But the biggest irony on the album has to do, in part, with the Steve Miller Band. When Sugar Ray kicks back and relies on the reggae/hip-hoppy vibe that took them to the top with "Fly," its music resembles the easygoing rock of "The Joker" and "Take the Money and Run." Those songs resonate directly with the album's infectious first single, "Every Morning," and other tracks like "Someday." Why is that ironic? Because the most misguided effort on 14:59 turns out to be a cover of Miller's own "Abracadabra." Originally recorded for the television soundtrack to Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sugar Ray's version completely misses the charming kitschiness that the Steve Miller Band brought to its 1982 hit.
There are other unmistakable influences in evidence on 14:59. "Aim for Me" is happily reminiscent of the punk-pop of the Clash, while "Personal Space Invader" comes straight from the Devo files. "Live & Direct," on the other hand, which features a guest appearance by KRS-One, falls under the same banner as his cameo on R.E.M.'s "Radio Song" eight years ago—out of place, that is.
It's the simple pop songs that ultimately carry 14:59. Although the opening and closing tracks are both titled "New Direction," by sticking with what they know, the boys from Orange County have created several gems sure to be hits on alternative radio. Besides the aforementioned "Every Morning" and "Someday," "Ode to the Lonely Hearted" fits the bill, along with "Even Though," all of which offer Sugar Ray's take on the "pompatus of love." 14:59 may not be the "new direction" the band was hoping to go in, but as long as they learn the same lesson Steve Miller did in the late '80s—play what your fans want to hear—they'll continue to fly.
— Anders Wright (Wall Of Sound)
rony is a funny thing. Some think it is not unlike pornography, in that it's difficult to define, but you know it when you see it. In actuality, irony is even tougher to identify—just ask Alanis Morissette. There are a number of aspects to Sugar Ray's third album that could fall into the irony category, the first being its title. 14:59 refers to the very last second in Andy Warhol's infamous 15 minutes, and the irony lies in the fact that Sugar Ray recognizes the fact that their grasp on fame and fortune—like so many other bands with one (and only one) big alternative pop hit under their belt—is tenuous at best.