "I Burned the Bed" is a murky track about deliverance from a woman to whom the writer gave his soul. Substance abuse is explored on the beautiful "Down the Drain" and if the mood hits you right, it can bring you to tears. There's a nice string accompaniment that goes well with that number. Much of the album deals with nostalgia and looking back on one's youth, like "Emperor", which also explores lonliness. There are some funnier moments like "Star Baby", where Woz recounts who he misses from his youth (and who he doesn't!), There's also the upbeat number "I Must Have Been Dreaming", where the writer is kicking himself in the head for wasting time on a relationship that was going nowhere. There are a couple of suave, sexy cuts too - "Devil Woman" and "Gin and Money", the latter of which almost has a latin feel. The biggest surprise on the album are the two almost gospel acoustic ditties "Irene" and "Memphis". This is new territory for the band, and it works well on this introspective album.

Overall, this album is a must for all Playground fans, and really for anyone who wants to chill out with a 40-minute escape from the day.

It's also incredible to me that so far Woz has avoided putting out any "lazy" filler songs where he just seems to be canabilizing/imitiating his earlier work. Leaving Wonderland is another solid album that is going to be overlooked by the general public because it doesn't have a Sex and Candy blockbuster.

Let's start with a little background:

I loved the first self titled album. It was my favorite for sure. The first had a warm, melodious, earthreal sound. Almost like an accidentally strong dose of cough syrup, but in a good way.

Shapeshifter was good, catchy, but to me lacked some of the sound of the first album. It was fun but lacked that warm, earthreal sound.

MP3, in my opinion was O.K. but a bit lackluster. Luckily, It's supposed to be a free download with the purchase of this CD.

The Zog Bogbean demo album was good, like the first album but a bit less polished. Still it is a good listen.

With all that out of the way, lets talk about Leaving Wonderland... In a Fit of Rage. This is Marcy Playground like I have been craving for 10 years! The earthreal warm sound like only they can do! If you liked the first album this is a natural choice for your music collection.

This is an album that you can listen from start to finish, the whole thing is great. My personal favorites were "I Burned the Bed," "Good Times" and "Memphis." It's pretty hard to chose a favorite because they are all good.

If you get this be sure to search on amazon for the bonus tracks "Special" and "Rosey Risin'" as mp3 downloads.

A last note, I have no allegiance to any band. If a CD sucks I say so. If it's good I say so. THIS IS GREAT. It would probably be kicking major A** on the radio now, but with an independent label that is a tough fight.

So happy to see (and hear) a new Marcy Playground release. Highlights on this 12-track album include: "Blackbird", "Good Times", "Memphis" (a re-recording of a former B-side) and "Down The Drain". "Memphis" is one of the most beautiful songs John Wozniak has ever written and I was really happy to find its new version on this latest release.
If you get a chance, you have to see these guys in concert!

Apparently this album started out as a solo project, but Woz decided the songs were really Marcy Playground songs, so he recorded them with the band. However it happened, it ended up being a good thing.

If you are already a Marcy Playground fan, you'll find this album to be very familiar. If you put it on shuffle play with Shapeshifter you might not be able to figure out which songs are off which album.

However, I think these songs may have the most depth of any of the Marcy Playgound work. I had it playing for several days in my car, and rather than getting bored, I got inspired to pull out my other Marcy CDs and start playing them again too.

This is good stuff, if you liked the previous albums. And hey, it's good stuff even if you never heard the previous albums. Enjoy.

Er? Marcy Playground? you know Sex and Candy.. Oh that one hit wonder.
If that's the only song you heard then you are missing out on years of truly great MP. This CD continues their masterful streak.

Now 2009 finally another album is released and is what any fan could want and any music lover should experience. Check out "Good times" The sound is refined and this is defiantly a more grown up Marcy Playground sound. "Blackbird" and "Irene" are great examples of their range and the unmistakable sound that is Marcy Playground.

This album is definitely worth the wait. I've listened to it continuously since it came in the mail today. Great songs (I especially like "Memphis" for some reason), beautiful music, and that outstanding voice. It just doesn't get any better than MP.