NerblyBear wrote:Silkworm wrote pedestrian, uninteresting, vanilla rock songs that sound to me just like an indie rock version of Tom Petty.

You just compared Silkworm to the ugliest member of The Traveling Wilburys.
If a Holy Warrior ever declares a jihad on your sorry, infidel ass, I pray to Allah that it's for this reason and this reason alone.

Silkworm are cool, Nerbly. Lotta great songs in there. They're probably the most "PRF" of PRF bands.

Sometimes I get the feeling that you're the world's most mixed-up person.

Ekkssvvppllott wrote:Silkworm are cool, Nerbly. Lotta great songs in there. They're probably the most "PRF" of PRF bands.

Sometimes I get the feeling that you're the world's most mixed-up person.

He just seeks attention by any means.

mt wrote:

lars wrote:For those acquiring the full SKWM discography, do not overlook Developer.

It's in the top three, along with Lifestyle and Italian Platinum.

Developer!

I just ordered Developer - can't wait to get it. It is still readily available new on vinyl online.

Thanks! Interpunk have a bunch of Unwound on vinyl too, awesome.

Christopher J. McGarvey wrote:

NerblyBear wrote:Silkworm wrote pedestrian, uninteresting, vanilla rock songs that sound to me just like an indie rock version of Tom Petty.

You just compared Silkworm to the ugliest member of The Traveling Wilburys.
If a Holy Warrior ever declares a jihad on your sorry, infidel ass, I pray to Allah that it's for this reason and this reason alone.

It's a cheap comparison, too--they covered a Petty song once, a long time ago, for a pittance which I'm sure they put towards making "Libertine" or something.

There is no comparison with regards to SKWM. They do not compare. Biz Kadane said it best: It's like a sitcom that you don't like, until about 15 episodes in. Then you can't quit watching it.

Obviously opinions run the gamut. That's what's great about the EA board, as you learn something now and then. Just a baffling, cheap observation. Indie rock they were not. Just rock.

And believe me, I found absolutely nothing special the first time I listened to them, oh, what, 12 years ago now. 13? I thought "What is this shit? Why does this record sound so muddy? They should have recorded it with the guy who made that last Hum album." That's what I thought when I was 18. Then one day BLAM. It just sort of happens like that once and awhile. I fear it won't happen again to me. That's the type of event it was--just ruinous.

So, sorry Nerbly! Didn't mean to get sanctimonious on you!

Carry on
Ike

I've thought about mentioning the following anecdote before, and the NerblyBear discussion above got me thinking about it again.

I did not get Silkworm at all at first. I think the first time I saw them was in Louisville in 1998 or so with Dianogah. Didn't grab me. Felt very "meh" about them. The next summer, a friend and I drove to Minneapolis to see the two Shellac/Silkworm shows at the Metro/7th Street Entry place, I think. It was really strange -- the Shellac sets were essentially the same, but not Silkworm. My friend and I were both nonplussed with Silkworm's first matinee set, but during the second set found ourselves asking "Dude, is it me, or are these guys really good?"

Ready to give them a proper chance, not long after I picked up "Developer" second-hand. In retrospect, perhaps not the best "starter album" for them. Tried it several times and again -- no response. I just could NOT figure out what everyone was going so crazy for with this band.

Fast forward to 2004 or so. There was some discussion on this board about "It'll Be Cool" (I think it was the praise of Bradley R. Weissenberger that got my attention), so I picked it up.

This was the one.

Unusual guitar textures, clever lyrics, a palatable enthusiasm, catchy riffs -- whatever I had been missing all this time was right-fucking-there now. I played the crap out of this record all summer, then played it some more. Decided to try my luck again, and picked up "Lifestyle". Holy crap. That record proceeded to take over my life for a few months, and soon after "Italian Platinum" did the same.

Which is all just a long-winded way of saying that Silkworm has proved for me to be one of those bands you may just have to come around to, but when you finally do, look out -- because their music can work its way into your cell structure in such a way that you can't remember life without it.

If anyone else out there hasn't "gotten" them yet (I realize that on this board there's probably only a few), try again in a few years. And try a different album. There are a ridiculous amount of great songs in their catalog, and you owe it to yourself to hear them.

(PS - I still haven't re-visited "Developer". Perhaps it's time now.)

Ha -- Nice!

Ike, looks like you and I were telling essentially the same story at the same time. Salut!

EDIT

Ike wrote:they covered a Petty song once, a long time ago

The best cover of "Insider" there will ever be.

You can hear Joel's heart breaking.

At least, I can.

My relationship with Silkworm, by Jodi, age 30something:

I feel differently about them now than I did when I first heard them many years ago. At first I thought they were an above-average rock band that had a cute bassist. Then I thought they were an above-average rock band with a cute bassist who also wrote some pretty vivid songs about average people having average lives. Then I thought they were an amazing rock band with a cute bassist who also wrote some pretty literate songs about average people having average lives.

You get the idea.

I grew up, and began getting more out of the songs than I had as a 20something. The songs grew up too, which seems impossible because they're committed to vinyl/plastic and can't change. But they did. They will probably continue to.

Good luck, Nerbly. You're now embarking upon an epic voyage, giving Silkworm's back catalog another shot.

Please chronicle your journey in great detail.