Released 30 years ago
Firewater
Silkworm · 1996
59 min · 16 tracks · indie rock
A raw blend of jagged guitar riffs and introspective lyrics, channeling the essence of mid-90s indie rock.
Top tracks — play these first
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Slow Hands — This track showcases a haunting melody paired with thoughtful lyrics about longing and regret, encapsulating the album's emotional core.
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Wet Firecracker — The frenetic energy and sharp instrumentation make this track stand out as a perfect representation of Silkworm's chaotic yet melodic style.
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Miracle Mile — With its reflective lyrics and dynamic shifts in tempo, this song exemplifies the band's ability to blend introspection with engaging musicality.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and raw production, typical of its era but with notable moments of distinctiveness.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- The lyrics often reflect introspective themes, with a focus on personal struggles and observations.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1996, Firewater was Silkworm's fourth studio album, coming after their critically acclaimed record, In the West. By this point, the band had established themselves within the indie rock scene, gaining a dedicated following that appreciated their distinctive sound and lyrical depth.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Shellac· The Jesus Lizard· Polvo
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Killing My Ass
The narrative voice confronts personal demons and external pressures through vivid imagery.
The shift from abstract anguish to concrete scenarios illustrates a significant moment of vulnerability that deepens the thematic impact.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Nerves 3:00
- 2 Drunk 3:05
- 3 Wet Firecracker 2:03
- 4 Slow Hands 5:26
- 5 Cannibal Cannibal 2:40
- 6 Tarnished Angel 5:07
- 7 Quicksand 3:10
- 8 Ticket Tulane 3:31
- 9 Swings 3:04
- 10 Severance Pay 3:10
- 11 The Lure of Beauty 4:05
- 12 Miracle Mile 4:13
- 13 Drag the River 3:08
- 14 Killing My Ass 4:48
- 15 Caricature of a Joke 3:19
- 16 Don't Make Plans This Friday 5:17
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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