Debut too melancholic for the times

Well, it seems as if Budapest is more than just the capitol of Hungary, folks. That's right, now there is Budapest, the bland, flavorless British rock/pop band. With some sounds similar to those of fellow Brit rockers Oasis, Budapest slows things down a bit. There isn't a single upbeat track to be found on its debut album, Too Blind To Hear. Each track puts the listener in a lazy, trance-like state with its melancholic tones and simplistic melodies. Lead singer John Garrison's vocals sometimes get lost in all the racket created by the excess bass, guitar, strings, keyboard and percussion. His vocal range seems to be soft and airy to loud and grating, though his vocal clarity does complement the strings and keyboard on certain tracks. While some of the string work is admittedly beautiful, this album needs something more up-tempo to get things moving. A tug-of-war competition ensues between Garrison and his fellow musicians. Paul Possart, on percussion, desperately attempts to speed things up as Garrison slows everything down with his unchanging mellow tones, ultimately ending each track on a down-note. The entire album emanates with a certain sadness. In times like these, there is no room for such negative energy.