It's a shame that the career of Marcy Playground will forever be "Sex and Candy" repeats, as if they were a one-trick pony. To a group of lazy listeners, of course the three-piece was nothing more than a prelude to sexual innocence--and while their career outside of the hellish MTV spotlight was not as resilient or robust as other supposed one-hit wonders of the 90s, it wasn't for a lack of trying.
The band's second album, Shapeshifter, was stronger in every aspect when held against their self-titled debut. Aside from the singles "Sex and Candy" and the awesome choral guitar riff of "Saint Joe on the School Bus" (complete with an awesome Hammer and Tongs video), the album was vapid late-90s alterna-pop that deserved to melt in the summer sun right alongside their now-annoying hit. Shapeshifter, however, was a darker affair. Much of it hasn't withstood the ten years of dust and decay it has accumulated, but led by the single "It's Saturday" and its playful under the covers adventure, the album produced a handful of top notch pop. Five of first six songs (excluding "Secret Squirrel") on Shapeshifter find the band with a rhythm--as apathetic as it may seem--and a purpose in making music.
The band toyed with calling it day but come Tuesday, they release Leaving Wonderland...In a Fit of Rage. It'll be interesting to hear what they have to offer the world after their horrifically uninspired third album, MP3, landed to no fare--even from fans--in 2004. Maybe they still can write a Nada Surf rebirth for themselves but the trip ahead is a long one and not as cute and neat as "It's Saturday."
