“Don’t Make Me Wait” is the debut LP from Locksley, a band quickly becoming known for its happy-go-lucky rock ballads. There’s nothing emo here, no postmodern contemplation to turn your world upside down. This is plain old rock. The sound is loud and hard-hitting, and when it’s over, you feel good, even if you don’t know why.

On its own, such a statement seems to be a recommendation. After all, isn’t the point of music to make you feel better? If you’re the kind of person who sees your car’s radio as a mechanism for staving off boredom, then yes. By all means, put down this review, walk away, and keep thinking that. But if you recognize that music is destined for a higher purpose, you’ll likely have a few problems with Locksley’s album.

As a purely aural medium, music retains an exclusive ability to penetrate the mind without distraction. This is the definition of an art form, something that possesses the capability to mold your mood and alter your core feelings.

It’s too bad, then, that “Don’t Make Me Wait” is such a rehash. The band’s sound relies on 60’s rock with a few modern technological improvements thrown in. For all practical purposes, Locksley is The Beatles, only without the timeless lyrics and catchy tunes.

In fact, almost none of the tracks on this album make any lasting impression. The lead song, “Don’t Make Me Wait,” and “Into the Sun” both stand out from the crowd, but they only serve to further irritate the attuned listener. These tracks demonstrate what Locksley could become if only they were willing to try a little bit harder.

Don’t get me wrong; “Don’t Make Me Wait” is high quality entertainment. Each one of the CD’s 14 bite-size tracks (the whole album lasts only 33 minutes) is a joy to listen to as long as you’re not paying very close attention. But after a few songs repeat and you start to really dig into the lyrics, you’ll discover a curious lack of substance.

Locksley is masterful in its imitation. Now they need to use that talent to carve their own path.