Libertine

Guitar-based groups were the norm in the alternative scenes of the ‘80s and ‘90s, with each band finding their own peculiar spot on the map, often rubbing influences without meaning to impinge on one another’s territory. Listening to “Couldn’t You Wait?” from Silkworm’s third album, Libertine, it’s easy to wonder if Silkworm sound like Pavement or if Pavement sound like them. Only Tim Midgett knows for sure (the bands toured with one another). The Montana-based Silkworm were blessed with three key songwriters in Andy Cohen, Joel Phelps, and Tim Midgett, and each delivered their songs in their style. (Phelps is the most emotionally tortured.) Steve Albini engineered these sessions, but it’s only obvious on the aggressive tracks where the drums achieve that nasty warehouse pummel that makes many listeners think of The Jesus Lizard by default. The bonus material on this reissue includes an alternate take of “Grotto of Miracles” and four tracks with Seattle DJ Marco Collins in 1995; they let fans hear the group perform acoustically and at lower volumes than usual.