Blast from the Past: New Radical's Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too

The New Radicals are a band that defy all logic. Their one and only album, Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too, managed to go platinum thanks to two singles and one video that was played non-stop on MTV. After this record the band was never heard from again, they just disappeared from the face of the Earth. There was no attempt to capture lightning a second time, no forced singles on alternative radio, hell there were no videos on MTV beyond the first album. But why? Why did this band and their hat wearing front man, Gregg Alexander, just vanish without a trace? Okay, maybe he didn't completely vanish (he did win a Grammy in 2003) but you haven't heard from him since have you? No, I didn't think so.

The New Radicals burst onto the scene in 1998 with the release of their breakout single "You Get What You Give", a song that will still latch onto your brain after only a single listen. They were nobodies then, but they released a single that wowed everyone. It was catchy, poppy, just enough rock to woo the alternative kids but mainstream enough to be played on Top 40 radio. The song was everywhere, and its video was play non-stop on MTV, VH1, and probably even BET. Now there have been songs that have been as big or bigger then this one, but it launched a band so fast that it boggles the mind. One day there was no such thing as the New Radicals, the very next everyone in the world knew about them.

I bought the record sometime in 1998 and though the two singles released off it are solid tunes the rest is pretty insipid to say the least. The songs vary from ignorable to outright trash, but as soon as one of the singles or maybe one other track comes on you'll find yourself singing along to every word. No, you don't want to get caught singing along because people would probably look at you weird, but you'll be singing along anyway.

New Radicals - You Get What You Give - New Radicals

New Radicals - "Mother We Just Can't Get Enough"
New Radicals - "You Get What You Give"
New Radicals - "Someday We'll Know"
New Radicals - "Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too"

Previous Guilty Pleasures:
Britney Spears' ...Baby One More Time
Jewel's Pieces of You