Omni : Souvenir
The musical dynamics of Atlanta trio Omni are pristine, concise and unpredictable. From the first moments of their fourth album, Souvenir, it’s clear that the three members of the Atlanta post-punk band are working to the beat of their own carefully crafted drum. Opening track “Exacto” finds the trio pushing and pulling between a clear cut, Devo-esque standard rock verse, with a bridge that flickers like a hollowed out, minimal break from the forward motion of the track’s shell.
Omni comprises guitarist Frankie Broyles, singer/bassist Philip Frobos, and drummer Chris Yonker, and their previous releases are full of delightful, intricate musical moments, like “Sincerely Yours” from 2019’s Networker—the track is warm and enveloping, a hazy combination of jangly light rock, pulling from some of the heavier moments of those who came before, like Pavement and Wilco. This time around, Souvenir finds a new, faster paced approach to the band’s taut, jangly sound, leaning into lyrical devices to craft something a bit quippier. On “Plastic Pyramid” the band employs a groovy bass line to blend Frobos’ vocals with those of Izzy Glaudini of L.A. band Automatic, melding their harmonies into a whirlwind highlighted by a fizzy guitar solo. Its chorus consists of phrases that drift by before you’ve registered their cleverness: “Plastic pyramid / No one cares where you been / Unbox paradise / Save your money for another slice.”
Souvenir presents the band’s reflective state, finding creativity in small moments and memories. In a press release for “Exacto,” they added, “Lyrics and melodies were written in the back of a van in Sacramento, thinking of being left on the shelf, imagining the odd things people do for attention from people they love and strangers alike.” It’s the band’s first album after some time off, and many of the tracks sound like they’ve come from a place of stepping back, like “INTL Waters,” which feels a bit like Omni’s take on yacht rock. It’s icy cool, with plunky keyboards and a rushing outro akin to a whooshing waterfall.
Throughout the album, Omni finds the fun in their music, whether it’s within quirky lyrics (like “At the swish of a shawl” from “Common Mistakes”) or the off-kilter rhythms found within “Double Negative.” Each of the eleven tracks is brimming with the band’s personality, full of vibrant and focused instrumentals. Souvenir is a joyous return, further honing in on the finer points of a precision sound.
Label: Sub Pop
Year: 2024
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Omni : Souvenir
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