... Marcy Playground, along with Drugstore and Headswim, stayed firmly on the brink of mainstream.
‘Sex and Candy’ their first and only single released from this eponymous album is the definite standout track. Although quite beautiful compared to the other tracks, it is not really ... Read review
Marcy Playground's John Wozniak was one of those kids who, like Charlie Brown, got a bag ... more
of rocks for Halloween instead of sweets. Fortunately, Wozniak used his childhood ostracism as the inspiration and fuel to write charmingly quirky pop songs. Wozni...
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Marcy Playground's John Wozniak was one of those kids who, like Charlie Brown, got a bag ... more
of rocks for Halloween instead of sweets. Fortunately, Wozniak used his childhood ostracism as the inspiration and fuel to write charmingly quirky pop songs. Wozni...
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Advantages: When in the right mood, a few of the tracks could be mildly entertaining. Disadvantages: Depressing and monotonous.
...bands actually made it. Marcy Playground, along with Drugstore and Headswim, stayed firmly on the brink of mainstream.
‘Sex and Candy’ their first and only single released from this eponymous album is the definite standout track. Although quite beautiful compared to the other tracks, it is not really anything special. The song has a much softer feel to it than say ‘Saint Joe on the School Bus’ which, according ... ...I think it speaks for itself and wonder why that is the only track to be explained.
The 12-track album is constantly depressing (‘One More Suicide’, ‘Saint Joe on the School Bus’ and ‘The Vampires in New York’ among them) and you cannot help but assume what kind of childhood John Wozniak (singer and songwriter) had and if ‘Saint Joe on the School Bus’ is autobiographical.
more
Some of you may remember the MTV show 'Up For It' with Eddy Temple-Morris and Zane Lowe. As well as call-in sections and the usual comedy stunts, they showed live performances by bands that were supposedly about to break into the commercial scene. As far as I can remember, not many bands actually made it. Marcy Playground, along with Drugstore and Headswim, stayed firmly on the brink of mainstream.
‘Sex and Candy’ their first and only single released from this eponymous album is the definite standout track. Although quite beautiful compared to the other tracks, it is not really anything special. The song has a much softer feel to it than say ‘Saint Joe on the School Bus’ which, according to the sleeve, ‘is about being picked on’. However, I think it speaks for itself and wonder why that is the only track to be explained.
The 12-track album is constantly depressing (‘One More Suicide’, ‘Saint Joe on the School Bus’ and ‘The Vampires in New York’ among them) and you cannot help but assume what kind of childhood John Wozniak (singer and songwriter) had and if ‘Saint Joe on the School Bus’ is autobiographical.
In general, the album grows on you but it never really flourishes and two years after its purchase, it still sounds quite depressing and uneventful. The lyrics are somewhat tame and the guitar riffs uninspiring. My advice is to buy the single ‘Sex and Candy’ but I would leave the album alone.
Advantages: this album is a quality piece of musical creation Disadvantages: the pace can sometimes be a bit slow
When I first heard 'Marcy Playground', it was as a throbbing beat coming from the room next door. I went to complain and to borrow the album.
On the first listen I thought that only 'Sex and Candy' was the saving grace of the album, but on re - listening to the tracks I have come to appreciate every one as an original musical experience. The music is very chilled and relaxed although the theme of the lyrics can be somewhat disturbing, for example, ...
cints24 17.04.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Marcy Playground - Marcy Playground
Product Information for "Marcy Playground - Marcy Playground" »
Product details
Title
Marcy Playground
Performer
Marcy Playground
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Grunge
Release Date
27/04/1998
Recomended Retail Price
8.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1997
Label / Distributor
EMI / EMI Operations/CEVA Logistics
Engineer
Ken Gioia; Jim Sabella
Producer
John Wozniak
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
724385356926
Catalogue Number
8535692
Additional notes
Album Notes
Personnel: John Wozniak (vocals, guitar); Jen Handler (cello); Jared Kotler (bass, drums); Glen Braver, Edgar Mills, Dylan Keefe (bass); Dan Rieser (drums). Recorded at Sabella Recording Studios, Roslyn, New York. Like Everclear's Art Alexakis, Marcy Playground singer/songwriter/mastermind John Wozniak is clearly indebted to the musical legacy of Kurt Cobain. The best of Wozniak's songs, the standouts on Marcy Playground's self-titled debut, not only evoke Nirvana's sound--heavenly, minor-key melodies, transformed into thorny alterna-pop by a stripped-down, punky three-piece--but Kurt's metaphor-minded, playful yet emotionally intense viewpoint. And where Alexakis sticks to "real life" narratives that peg him a traditional singer/songwriter high on grunge, Wozniak brandishes history lessons ("Poppies"), descents into druggy deliriums ("Ancient Walls of Flowers"), and re-dreams a dreadful pre-adolescence ("Saint Joe on the School Bus") in order to paint a much wider portrait. More often than not, the sinful deviance of the subculture that is Wozniak's natural habitat rises out of his catchy, radio-friendly tunes--"Sex & Candy" being a prime example--making for the kind of slightly dangerous pop rush that is rarely offered in alterna-land.
Album Reviews
NME (5/23/98, p.45) - 7 (out of 10) - "...What is surprising is how enjoyable this window on Wozniak's soul is: his lazy drawl and gentle melodies coating his misery in a pop sheen....the mood remains resolutely downbeat but the angst is not imposing..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Poppies
2.
Sex And Candy
3.
Ancient Wall Of Flowers
4.
Saint Joe On The School Bus
5.
Clock Of Elvenkind
6.
Sherry Fraser
7.
Gone Crazy
8.
Opium
9.
One More Suicide
10.
Dog And His Master
11.
Shaodow Of Seattle
12.
Vampires Of New York
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Listed on Ciao since
02/04/2001
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