This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
For a bunch of trendy British mope-popsters, Budapest have a pretty good sense of humour.
After all, any band that starts its album with a strummy acoustic guitar and a dulcet voice sweetly asking, “Is this the best it gets?” can’t be taking itself too seriously. Even better, that isn’t the best this 10-song debut disc gets. Although their sound — falsetto vocals, gleaming melodies, swelling strings, songs that rock as gently as a hammock — is all too familiar these days, Budapest’s delivery gives them a leg up on competitors like Travis and Coldplay. For one thing, the band’s pulse beats a little faster, and they’re not afrair to rock out occasionally. And while singer John Garrison’s heart is surely on his sleeve, his sly lyrics and strong voice make it clear he’s nobody’s crybaby.
