Customer Reviews

Marcy Playground

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

The US, in the 60s, tended to a harder-edged psychedelia than the UK. When it tried for a British feel it generally got it wrong. In short - perhaps because of Vietnam - the Americans never got whimsy to work. It tried (cringe-makingly) and failed, just as most British bands failed with "hard" psychedelic music. And then we got, several decades later, Marcy Playground channelling the spirit of Barrett-era Pink Floyd. And doing it brilliantly (while somehow combining some REM-like elements with the 60s vibe).

The single, "Sex and Candy" is a cool song, but there are more interesting songs on the album, including the haunting closer "Vampires of New York". This isn't Paisly Underground, but real psychedelia. If you like "Nuggets" then this is for you. If you don't like "Nuggets" then you probably have no taste and so won't like it at all.

this CD is amazingly solid all the way through. Sex and Candy is only the 3rd best song on here in my opinion. I have worn a hole through this Cd in the last 7 years.

Marcy Playground is one of the few CD's, along with Bush's Sixteen Stone, Nirvana's Unplugged in New York, and Stone Temple Pilots' Core, that I can listen from start to finish without skipping a song. Each and every song, although at times short, is very unique and has a great calm and soothing feel to it. This CD has so much more to offer than the radio hits "Sex & Candy", "Saint Joe on the School Bus", and "Sherry Fraiser". Those songs are all great, but my personal favorites are "A Cloak of Elvinkind" and "Poppies". "Ancient Walls of Flowers" is superb as well. I cannot recommend this CD enough. Well worth the purchase.

This CD is really really addicting. I too have had this CD for a while and I'm just now writing a review on it. This is one of my favorite CD's that I own. Every song on here is amazing! Sex and Candy, Ancient Walls of Flowers, A Cloak of Elvenkind, Sherry Fraser, Opium, Dog and His Master , and The Vampires of New York are MADLY ADDICTING! I really never figured out why they didnt release any of those songs as singles, seeing as they're 100 times better than Sex and Candy or Saint Joe on the School Bus. The lyrics and sounds are so mellow and relxing that they'll take you away into Marcy's Playground.

some may think this cd is too mellow, but that's why i like it. it's just the right amount of rock for when you're in the mood to chill.

This CD tells a story in each song. Like several previous reviews mentioned, this CD is very versatile and covers alot of different types of music. Definitely one of the best rock CDs I've ever listened to. I origionally bought this to reminisce on the old favorite Sex and Candy. However, I can count at least three or four songs that are better. St. Joe and Wall of Flowers are my favorite although One More Suicide has an eerie and irresistable sound to it that you have to listen to over and over. Vocal work and guitar work are both top notch throughout the album.

I bought this cd for the song sex and candy, just like the majority of the thousands of other people who bought it. So it sat on my shelf there for a year or so until i listened to the rest of the cd, which was a pleasantly different sound floating in a sea of mediocre modern music.

Marcy Playground is amazing. It's sad that they haven't got the recognition that they deserve because this is an amazing album. John Wozniak's voice is smooth and smoky, almost in the style of a lounge singer and it makes the whole record. The lyrics and dark and twisted, yet humorous. I'm sure you've all heard "Sex and Candy" one of the best songs on the album. What I like about this album is that no two songs sound the same. Poppies sounds very alternative rock, while Sex and Candy is almost countryish, ancient walls of flowers is pretty acoustic rock, Saint Joe on the school bus is irresistable pop-rock, Cloak of Elvenkind is almost a sort of ballad, Sherry Frasier, a sweet love song, Gone Crazy almost a tropical-ish sing along, Opium almost depressing heavy rock (great though!) One more suicide, my personal favorite, a haunting tale about a man in chehalis, Dog and his master a child's nursery rhyme with a twist, Shadow of Seattle, another dose of alternative and Vampires of New York, a tongue in cheek acoustic romp. All in all this is a great album. If you like Nirvana, the Pixies, Modest Mouse, The White Stripes or Elliot Smith, this album is definitely for you.

Very rarely have i ever come accross an album whose songs are all worthy of listening. . .that is, there is no need to ever press the "skip" button while listening to this CD. All of the songs are excellent. . .my favorite being "Elvenkind" and "Sherry Frasier". What's more. . .the lyrics are actually interesting to listen to. . .for example, "Poppies" is about the beginning of the opium trade between Britain and China. Not your typical pop-song.
As an avid patron to all types and forms of music, Marcy Playground, and, specifically, this CD, is my number one favorite.
The lead singer has an absolutely beautiful voice and the lyrics are niether forced nor overly emotional (a common problem with many modern forms of music). I have often heard this CD described as "soothing". . .which it certainly is. But let me clarify that "soothing" in this context is not intended to imply "boring". . .for it is far from that.
Recommended for anyone who likes "slower". . .though not pop-style. . .rock.
To sum it up: beautiful.

everyone should buy this cd if only for the song opium...everyone should listen to it on repeat for at least three hours...it messes with your head.you're left feeling like you've just been inside the song and you can see everything the writers were trying to depict. you have to try it for yourself...