Silkworm

• Lifestyle [Touch and Go, 2000] A-
• Italian Platinum [Touch and Go, 2002] A-
• It'll Be Cool [Touch and Go, 2004] **

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Lifestyle [Touch and Go, 2000]
Apropos of nothing except their felt needs as thirtysomething bohos who'd like better jobs and more friends, these former Northwest alt-avantists slog out a bunch of songs about being thirtysomething bohos who'd like better jobs and more friends, which latter is why you can tell what the songs are about. The total integration of their grim yet undepressive sound is epitomized by a cover of the Faces' "Ooh La La," which sounds no more or less melodic, dissonant, or thoughtful than the rest of the bunch. A-

Italian Platinum [Touch and Go, 2002]
Pavement for a diminished millennium, low-end in every way--fewer guitar coruscations, vocal twitters, obscure witticisms, flights of fancy, and cash receipts. Tempos plod meaningfully, lyrics survive and sometimes thrive on biographical detail, tunes poke their heads out of the ground when they're sure you mean no harm. Credo: "I will breathe that dirty air until I die." A-

It'll Be Cool [Touch and Go, 2004]
One meta-masterpiece, six pieces of lovingly belabored art-grunge ("Don't Look Back," "The Operative/His Mark Replies"). **