Customer Reviews

Shapeshifter (Enhanced)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Marcy Playground: straight out of New York and into the rock scene. They made a ripple in pop and rock music with their surprise hit "Sex and Candy" and slightly successful "St. Joe on the Schoolbus" off their debut self-titled debut. Now the trio is back and in full force. Not only is this eclectic sophomore album catchy, but it also includes a hidden meaning. If you look hard enough, John Wozniak has made this his opus of 90's rock. Call it a decade review. Look at some examples of this: Take for instance the first single off of "Shapeshifter"--"It's Saturday". It shows the catchy pop song, while the offbeat "Pigeon Farm" suggests a hint of frat rock flippancy in care of Dave Matthews. The Pavement-esqueness of "Wave-Motion Gun" and the folksie "America" show the differences in Wozniaks musical home of the "Loser" decade. MP also takes the trademark riffs of the Smashing Pumpkins and exerts them on "When the Lights Go Out". The brilliantly collected works the boys of Marcy Playground have put together keeps the pop scene moving and leaves the radiation silent residue of a time capsule. Bravo, let the music roll Wozniak.

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.

MP are amazing. Their first CD was awesome and "Shapeshifter" is at least as good, possibly better. This is the first time in my life that I got two CD's of the same band and absolutely love every song on both of them! I cannot stop listening to them. Pretty much the same reaction from most of the people I know. If you liked the first album don't walk - run to the store now and get "Shapeshifter"! I'm not gonna repeat what other reviewers have already said. MP is the best live band I've ever seen and if they're playing near you definitely check them out. They hit the notes perfectly every time and John really does have an awesome voice. Also, as one industry exec said, "they're the hardest working band I've ever been around". They really work on being good unlike many other bands and it really shows. In their records and in concert.

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.

Now I've been a fan since Sex & Candy. I was estatic to learn of Shapeshifter, and even more glad when I finally got to listen to it. Man was I happy. The songs definitely rule and carry the same mellow sound and wonderous lyrics that the first cd held. (Thank you John Wozniak! ) Now the music ISN'T the only great thing about this cd. The fact that it's enhanced REALLY makes it worth buying. It features 4 Marcy Playground videos: Saint Joe on the School Bus, Sherry Fraiser, of course Sex & Candy, and my favorite video, Coming Up From Behind. I had never heard that song before, and was glad it was on the cd. The video is excellent featuring clips from Cruel Intentions, the song was great also. Unfortunately, Coming Up From Behind is not on Shapeshifter. Now I have to buy the Cruel Intentions soundtrack. In conclusion, I reccomend this cd for those who own Marcy Playgorund's first cd but not this one and those who have seend cruel intentions and liked the song Coming Up From Behind.

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.

It's a true travesty that more people haven't discovered that beauty that is Shapeshifter. Now I was a huge fan of the self titled CD and some of their unreleased tracks, but this CD is so different from anything else they've ever done... It is so amazing to hear the evolution from their first Cd to their second CD, now here's a track by track breakdown

1.It's Saturday - A good song in it's own right, I mean, any song that can contain well-executed yodeling deserves 3 stars out of 5, except Jewel...
2.America - A good song, I guess, but I don't know, it's kind of lacking.
3.Bye-Bye - I hate to give these certain songs not so hot ratings because the cd is amazing, but some of them just don't compare to the stand out tracks like...
4.All the Lights Went Out - A really amazing tune. I love this song, it's got a lot of good elements to it.
5.Secret Squirrel - Badass. That's all I can say.
6.Wave Motion Gun - Does it get any better than this...well...almost, but I won't get into that.
7.Rebel Sodville - Amongst most Marcy Playground fans I've talked to, this song was well liked, but I never saw that much in it.
8.Sunday Mail - A really cool song
9.Pigeon Farm - In my opinion, this is the best track, not only on this cd, but that Marcy Playground has ever written. This song is amazingly beautiful.
10.Never - This song too is quite great in itself but is a little shadowed by the other tracks on the CD
11.Lovebug - A great song, but not one of the Cd's best
12.Our Generation - I heard that this song was about some old TV show, and dammit that's good enough for me.
Hidden Track : Ole' Time Pigeon Farm - Just Jon and his eukilaili (sp?) Almost as good as the original.

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.

I first became aware of Marcy Playground via " sex and candy". Really enjoyed that song but that was the tip of the iceburg for these guys. Every song on that album grabbed me and the same holds true for "Shapeshifter". A definite must buy , I have not taken it out of my CD player since I purchased it.

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.