Recognizing his own unworthiness, vocalist Mark McGrath thanks
a woman for staying by his side (“Someday”). “Ode to the Lonely Hearted,” “Even Though” and “Falls Apart” all examine the turmoil of romantic disappointment and emotional isolation. On “Abracadabra,” a remake of the 1982 chart-topper for the Steve Miller Band, the singer describes the magical feeling of being in love, however . . .
He’s possessed by a desire for physical intimacy and “black panties with an angel’s face.” A depressed man leans on cigarettes to ease his mind (“Ode to the Lonely Hearted”). The Top-20 hit “Every Morning” finds a guy hoping for a one-night stand. With help from rapper KRS-One, “Live &Direct” recommends reckless partying (“Lose your mind on the weekend/Off the deep end with me . . . There’s gonna be a tragedy”).In the album art, rudimentary line drawings depict rear nudity, alcohol use and a man using a mirror to peer up a woman’s dress.
The absence of rampant drug use, obscenities, criminal activity, nihilism and perversion makes 14:59 a vast improvement over previous Sugar Ray projects. Still, these five guys from Southern California need to iron out a few wrinkles before they’ll be welcome in most homes.
