SUGAR RAY

Sugar Ray

Atlantic Records

Sure, Sugar Ray released their fourth full-length album this summer. But, by any measure, they’re still considered lightweights. Previous infectious hits such as “Fly,” “Every Morning,” and “Someday” showcase the group’s talent for radio friendly tunes. The first release from their self-titled third album, “When It’s Over,” carries on these pop tarts with similar semblance-little in content, but big on catchiness. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing. Sugar Ray’s songs qualify as some of the best pop songs ever.

Sugar Ray know that they’re not taken as seriously as a real band in the music biz where their longevity is often put into question. In fact, they

titled their last album 14:59, pointing out that their 15 minutes of fame are all of one second away. The group doesn’t have to worry just yet. Their last two albums have each gone several times platinum, and their current effort is destined to match the success of their predecessors.

The Southern California-based quintet masterfully mixes elements of pop, punk, hip-hop, reggae and new wave on Sugar Ray. The songs were written by all five members: Frazier, hunky lead singer Mark McGrath, guitarist Rodney Sheppard, bassist Murphy Karges and DJ Craig “Homicide” Bullock. Although the new album, which admittedly is a more guitar (often sounding like Blink-182 style-punk) and drum driven album, is supposed to showcase the group as a rock band, the songs still come up as summery, easygoing radio songs. Still, the heavier sound does give the group a quality missing from most of their earlier work-it makes them sound like a band.

“When It’s Over,” blending a mid-tempo shuffle beat with a macho baseline, a sing-songy hook and unfussy vocals from lead Mark McGrath, became one of the best songs of the summer.

“Answer the Phone” hears the pleas of a heart torn lover to reconcile with his girlfriend. The song, with strong guitar licks and drum lines, is edgier than the tracks from their previous albums.

“Under the Sun” only affirms that Sugar Ray is the unmistakable summer band. “Do you remember summers that lasted so long?” and “do you remember all of us together as we grew up under the sun?” asks McGrath, his voice lacquered in a smooth, slow drum line.

When Sugar Ray tries to delve into serious subject matter, such as in “Waiting,” it’s sadly overlooked for their regular sugary fare. The track

shimmers with a bolt of yearning, power-pop that comes complete with smart, self-referencing lyrics from McGrath.

What’s most surprising from the album is the controversial three-way romance song “Ours” from the otherwise controversial-free band. “She was your woman, but she was my girl,” sings McGrath who concludes that he can’t see how they can be together as three.

“Satellites” and “Sorry Now” cleverly marries punk to mellow earnestness with a rhythm section of drums and bass. As nearly every song on the album, however, the songs suffer from skittering and repetitive beats and lyrics. Some tracks on the album seem to come up short with an average running time of three and a half minutes. It’s as if the band was purposely trying to craft an album ready to be put in heavy rotation on radio airplay.

Sugar Ray is a perfect summer album. One that is ideal for blaring on the car radio with the windows rolled down. With so many rock bands taking themselves and their “art” so seriously and where every lyric is analyzed and dissected by music critics, modest Sugar Ray is a welcome contribution to the music scene. A band that puts out great pop songs and doesn’t take themselves too seriously? What more can we ask?