SMIRK - Material LP

Highly recommended.

"Ten tracks of tangled, anxious but melodic bedroom punk, Material is the latest from Smirk, the solo project of Los Angeles guitarist Nick Vicario (Public Eye, Crisis Man). The followup to two 2021 releases, the album typifies the punchy, lo-fi aesthetic of the Feel It roster, while embracing both ‘70s-flavored rock guitar jams and the jittery new wave of the early ‘80s.

Material exudes both paranoid tension and twitchy energy, sounding both fresh and familiar. Equal parts riffs and hooks, the album juxtaposes layers of guitar with subdued, robotic rhythms, and a jagged but melodic collection of catchy fuzz-pop anthems." - Post Trash