Released January 12, 1999 Length 40:30 Artist Sugar Ray Label Atlantic Records | Recorded 1998 1459
(1999) Sugar Ray
(2001) Release date 12 January 1999 | |
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Producer David Kahne, except for "Abracadabra" which was produced by Ralph Sall Genres Alternative rock, Pop rock, Punk rock Similar Floored, In the Pursuit of Leisure, Lemonade and Brownies, The Best of Sugar Ray, Sugar Ray | ||
14:59 is the third studio album by American rock band Sugar Ray, released on January 12, 1999. It entered the top 20 on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 17 and certified triple-platinum by the RIAA. The album shows the band moving into a more mainstream pop rock sound, away from their earlier funk metal and nu metal sound, due to the success of their single "Fly" off their prior album, Floored. The album was titled 14 minutes and 59 seconds, meaning one second short of the "15 minutes of fame" critics claimed the band was riding on. This was seen as an act of self-deprecation, with the band recognizing its own time was limited but was not yet over while defying predictions of a sophomore slump on their second attempt at a hit record.
Contents
Sugar ray every morning lyrics
Background
In 1997, Sugar Ray released their second album, Floored. While largely an alternative metal album, late in the recording sessions, the band recorded a much poppier track, the reggae rock song "Fly". The track became a surprise hit. The track's massive success inspired the band to further pursue the sound on their following album, 14:59.
Sound
The album's sound has elements of alternative rock and pop rock. "Aim for Me" is a punk rock track in the vein of Green Day and "Falls Apart" and "Personal Space Invader" take influence from Synchronicity and Men Without Hats, while "Burning Dog" has a skate punk sound similar to The Offspring and "Live & Direct" features vocals from KRS-One. In addition, "Every Morning" (that has been called an acoustic pop number), "Someday" and "Ode to the Lonely Hearted" are reminiscent of previous hit single "Fly". The album also features two comedic songs titled "New Direction", the former being more death metal-influenced and the latter a circus music instrumental.
Promotion and release
The song "Glory" was used in the film American Pie, and featured on the soundtrack album. The song "Aim For Me" was featured in the 2001 film Max Keeble's Big Move.
Reception
The album was generally well received by critics. Paul Pearson of AllMusic wrote, "Their third album showed an alarming overhaul in their approach...from their metal shellac toward a calmer, melodious pastiche of songs. and concluded that 14:59 has such catchiness and charm that it's a guilty pleasure of high order, and a bigger step than one might have expected from Sugar Ray." NME's referred to the album as a "hellishly difficult record to hate...Not that this is especially inspired stuff, but, if you wanted a soundtrack for the kind of sun-kissed pool-party the sleeve depicts, 14:59 is maybe as good as you could get today." Rolling Stone praised the album for its diversity and for not sticking too closely to the sound of "Fly" stating that the band instead "...go[es] off the deep end with gorgeous psychedelic guitar hooks and drum loops, and Mark McGrath's wise-guy futon talk... everything they play is shaped by the cut-and-paste aesthetic of the sampler." Robert Christgau picked out the album's song, "Every Morning", as a choice cut.
David Browne of Entertainment Weekly was less positive and stated: "It's genuinely hard to hate Sugar Ray; [...] Still, listening to '14:59' is a somewhat sad, depressing experience. [...] The album is the sound of a band resigned to the possibility that they may be one-hit wunderkinds and that the 2 million fans who bought their last album may have moved on to Barenaked Ladies."
Track listing
All music composed by Sugar Ray except where noted.
Sugar Ray sold a different version of the 14:59 album to audiences that attended their live tour. This album included 5 tracks not found on the retail version. These tracks are:
Songs
1New Direction0:47
2Every Morning3:42
3Falls Apart4:15