Leaving Wonderland... in a Fit of Rage

The album was produced by Jeff Dawson and John Wozniak; Wozniak had appreciated Dawson's production work at Mushroom Studios.{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Michael |title=Catching Up With Marcy Playground |work=Sunday News |date=9 Aug 2009 |page=H1}}{{cite news |last1=Spalding |first1=Derek |title=Marcy Playground adapts to the changing music scene |work=Nanaimo Daily News |date=29 Oct 2009 |page=D8}} Its lyrics were inspired by a difficult period in the singer's life.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Rob |title='SEX AND CANDY' MAKERS HEADLINE ANNEX SHOW |work=The Capital Times |date=6 January 2011 |page=12}}{{cite news |last1=Courter |first1=Barry |title=Marcy Playground's Wozniak gets personal on new CD |work=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=31 July 2009 |page=H6}} Leaving Wonderland... in a Fit of Rage was recorded in part with original band member Dylan Keefe.{{cite news |title=Marcy Playground due at Frankie's |work=The Blade |date=11 Feb 2010 |page=D9}} The band added drummer Shlomi Lavie after the album was completed.{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Coley |title=Marcy Playground to perform at the Rock on Saturday |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=August 27, 2009 |location=CALIENTE |page=6}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/leaving-wonderlandin-a-fit-of-rage-mw0000821605|title=Leaving Wonderland...In a Fit of Rage - Marcy Playground | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}

|rev2 = Toronto Sun

|rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last1=Sterdan |first1=Darryl |title=Marcy Playground Leaving Wonderland ... In a Fit of Rage |work=Toronto Sun |date=25 July 2009 |page=E18}}

}}

Exclaim! called the album "a tribute to the opiate-inspired, alt-rock tradition [the band] once popularized."{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/marcy_playground-leaving_wonderland|title=Marcy Playground Leaving Wonderland... In a Fit of Rage | Exclaim!|website=exclaim.ca}} The Star Tribune deemed it "a slightly rootsier update of the group's quirky style."{{cite news |last1=Riemenschneider |first1=Chris |title=Marcy Playground |work=Star Tribune |date=20 Aug 2009 |location=VITA.MN |page=12}} The Star-News labeled it "sonically diverse and intensely personal."{{cite news |last1=Staton |first1=John |title=Marcy Playground given new life in reunion |work=Star-News |date=26 Jan 2010}}

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review determined that "the music still has a dark aspect and it's still pop; it's just radio that has stopped paying attention."{{cite news |title=Music: Altar 'Playground' |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=9 Mar 2011}} The Toronto Sun considered the album to be "a fairly enjoyable and varied set of mellow Beatle-pop and roots, peppered with surprisingly crunchy guitar-rockers." The Intelligencer Journal concluded that "all 12 songs on Leaving Wonderland ... are excellent, driven by Wozniak's gift for melody."{{cite news |last1=Ferguson |first1=Jon |title=Turning Unhappiness Into Artistic Fulfillment |work=Intelligencer Journal |date=14 Aug 2009 |page=A5}}

AllMusic wrote that "it deserves to be heard by a wider audience as it proves that there's more to Marcy Playground and Wozniak than one grunge-era hit."

All songs written by John Wozniak.

{{Track listing

|title1=Blackbird

|length1=3:13

|title2=Devil Woman

|length2=3:04

|title3=Gin and Money

|length3=3:44

|title4=Star Baby

|length4=2:49

|title5=I Burned the Bed

|length5=2:37

|title6=Irene

|length6=2:42

|title7=Emperor

|length7=3:39

|title8=Good Times

|length8=3:15

|title9=I Must Have Been Dreaming

|length9=2:34

|title10=Memphis

|length10=2:48

|title11=Thank You

|length11=3:33

|title12=Down the Drain

|length12=3:18

}}

Marcy Playground (Touring members)

• John Wozniak - all vocals, guitar, band, dobro
• Dylan Keefe - bass
• Shlomi Lavie - drums (does not play on album)

Additional personnel (in studio only)

• Niko Friesen - drums, percussion
• Brendan Ostrander - drums, "Devil Woman" and "Thank You"
• Chris Copeland - drums, "Gin and Money"
• Simon Kendall - piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer
• Daniel Powter - piano, "Gin and Money"
• Jon Dryden - string programming, "Down the Drain"
• Jeff Dawson - keys, programming, guitar, "Thank You"
• Dave Pickell - piano, "Blackbird"
• Marc Wild - guitar, "Blackbird"

• John Wozniak - production
• Jeff Dawson - production, recording, mixing
• Bob Ludwig - mastering

Recorded at Mushroom Studios, Vancouver, BC

Mixed at Harbourside Studios, N. Vancouver, BC

Mastered at Gateway Mastering, Portland, Maine

{{reflist}}

{{Marcy Playground}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2009 albums

Category:Marcy Playground albums