Shapeshifter (Marcy Playground album)
Shapeshifter | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 2, 1999 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 48:04 | |||
Label | Capitol Records[1] | |||
Producer | John Wozniak | |||
Marcy Playground chronology | ||||
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Shapeshifter is the second album by the American alternative rock band Marcy Playground, released in 1999.[2][3]
The album's first single was "It's Saturday", which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[4][5] The band promoted the album by touring with Blinker the Star.[6]
Production
Produced by frontman John Wozniak, Shapeshifter was recorded at Mushroom Studios, in Vancouver; Wozniak ended up buying and renovating the studio.[7][8][9] The majority of the songs had been in the band's live set for years.[10]
The album cover artwork is by Mark Ryden.[11] It was originally commissioned for the Butthole Surfers, from an idea by their guitarist Paul Leary; Marcy Playground were unaware of its origins when they chose it for Shapeshifter.[12][13]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Edmonton Journal | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[16] |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Sydney Morning Herald | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly thought that "Wozniak’s winsome lyrics set the trio above other alterna-pop hopefuls."[16] Rolling Stone determined that "rather than build on the promise of Marcy Playground's amateurish fun, the boys cling too tightly to watered-down grunge riffs."[18] The Los Angeles Times concluded that "the guitars are a little louder and the melodies more forceful, but Wozniak's sense of wonder is intact, which makes Shapeshifter a loopy pleasure."[17] The Sydney Morning Herald noted that "'Rebel Sodville' includes one of the longest sustained high notes this side of Jeff Buckley."[19]
The Boston Globe stated that Wozniak "writes inviting melodies that slide smoothly between folk-rock and electric hard-rock peaks."[20] The Age wrote that "Shapeshifter actually rocks out from time to time, with the Gothic ballad 'All the Lights Went Out' crashing out in true arena epic style."[21] The Edmonton Journal deemed the album "doleful, dotty rock," writing that it is "nowhere near as lethargic as Marcy's first disc."[15]
AllMusic wrote that "this faceless alternapop trio tosses together more harmless songs that don't have much to say yet manages to lumber along anyway."[14]
Track listing
All tracks are written by John Wozniak
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "It's Saturday" | 3:17 |
2. | "America" | 3:46 |
3. | "Bye Bye" | 2:49 |
4. | "All the Lights Went Out" | 4:55 |
5. | "Secret Squirrel" | 2:56 |
6. | "Wave Motion Gun" | 3:44 |
7. | "Rebel Sodville" | 5:02 |
8. | "Sunday Mail" | 2:49 |
9. | "Pigeon Farm" | 2:31 |
10. | "Never" | 3:50 |
11. | "Love Bug" | 4:12 |
12. | "Our Generation" (Includes hidden track "Ol' Time Pigeon Farm") | 8:13 |
Personnel
- John Wozniak – guitar, vocals
- Dylan Keefe – bass and backing vocals
- Dan Rieser – drums and backing vocals
References
- ^ Sansone, Glen (Nov 1, 1999). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Report. 60 (641): 22.
- ^ "Marcy Playground Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ "Marcy Playground, December 13". www.rcreader.com. December 3, 2019.
- ^ Flick, Larry (Oct 30, 1999). "Marcy Playground unfolds 'Shapeshifter' on Capitol". Billboard. 111 (44): 12.
- ^ "Marcy Playground". Billboard.
- ^ Gurino, Mark (5 Nov 1999). "Marcy Playground with Blinker the Star". Daily Herald. Time Out. p. 4.
- ^ Taylor, Chuck (Oct 16, 1999). "Marcy Playground: It's Saturday". Billboard. 111 (42): 25.
- ^ "Marcy has a new playground". Vancouver Sun. 21 Oct 1999. p. C17.
- ^ Harrison, Tom (9 Oct 1999). "Art of tracking charts". The Province. p. A36.
- ^ Joyce, Mike (3 Nov 1999). "A Romp With Marcy Playground". The Washington Post. p. C5:1.
- ^ Blush, Steven (October 4, 2016). "New York Rock: From the Rise of The Velvet Underground to the Fall of CBGB". Macmillan – via Google Books.
- ^ "Marcy Playground Album Cover Looks Familiar To Butthole Surfers". MTV News.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (December 18, 2000). "Alternative Rock". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Shapeshifter - Marcy Playground | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ a b Sperounes, Sandra (13 Nov 1999). "New releases". Edmonton Journal. p. C3.
- ^ a b "Shapeshifter". EW.com.
- ^ a b Weingarten, Marc (31 Oct 1999). "Record Rack". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 66.
- ^ a b Eliscu, Jenny (Nov 25, 1999). "Shapeshifter". Rolling Stone (826): 101.
- ^ a b Molitorisz, Sacha (7 Jan 2000). "CD reviews". The Sydney Morning Herald. Metro. p. 19.
- ^ Morse, Steve (4 Nov 1999). "MARCY PLAYGROUND SHAPESHIFTER". The Boston Globe. p. 8:5.
- ^ Carney, Shaun (16 Dec 1999). "Shapeshifter". The Age. Green Guide. p. 30.