Disco de Sugar Ray: “14:59”

Well, it's just, great. What can I say? Sugar Ray is a great band. I personally love their mixed and very diverse style. For example: Live & Direct (track 5) starts with this groovy guitar tune, adds a back beat and various other things, then breaks into a jazzy song. It's like rock, pop, jazz, blues, reggae, and swing all combined. Their second CD, 'Floored', suprised the heck out of everyone; their hit song was "Fly" (remember that) which was a reggae-type song, and the rest of the CD was like punk rock. Their current CD, '14:59' is not as suprising; their hit songs are "Every Morning" and "Someday" and the songs are all mixed. The CD begins with a hard rock guitar track entitled "New Direction". The mood is now set for a rock CD. But suddenly, the music turns around 180 degrees as Mark McGrath leads the band into the quiet, smooth "Every Morning". Now the correct mixed mood is set for the CD. If you are still reading this review, go buy '14:59'! If you want more reviewing, read on. Track 3, "Falls Apart", begins with a rock guitar again and then breaks into a "Fly"- type beat. Tracks 4, 7, 9, and 12 are the heavy stuff such as what is found on 'Floored'. 2, 5, 6, 8, and 10 are the jazzy "Fly"-type that some of you expect. 3 and 11 are somewhere in-between those two, and 1 and 13 are just plain wierd. To summarize this review, BUY THE CD. '14:59' is a great mix, and you'll like it no matter what music you like. Sugar Ray-- thanks for a great CD. On a personal note- I hope the band doesn't fade away as is somewhat implied by the title of this CD.

I've been a fan of Sugar Ray since they're hit "Fly". When 14:59 came out, I bought it the first day it was in stores. This album has some more softer tracks than Floored or Lemonade and Brownies, such as "Ode to the Lonely Hearted" (Track 8). It also combines some hip-hop on track number 5, featuring KRS-One. Mark McGrath (lead vocalist) shows that Sugar Ray is not the same as they were at the time they released Lemonade and Brownies; they don't have to scream the words, and they actually do have talent, which you can hear in his voice as he sings their big hit "Every Morning", another one of their hits "Someday" or their remake of "Abracadabra" (MUCH different and better than the original!) "Every Morning" and "Someday" have great non-screetchy background sounds, the guitars, drums, and bass complement eachother perfectly, as Mark shows his vocal range. "Abracadabra" doesn't focus as much on the instruments, but more Mark's ability to hold notes, and once again, his vocal range. 14:59 is completely worth the $, each song has its own great sound and this album has it all.

Bottom line: a very enjoyable album for ANYONE with an open mind. Girlfriends, boyfriends, single people, married people, old, young, male, female.

You probably already know (and like) at least 3 songs from this album: "Every Morning", "Someday", "Falls Apart". So, you're already off to a great start.

And, for those of you old-school Sugar Ray ROCK fans, there's plenty here for you. Try "Personal Space Invader", "Aim For Me", "Glory", and "Burning Dog" if you enjoy cranking it to 11. Actually, this album is predominantly rock inspired...if you've listened to the WHOLE THING.

Hip hop fans will find "Live and Direct" featuring KRS-One to be a pleasant little surprise.

80's fans will take to their spiced up rendition of Steve

Miller's "Abracadabra".

And, they've got some nice softer tunes in the form of "Ode to the Lonely Hearted" and "Even Though" (a song which seems to have jumped off the time machine from the 50's or something...good stuff).

And, of course there a bits and pieces of that trademark Sugar Ray humor thrown about the album. Like they always say, Sugar Ray is all about having fun. Period. If things like "image" matter to you, then steer clear of this band. If dogmatic adherence to one specific style of music (and ONLY one specific

style of music) excites you then steer clear of this band.

But, if you like having fun with your music (a.k.a. ENJOYING it) and if you can appreciate diverse musical influences, then here ya' go.

Ah yes... Sugar Ray's 14:59. It's been four long years since this album's hit stores and it still goes without saying that it truely is one of the best Sugar Ray albums recorded. Many happy-go-lucky punk rockers, however, have labeled this album the epitome of Sugar Ray's musical career and the change of musical scenery is the ongoing cliche of a band's "selling out". Yes, "14:59" doesn't offer the same up-paced, screaming guitar licks from Rodney and the howling of Mark McGrath, but the transition from punk to breezy pop was probably for the best (hey, we all have to grow up sometime...). 14:59 has a lot to offer both musically and lyrically, spanning the musical charts from the Ray's first hit "Every Morning", an ode to one of McGrath's "angels", to the deeply-rooted "Falls Apart", a whisper from a tormented heart. The highlights on this album are seen from the first track until the last, which I will break down with the following:

1. New Direction: a "humble" spoof of 1980's death metal the boys grew up listening to. Possibly the last breath of "Floored" we may see.

2. Every Morning: a good summer anthem of which McGrath pours out lyrics of a long-lost angel, whom must have left her halo in McGrath's bed after the romance was done.

3. Falls Apart: the deepest song on the album. Offers a good tune to follow and strong lyrics from McGrath. The song bursts to pieces in the middle, but nicely comes back together. Good track.

4. Personal Space Invader: an interesting song from beginning to end about those annoying people that always seem to be nosing around in your business. Easily relatable.

5. Live and Direct: this track brings the usual sugar ray sound and adds a little rap by KRS-1. good song.

6. Someday: a slow song of a plea for a getaway with McGrath. This tune brings a good lyrical presence that the boys may have lacked in previous albums.

7. Aim For Me: an attept to hold on to "Floored", this song brings back the life of thierlast CD into 14:59. Although it probably doesn't belong on this album, it's still a good track.

8. Ode To the Lonely Hearted: one of the best tracks on the album, "Ode" offers a trademark sound for the "new" Sugar Ray. Similar to "Even Though", this song opens the doors for the Ray's next album.

9. Burning Dog: not too much to say about this track. not too shabby...

10. Even Though: See "Ode to the Lonely Hearted"

11. Abracadabra: although I wasn't crazy about the original, Sugar Ray remakes a classic and does a fine job doing it. McGrath offers some good vocals to this song that the original may have lacked. One of my favorite songs of the album.

12. Glory: as my favorite track on this album, "Glory" offers a great mix of a rock n' roll chorus with the quiet, drum filled verses. The song breaks down in the middle with an excellent guitar solo (thank you Rodney) and some scratching by DJ Homicide. A great party track (yes, this song does appear in American Pie).

13. New Direction: kind of circusy and ends the album on an interesting note.

14:59 truely is Sugar Ray. We may never seethe antics of Floored or Lemonade and Brownies, but we will always remember them. And for all the disgruntled punkers out there lookin for the old Sugar Ray: grab some hair gel, one of your spikes are falling to the side.

I never heard of Sugar Ray until I began to hear "Someday" on the radio last year. What a smooth and well-done song! Very few modern groups can style and time a tune like Someday. I also think "Every Morning" is fun and clever. It was hard to believe that the rest of the CD represents the work of the same group, but I've since leaned those songs were more like those on their first album. Let's hope that they'll return with another "Someday" someday.