Shapeshifter (Marcy Playground album)

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]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[14]
Edmonton Journal	[15]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[16]
Los Angeles Times	[17]
Rolling Stone	[18]
The Sydney Morning Herald	[19]

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]

• John Wozniak – guitar, vocals
• Dylan Keefe – bass and backing vocals
• Dan Rieser – drums and backing vocals