Search - Sugar Ray :: Lemonade & Brownies

What happened to Sugar Ray?

Hoser | 08/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never really cared much for Sugar Ray. I remember getting 14:59 as a present a few years ago, and I wasn't too interested in most of the tracks. But then again, that's because most of the tracks were the annoying, cheesy teenybopper drama movie-esque acoustic pop filler. Although I must admit I enjoyed Someday, for the most part the only tracks on the CD I enjoyed were the songs that were more influenced by either funk-metal or heavy alternative rock (with all due respect to the open-minded musical variety on the album that I admired). Thus, I would usually skip to the songs Personal Space Invader, Aim for Me, Burning Dog and Glory. On rare occassion I'd listen to the track Someday, but I was very conservative about listening to the song, because at the time it would be played so many times on the radio. For the most part, I'd find myself popping in 14:59 on occassion to this day just to listen to those specific tracks, and it still sits on my shelf to this day.



Well, one night I was with a friend and I popped in 14:59 and skipped to Personal Space Invader. While we were listening intently, my friend said "That reminds me, I just found out something really awesome about this band." I asked what it was, and he told me "I know this may sound weird, but Sugar Ray actually used to be a heavy metal band." Then he told me about Lemonade and Brownies. So I finally bought it and popped it into my CD drive.



I was extremely blown away! Not a single track on the album was intolerable (well, the actual music tracks anyway). Nice, basic, crunching, straight from the soul grunge/metal aggression.



Just the other day I invited a different friend over, and we decided we'd want to listen to some music. So I showed him this album. He laughed upon first seeing it, saying "Sugar Ray? Ha! This cover looks just like what you might find on some American female pop singer's album." He only looked at me like I was a dolt when I told him the whole early Sugar Ray story.



So I popped the CD in and had him listen to it. BOY, did that make a believer out of him!



What puzzles me to this very day is why Sugar Ray don't ever produce albums like this anymore. I'd have to disagree with what someone here said, that this can't compare to their other albums and that they should have abandoned this awesome sound. I suppose I won't get into why I think their progression to other types of sound blew, but come on Sugar Ray, look at your fanbase now. None of these blowhard teenybopper valley dopes you have now would have DARED have anything to with the raw power of old school Sugar Ray."

This is Sugar Ray?!

Andrew | Columbus, OH | 06/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Damn i never knew sugar ray was once a heavy metal band!! All ive heard from them is that poppy crap they play non stop on the radio all the time. This cd is way way different not to mention better than that stuff they've put out since 14:59. Mark and the band through in the metal songs and mix them with a little bit of rap like rhyme stealer, mean machine, dance party u.s.a., and 10 seconds down. Then there are some slower songs like hold your eyes and scuzzboots, but they still fit nicely into the album. I wish sugar ray could've made more cds like this one. Floored was a pretty good album but it didnt have the feel to it as this one did. If they kept playin music like this they could've fit right in to the heavy music bands are playin today. I bet Mark's just kicking himself for taking the boy band route(hehe). Bottom line is if you want some good metal with a little bit of rap you'd defenitly like this cd. Best songs are snug harbor, rhyme stealer, mean machine, dance party u.s.a., 10 seconds down, and scuzzboots. Not to say those are the only good songs (the whole album kicks a$$!) but those appeal to me the most. Also this was produced by the great DJ Lethal while he was with House Of Pain not Limp Bizkit, so you know its gonna be an awesome cd!!"

Sugar Ray's awesome transition

Sheila S. Antonio | (used to be in Guam)... Las Vgas, Nevada USA | 05/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is incredible! I love the hard core, heavy metal guitar riffs in "10 Seconds Down", "Mean Machine", "Rhyme Stealer", "The Greatest", and "Streaker". I also love "Scuzz Boots", a weird title for a love song and "Hold Your Eyes". Their 2nd one, 'Floored', is great too. They improved on the lyrics ("Anyone" is inspirational, even through Mark's screaming) and on their tune. I love all the songs on this CD, but not "Fly" cuz I heard this song WAY too much back at 1997. Their cover on "Stand and Deliver" is hilarious. '14:59' finally shows their transition from heavy metal to alternative (and/or pop). Lyrics are catchy and friendly for all ages, however, they ditched the heavy metal guitar riffs they started with (with an exception for "Falls Apart", "Glory", "Personal Space Invader", "Burning Dog" and "New Direction"). Who knows what we're gonna expect with their 4th album? Then again, what do we expect from Sugar Ray?"