14:59

14:59
Studio album by Sugar Ray
Released January 12, 1999
Recorded 1998
Genre Alternative rock, pop rock, punk rock
Length 40:30
Label Atlantic
Producer David Kahne, except for "Abracadabra" which was produced by Ralph Sall
Sugar Ray chronology
Floored
(1997)		 14:59
(1999)		 Sugar Ray
(2001)
Singles from 14:59
  1. "Every Morning"
    Released: January 2, 1999
  2. "Someday"
    Released: June 15, 1999
  3. "Falls Apart"
    Released: December 28, 1999

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[1] 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.

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.[2]

Sound

The album's sound has elements of alternative rock[3] and pop rock.[4] "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,[5] while "Burning Dog" has a skate punk sound similar to The Offspring and "Live & Direct" features vocals from KRS-One.[6] In addition, "Every Morning" (that has been called an acoustic pop number[5]), "Someday" and "Ode to the Lonely Hearted" are reminiscent of previous hit single "Fly".[6] The album also features two comedic songs titled "New Direction", the former being more death metal-influenced and the latter a circus music instrumental.[5]

Promotion and release

The song "Glory" was used in the film American Pie, and featured on the soundtrack album.[7] The song "Aim For Me" was featured in the 2001 film Max Keeble's Big Move.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[6]
Los Angeles Times[8]
NME7/10[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
The Village Voice[11]

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."[5] 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."[9] 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."[10] Robert Christgau picked out the album's song, "Every Morning", as a choice cut.[11]

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."[6]

Track listing

All music composed by Sugar Ray except where noted.

No. TitleMusic Length
1. "New Direction"    0:48
2. "Every Morning"    3:39
3. "Falls Apart"  Sugar Ray, David Kahne 4:15
4. "Personal Space Invader"  Sugar Ray, David Kahne 3:38
5. "Live & Direct" (feat. KRS-One)Sugar Ray, David Kahne 4:34
6. "Someday"  Sugar Ray, David Kahne 4:02
7. "Aim For Me"    2:20
8. "Ode To The Lonely Hearted"  Nick Sopkovich, Sugar Ray, David Kahne 3:12
9. "Burning Dog"    3:01
10. "Even Though"    2:35
11. "Abracadabra" (Steve Miller Band cover)Steve Miller 3:42
12. "Glory"    3:26
13. "New Direction"    1:18
Total length:
 40:37

Sugar Ray sold a different version of the 14:59 album to audiences that attended their live tour. This album included 5 tracks[12] not found on the retail version. These tracks are:

References

  1. ↑ "14:59 chart performance". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  2. ↑ "Interview with Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray". NY Rock. April 1999. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  3. ↑ Huey, Steve (2002). "Sugar Ray - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  4. ↑ "14:59". NME. 1999-05-15. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Pearson, Paul. "14:59 – Sugar Ray". AllMusic. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Browne, David (January 25, 1999). "14:59". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  7. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163651/soundtrack
  8. ↑ Nichols, Natalie (January 11, 1999). "Time Isn't Quite Up Yet for Sugar Ray in New Album '14:59'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "14:59". NME. May 15, 1999. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  10. 1 2 Howling Wolf (January 12, 1999). "Sugar Ray: 14:59 : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 16, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  11. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (October 26, 1999). "Consumer Guide: Easy Money". Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  12. ↑ 14:59 [Tour Edition] at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
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