Cullen Omori was part of Smith Westerns, the indie band that has also spawned the high-pitched, wispy melancholy of Whitney. On his debut album, there’s a sense Omori is aiming for something more substantial than either. From opener No Big Deal onward, everything is bigger: the melodies are brazenly simple and, at times, reminiscent of Oasis; the horns provide a sense of grandeur ; and his lyrics talk confidently about various existential crises. The bells and whistles don’t obscure the fact Omori can craft great pop songs. Hey Girl, Cinnamon and LOM tick all the indie hit boxes and recall MGMT at their songwriting best, while he complements them with a series of slow ballads drenched in solipsism (Two Kinds, Be a Man, New Misery). There are some misses: Sour Silk starts off dreary and gets more so from there, but it’s the exception to the rule. Another skinny indie kid singing about love and the human condition might not sound essential, but Omori has decided to take the high road and craft something special.
