Souvenir

by Omni

Overview

By the time bands hit their fourth album, they quite often either sound out of gas or desperate to find some kind of new direction that will win their fans back. Omni show no signs of fatigue or concern on their 2024 album Souvenir. The duo of bassist/vocalist Philip Frobos and guitarist Frankie Broyles teamed up with new drummer Chris Yonker to make something that's very much of a piece with the jumpy, incisively hooky post-punk they had previously made, but also something that has a crisper focus, brighter sound, and the occasional twist. It makes for a thrilling addition to their catalog so far, maybe their most immediate and exciting record. It may lack the surprise of Deluxe, and the scores of bands who have sprung up in the wake have made them sound less unique, but there is something special about Souvenir. A few factors contributing to that effect are the work of engineer Kristofer Sampson, who captures the band's sound fully, giving them a fully dimensional and clean sound; the addition of Automatic vocalist Izzy Glaudini, who adds some very laconic vocals that contrast nicely with Frobos' strangled drawl; and the fact that the band had been on enforced hiatus long enough that getting back together to play music was seemingly a joyful pursuit. Maybe the most important factor to the album's success is the combination of very, very hooky songs and Frobos delivering them with a more insistent, higher-in-the-mix approach. His presence there gives the listener something to focus on instead of the music, words, and vocals all hitting on the same frequency. A handful of the songs bring the lead guitar way up in the mix as well, the raucous lines on "Double Negative" or the biting solo on "Compliment" push the excitement levels into the red. The rest of the album hovers and twitches not too far from that line as well, with many of the songs lining up as contenders for the inevitable greatest-hits album. "PG" is a squirmy story song that finds Frobos at his most poetic, "Exacto" comes across like the quintessential Omni song as it deftly marries a frantic verse with a free-flowing chorus, and "Plastic Pyramid" feels like a time traveler lifted from a mythical album made by members of Television and the B-52s with a jarringly brilliant cowpoke interlude. These tracks and others are clearly the work of a band harnessing a mid-career burst of creative genius, and the result is indie rock, and Omni, at their 100 percent best and most exhilarating. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	02/16/2024
Label:	Sub Pop
UPC:	0098787159301
Rank:	25403

Tracks

1. Exacto
2. Plastic Pyramid
3. Common Mistakes
4. INTL Waters
5. Double Negative
6. PG
7. Granite Kiss
8. Verdict
9. F1
10. To Be Rude
11. Compliment

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Omni   Primary Artist
Frankie Broyles   Guitar,Synthesizer,Piano
Izzy Glaudini   Vocals
Chris Yonker   Drums,Synthesizer
Philip Frobos   Vocals,Bass

Technical Credits

Frankie Broyles   Artwork
Elysian Masters   Mastering
Omni   Producer
Kristofer Sampson   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Dave Cooley   Mastering