Sugar Ray

That's more than 2.8 million records sold among the three of 'em -- not bad for bands
treated by the press as the runts of the '97 breakthrough litter. Matchbox 20 won't like the
comparison, but the gray strains of their barroom pop suggest an acrid, alt-rock Hootie and
the Blowfish: tightly scripted songs with meaty-guitar choruses and a lead
singer/songwriter, Rob Thomas, with country-soul aspirations. But there's too m... More >

Crude for sure, without anything to say or much to say it with, they nevertheless have some punky life to them, which I say is enhanced by their blatant ska and hip hop rips. What's most depressing about them is that their success makes sense--they're the nearest thing to a fresh young rock band the market or the "underground" has kicked up this year. Not counting Radish, of course. (Grade: B-)