Albums You Missed: Marcy Playground, Shapeshifter(1999)

This is the second in a series of albums that you missed.  As I am going to see Marcy Playground live in a few days, yes, they still exist and yes, they still tour, and I thought it was a good time to talk about the albums that nobody knows exists outside of the five Marcy Playground fans that still exist.  Shapeshifter was Marcy Playground’s second album.  It features It’s Saturday, a song that made it to 23 on the US Modern Rock Charts.  This album is unbelievably catchy yet nothing revolutionary or truly experimental.  But you don’t have to be either one of those things to make a great album.  I think it’s John’s voice that truely makes Marcy Playground a one of a kind band.  Even with the simplicity of the songs, his voice makes you sit and take in the songs as it almost takes you to another place.

This albums is leaps and bounds beyond their first album but was sadly ignored by most.  I’m glad they released the song Sex and Candy from the first album but at the same time I realize that the song also ruined the band.  They”ll probably never return to their former glory but I know that they still exist and I know that I can pop their albums in anytime I want.  You’re doing yourself a discredit if you don’t take the time to find this album.  It’s out of print but is available at most MP3 Stores.  Check it out if you enjoyed the first album if for no other reason that this album has Wave Motion Gun, MP’s best song.  You won’t be disappointed.