MY TWO SHITS WORTH: EPISODE TWO

     I hoped the one viewer who read my last post enjoys this one just as well.  In this post,  I'm talking about overlooked albums and this one is a bit of a head scratcher.  In 1997 Marcy Playground had one the most played (er, overplayed) songs of the year that wasn't about The Titanic.  "Sex And Candy"  was a laid back and mostly acoustic ode to underage women that caught fire on radio.  What was interesting is that the self titled album that spawned the monster was originally released through the EMI main label but just weeks after its release the label went tits up and most of the releases on the label were 'set free.'  However,  the label re-released the album on the Capitol imprint and kept promoting the song and came out a winner.  The bands' 2nd release for the label is a different story.
     In 1999, the band released "Shapeshifter" and not without a bit of controversy.  The cover art by Mark Ryden was also selected to be the cover art on the then upcoming release by Butthole Surfers.  There was a bit of bitching between the two camps but MP won out and the painting went on their release.....which was totally ignored by everyone everywhere.  Why?  Maybe it was the "Sex And Candy" burnout or the fact that it was a totally different and superior album.  Leader John Wozniak wasn't too pleased with the outside production on the 1st release and most of the songs were in the same laid back vein.  So for "Shapeshifter" Wozniak took control of the production and amped up everything.  The songs themselves sound raw and direct.  They have an almost demo-like sound to them that is very alive.  "It's Saturday" ,which was the 1st single, set the tone with the tongue-in-cheek lyrics about a STD caused by a 'girl with New Jersey hair.'  "All The Lights Went Out" is a beautiful and feedback laden love ballad.  "Wave Motion Gun" is a bizarre but great anti-drug tune supposedly based on Wozniak's former addiction issues.  "Rebel Sodville" pays homage to some of the louder Neil Young and Crazy Horse workouts.  My favorite song "Pigeon Farm" is so gleefully weird that I've probably played it a few thousand times.  Whereas the self-titled effort was good but uneven, every tune on this record is a winner.
     Sadly, this album is out-of-print but easily found on this 'series of tubes.'  If you like loud guitars and truly original lyrics, buy this one.