Georgia trio
Omni made a splash with their debut album,
Deluxe, making fans of jittery Postcard-meets-post-punk-pop-with-very-sharp-hooks quite happy. Those fans will stay happy when giving the group's second album,
Multi-Task, a spin. The group keeps things simple and similar. Using the same producer,
Nathaniel Higgins, and the same studio, they vroom through 11 songs in less than half an hour with the same verve and imagination they did on their first record. The production is just a touch cleaner, with
Philip Frobos' vocals clearer and more out front, and the rhythm section sounds a tiny bit tighter -- but those are upgrades, not issues. The slashing, spiky web of guitars is still intact, and
Frankie Broyles gets the same basic sound while coming off more confident and powerful.
Frobos' bass playing is sprightly, and when he and Broyles (doing double duty on drums) lock together it has the power of some of the best tandems in post-punk lore. The guys in
Fire Engines or
Josef K would be proud. Along with the small upgrades in sound and performance, the songs themselves are easily the match of those on
Deluxe. The opening one-two punch of "Southbound Station" and "Equestrian" opens the debate with a resounding statement, the rambling "Choke" just about settles it, and the rest of the album follows up with one hook-filled gem after another. Some have sticky melodies; some have a brilliant confluence of guitar riffing, rhythm section bounce, and vocal swagger; and a few give the basic
Omni formula a twist, especially the laid-back disco-funk of "Calling Direct," which sounds like a half-asleep
Spoon (in a good way). Throughout the album,
Frobos sings with a confidence he only hinted at on
Deluxe, and
Omni deliver the songs with all the punch of a band twice their size. They beat the tar out of the sophomore slump and come away with another instant classic album.