On the record: Sugar Ray

Album: Sugar Ray (Warner Music); Artist: Sugar Ray

This Orange County, California-based band is as unpretentious as they come, with laid-back personalities and music to match.

Comprising Mark McGrath (vocals), Rodney Sheppard (guitar), Murphy Karges (bass), Craig Bullock (DJ) and Stan Frazier (drums), Sugar Ray debuted in 1995 with Lemonade and Brownies.

The album was a flop, but two years later the band made it big with the reggae-tinged hit Fly from their second album Floored.

The band then made sure their fame lasted for more than 15 minutes with the release of 14:59, which contained the hits Every Morning and Someday.

And here they are again, with a new self-titled album. Sugar Ray is perfect for a day at the beach, with its 11 fun-in-the- sun, cushy and laid-back tracks.

Some of the songs are reggae-infected, including Stay On which is highlighted by an acoustic guitar.

The lyrics on this album are also simple and unpretentious. On Under The Sun the band takes a look back at the '80s with Run DMC, Culture Club and Men Without Hats, which "seems kind of funny right now".(Hera Diani)