14:59

After scoring big with their previous effort, FLOORED, Sugar Ray returns with their infectious blend of funky grooves, modern rock and hip-hop. The group manages to meld all of these styles into an excellently produced, exciting record. meer...

Opening with the deceptive, Sepultura style "New Direction", Sugar Ray glides into a mellower mode with the album's first single "Every Morning", a comfortable pop ditty. "Live And Direct" has a reggae feel and features veteran rapper KRS-One. "Someday" is a straight-ahead pop tune, with some drum loops and scratches thrown in. "Ode To The Lonely Hearted" combines smooth harmonies with catchy hooks. "Even Though" rocks harder, but still remains a slick, short and sweet pop tune. "Abracadabra" is a cover of Steve Miller's smash hit, with some extra keyboards and programming added. Sugar Ray is a rock band that fuses other elements into their sound for wider appeal. They don't pretend to be master MC's or turntable wizards, and 14:59 is a good party record from a band that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Rolling Stone (2/4/99, p.59-60)
- "...these Orange County, California, lover boys go off the deep end with gorgeous psychedelic guitar hooks and drum loops....hip-hop is just one of the influences corrupting their depraved young minds, and everything they play is shaped by the cut-and-paste aesthetic of the the sampler..."

NME (6/19/99, p.30)
- 7 out of 10 - "...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..."

Q (6/99, p.114)
- 4 Stars (out of 5)
- "...a sure pop touch which is ably demonstrated on the new-wavey Personal Space Invader, makes 14:59 a great little summer record."