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Big Beef Music Review
By Greg
I
mentioned in BB & B's first music review
ever, that my DJ experience had soured me a bit. I had become reluctant
to try new artists because I really hated one-hit-wonders. When I first
heard Sugar
Ray a year or so ago, I wasn't all that impressed with their first
single Fly. I thought we'd never hear from them again, and with
radio overkill, I prayed I was right.
Sugar
Ray, fortunately, did not go away. I say "fortunately" because
their most recent album, 14:59,
is a real treat. You've probably already heard their singles Someday
and Every
Morning. You probably have already formed an opinion about them. If
you like them already, you will definitely enjoy this album.
Sugar
Ray appeals to me
because of the playfulness incorporated in all of their songs. Sometimes
it's very subtle, others, it's very obvious in a Dead
Milkmen or Violent
Femmes style. The cover art and the art inside the cover capture some
of the attitude that I so enjoy.
Track By Track:
- New Direction --
When I first heard this, it scared the hell out of me. I had only heard
the 3 singles mentioned earlier prior to this. For 48 seconds I thought
this might be a heavy metal band. Fortunately, its only an intro.
- Every Morning
-- Hopefully you've heard this by now.
- Falls Apart-- A catchy,
guitar driven song. It goes from hard to soft and back. I especially
liked the bouncy bass line about 2/3 of the way through it.
- Personal Space Invader
-- This is one of those blatantly playful songs. A mix of Devo and
the Talking
Heads to create a fun 80's type tune.
- Live and Direct --
This is a soulful, bouncy make you bob in your chair tune featuring
KRS-One.
- Someday -- You know
it. For some reason, I picture 60 year old men dancing with their 20
year old brides in the Caribbean whenever I hear this song.
- Aim For Me -- This
song could be on any Dead
Milkmen album. Fast and silly, but somehow deep.
- Ode to the Lonely Hearted
-- This song is consistent with everything else you've heard by Sugar
Ray, especially Someday.
- Burning Dog -- This
song sounds like it could have been performed by Talking
Heads and Beck combined. Quirky and fun with a touch of psychodelia.
- Even Though -- More
of what I expected and enjoy. Light and playful.
- Abracadabra
-- The song that had Steve
Miller purists scratching their heads redone. As good, perhaps better
than the original.
- Glory -- A summary
of all of the above. Has some scratching, some driving guitar, and some
silliness.
- New Direction --
The outro. Sounds like something you might hear on a carousel while
in a drug induced haze.
I enjoyed this album. It gets
4 BB & B's.
Ranking:
out of 5 BB&B's.
URL:
www.sugarrayonline.com
Listen
to Sugar Ray - 14:59
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