Smirk
Speculative Fiction
SMOKING ROOM
Speculative Fiction, the latest release from Nick Vicario’s garage-punk solo project Smirk, sees the guitarist teaming up with a slew of musician friends from bands including Hotline TNT, Poison Ruin, and Ceremony to create a mid-tempo homage to ’80s horror-punk à la T.S.O.L. The follow-up to 2022’s Material showcases Vicario’s growth as an artist, particularly his ability to meld varied alt-rock musical styles as the raw energy that comes so naturally to youth begins to wane. The drugs, alcohol, and sleepless nights take their toll, and the hangovers only get worse. Yet Speculative Fiction is far from mellow; it’s still all power chords and driving rhythms, only spaced out now in a way that feels more deliberate and artful, less chaotic. It’s never thoughtlessly speedy, but rather purposeful and driven.
Aging, self-destruction, mindless consumerism, nihilism, and the oppression of the ruling class—Vicario tackles all of these themes and more across the album’s 13 tracks. If anything, this is a punk record about surviving society's mounting contradictions and accepting the finality beyond our existence. What really makes this record work, though, is Vicario’s unique ear for melody. No song feels too polished or too messy—instead, grooving punk is the baseline as the album sustains a colorful, complementary relationship between melody and lyrics. Opener “Greetings” eases the listener into the journey with ambient noise and unobtrusive guitar feedback, encapsulating the song’s welcoming title in doing so. The track is reminiscent of T.S.O.L.’s “Blackmagic,” though it remains distinct with its catchy and engrossing rhythms.
From “Victimry” onward, the album continues to pick up energy, much in the way Smirk’s earliest material escalated. On “Going Off to Die,” we get a pleasing shift courtesy of the song’s macabre lyrics and Homme-esque guitar strumming pattern. Vicario gets more creative here with his influences as he moves away from the more upbeat style he’s known for. With its mellowed-horror vibe, “Sistine Junk” follows this trend with a post-punk echo of early Public Image Ltd and The Damned. Vicario’s decision to step out of his comfort zone and embrace a new style that reflects his aging consciousness was the right move, as Speculative Fiction remains cohesive and engaging. It feels authentic, and that’s what makes the most honest music.
