by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Over the past few years Nick Vicario has released great punk records, excelling at both noisy hardcore with Crisis Man and post-punk with Public Eye. During that time he’s also released a string of EPs from his solo project, Smirk. Having released a pair of cassettes in 2020, those efforts have been remastered are being released together on vinyl as the cleverly titled LP on March 5th via Feel It (Silicone Prairie, Freak Genes, The Cowboys) and Drunken Sailor Records (Itchy Self, Slimy Member, Public Eye). The music definitely leans closer to Public Eye than it does Crisis Man, but the hypnotic grooves of the former are replaced with a bit more agitation and punk experimentalism, that’s more Devo influenced than say Wire. It’s a great collection of songs that show a depth in propulsive songwriting.
“S. Construction” is the album’s opener, setting the tone from the start with crack of the drums and a tightly wound chord progression that feels like brute garage punk. The song rips with a steady beat and a thick density, broken up at times as the guitars drop out for textural effect. It’s all delivered well, loosely played at the seems, and all the better for it. Keeping an infectious warble from start to finish, the song has a dirty groove that never relents, even as Vicario’s guitars shred a quick bluesy arpeggiated solo. The cartoon video, directed by Glendon & Isabella, is just another day in the life… peeing, drinking coffee, smoking cigs, making out, and being fully ingested.