As the frontman for Sugar Ray, which has just released a greatest-hits disc, McGrath, 37, became the ultimate California beach boy. So we asked him what songs really heat up his summer.
MY FAVORITE SUMMER SONGS
THE BEACH BOYS, "In My Room" You feel like you're walking along the shores of any Southern California beach. It's total escapism at its best, and that's what the summer's about.
FRANK SINATRA, "Summer Wind" Frank was in his finest voice here. It's about a summer romance that's gone away. With the last trickle of horn, you feel your love slipping away.
WAR, "Summer" If you go to any urban park in Southern California, you'll hear this song. You feel like having a Corona and kicking back.
STEEL PULSE, "Roller Skates" Because me and my friend [movie director] McG used to roller-skate down the boardwalk in Newport Beach listening to this song.
SUBLIME, "What I Got" When I first heard this in the summer of '96, it changed my life and changed [Sugar Ray's] life. They had a huge influence on us.
MAD COBRA, "Flex" It's about doing the nasty. It feels like a gentle wave slapping at your ankles.
WEEZER, "Island in the Sun" You really feel like you're in St. Barts with [Weezer frontman] Rivers Cuomo sipping on a mai tai.
THE YOUNG RASCALS, "Groovin'" They really captured that East Coast summer-in-the-city vibe. It's such a beautiful love song.
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