Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too (1998) is an album released by the short-lived group, New Radicals, on Oct. 20, 1998. This is the group’s first and only album. The New Radicals lasted only during a two year period, from 1997 to 1999, but is considered to be one of the best “one hit wonders” for the band’s smash hit, “You Get What You Give.” The album lasts a little shorter than 55 minutes, containing 12 tracks, mostly penned and produced by the band’s front man, Gregg Alexander.

The album itself mixes in a combination of alternative rock and power pop, with a dose of some blue-eyed soul influenced vocals. Surprisingly, the album diversified between solid rock tracks, solid soft rock, soul-influenced tracks and sometimes a mixture of both. All of the hooks, the rhythms and the spirits of the sound captured, craft an enjoyable and energizing album.

Not only do the sounds craft and oddly diversify this enjoyable album, but the style of the tracks also always seems to differ based on lyrics. In “You Get What You Give,” the lyrics addressed Alexander’s disapproval at how people become “celebrities” and states that people should just be themselves, instead of someone else, while the pop rock and power pop aspects drag listeners into the song. In contrast, on “Someday We’ll Know,” the lyrics talk about the complications of a girl abandoning a boy, and how regret settles in afterward. The song’s slow and mild ballad tempo perfectly set the atmosphere for the sorrow story ahead.

The New Radicals’ diverse craftsmanship and unforgettable lyrics associated with memorable hooks make this album an album worth looking for.

8.5/10