14:59

In 1997, Sugar Ray released their second album, Floored. Late in the recording sessions, the band recorded a much poppier track, the reggae 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.[4]

The album's sound has elements of alternative rock[5] and pop rock.[6] "Aim for Me" is a punk rock track in the vein of Green Day and "Falls Apart" and "Personal Space Invader" take influence from The Police's Synchronicity and Men Without Hats,[7] while "Burning Dog" has a skate punk sound similar to The Offspring and "Live & Direct" features vocals from KRS-One.[8] In addition, "Every Morning" (that has been called an acoustic pop number[7]), "Someday" and "Ode to the Lonely Hearted" are reminiscent of previous hit single "Fly".[8] The album also features two comedic songs titled "New Direction", the former being death metal and the latter a circus music instrumental.[7]

The song "Glory" was used in the film American Pie, and featured on the soundtrack album.[9]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[8]
The Guardian	[10]
The Independent	[11]
Los Angeles Times	[12]
NME	7/10[13]
Q	[14]
Rolling Stone	[15]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[16]
Spin	5/10[17]

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."[7] 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."[13] 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."[15] Robert Christgau picked out the album's song, "Every Morning", as a choice cut.[18]

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."[8]

All music is composed by Sugar Ray except where noted.

Sugar Ray sold a different version of the 14:59 album to audiences that attended their live tour. This album included 5 tracks[19] not found on the retail version. These tracks are:

• The hit "Fly" from their previous Floored album
• The original demo recording of "Aim for Me"
• A live acoustic version of "Every Morning"
• The radio edit of "Falls Apart"
• "Rivers", a song written in the style of and in tribute to Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo

• Mark McGrath – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Rodney Sheppard – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Murphy Karges – bass, guitar, backing vocals
• Stan Frazier – drums, percussion, guitar, programming, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on Someday
• Craig "DJ Homicide" Bullock – turntables, samples, programming, keyboards, backing vocals