New album an 'Omen' for 3OH!3

It’s funny. It seems like Colorado pop duo 3OH!3 put more effort into the album artwork of its fourth studio album, “Omens,” released on Tuesday, than it did into the rest of the album.

This is laziness in its purest form.

Before I delve into why “Omens” is one of the most disappointing works of “music” in recent memory, let me give it due credit.

Its lead single, “You’re Gonna Love This,” is honestly an outstanding pop song. It’s fun, explosive, in-your-face and more enjoyable than about 90 percent of what plays on the radio these days. The track has an international-sounding, timeless-feeling electronic chord progression that makes for the only portion of this album I could listen to with a smile on my face.

Other than that, the album ranges from garbage to varying shades of mediocrity. Some songs, like “Youngblood” and “Do Or Die” are okay enough to include on a respectable pop album, but that about rounds it out.

If the album isn’t trying to force on its cheap, faux dubstep wannabe nonsense, it’s boring the hell out of whatever poor listener it’s plaguing. The lyrics are a joke, filled with borderline misogynistic lines and rhymes and puns that would make Weird Al Yankovic cringe.

The album opens with the one-two punch (and I mean that in the most sardonic way possible) of “Omens” and “Eyes Closed,” one of the most awful introductions to an album that I think I’ve ever heard. The top of an album is supposed to be loud, fast, upbeat — just like the top of a live performance. These two songs are a joke — slow, boring, mindless and a complete chore to listen to.

It’s truly not that difficult to make ten solid pop songs and an intro, especially considering their last studio album, “Streets of Gold,” was released nearly three years ago, but it seems a task that was out of 3OH!3’s reach.

With a successful effort, the duo could have regained relevance and stepped back into the limelight, but with “Omens,” the band is seemingly destined to remain in the dark, musty crawl space, just like the Hollister apparel its listeners donned when 3OH!3 meant something of significance.