The last time Hum was heard from, they had missed the train to Mars. This time around, they missed the train to respectability altogether.The new album, “Downward is Heavenward,” is the fourth full-length album from the Illinois based quartet. It is the follow-up to their 1995 breakthrough album, “You’d Prefer an Astronaut,” featuring the catchy tune “Stars.”Unfortunately on “Downward is Heavenward,” there is no such song to grab the listener’s attention and leave them humming Hum’s songs around town.The first release from the album, “Comin’ Home” is a half-hearted attempt to imitate 311’s vocal talents. Lead singer Matt Talbott sings in a steady pitch while the rest of the band injects overlapping background vocals.While the sound works well for 311, Hum fails to accomplish the brilliant harmonic sound which makes 311 so unique. Rather, Hum’s attempt merely aligns them with today’s countless bands which imitate the latest sound that happens to get a little air time on the radio or on MTV.The lyrics also strip away any musical charm the band might have shown in their lone hit, “Stars.” Ill-conceived attempts to bring wit into their songs of corrupted innocence and loves lost highlight the band’s ignorance of what comprises a decent song.For those fans who liked the last album, they should be happy to know Hum reverts to the instrumental recipe that sold 250,000 copies of “You’d Prefer an Astronaut.”In a nauseating fashion, the band ping pongs between roaring the guitars and drums to life, then letting them die away just as quickly. Repeatedly throughout most of the tracks in the album, Hum struggles to give a personality to each song.The result of this struggle leaves the album with a group of songs that string together into one continuous blur. As each minute passes into the blur, a new prayer will no doubt be sent heavenward that the album will soon end.