Byline: Patrick Ferrucci

Jul. 31--SUGAR RAY -- "Music for Cougars" (Pulse): Years go by and the world changes, but Sugar Ray stays the same. Led by former "Extra" cohost and Hartford native Mark McGrath, the band scored a hit back in 1997 with "Fly," which became a ubiquitous radio staple and turned the group into overnight successes. Fast-forward 12 years later, and Sugar Ray's sixth long-player, "Music for Cougars," makes it sound like "Fly" was on the charts yesterday.

One thing that can be said for the quintet is that it clearly knows its audience. The folks listening to "Music for Cougars" are not going to include young men, or young women for that matter. Nope, the bulk of Sugar Ray's fans are women over 30, the same folks who ate up "Fly" in their 20s. Those people will not be disappointed with this 12-song work.

At its core, "Cougars" is a fun record, a disc of upbeat pop that effortlessly apes from Weezer, The Go-Go's, Sublime and more. Yet it all manages to sound exactly like Sugar Ray, like a group that's looking to have some fun and maybe, just maybe, pull off another hit. It's probably not going to happen, but if you're one of those cougars the band's targeting, you'll dig this pop trifle.

Megafaun -- "Gather, Form...