Localized The Omens

Ever since The White Stripes hit it big, things have gotten a little stuffy in the world of rock revivalism. Denver's The Omens, thankfully, wrench their retro style out of the hands of haughty tastemakers and bring it back to the sleazy dive bars where it belongs. On its latest 7-inch single—released in advance of a new full-length due next month—the foursome marshals vintage tube-amp reverb, whirring organs, and British Invasion blues-rock, as well as funneling the ferocity of classic acts like The Sonics to contemporary retro-fetishists like The Makers and The 45s. "Look Away" is a slab of bleary-and-blue-eyed R&B, in which frontman Michael Daboll's snarl is leashed by a jerking, mid-tempo beat and soaring backing vocals. The b-side, "Gonna Be Alright," races by with fuzzy and rambunctious rhythm guitar as keyboardist Eddie Breidenbach forces slightly psychedelic keys into the punky mix. It's a none-too-subtle reminder of just how fun rock—and garage rock, specifically—can be when it isn't trying to impress the in-crowd.