Andrew Earles

A Cockfight of Feelings

Posted in Uncategorized by andrewearles on January 15, 2010

Jeff Jensen coming to Memphis in two days? Maybe so. Here are some other things that make me smile right now:

When Silkworm is good, it’s some undiscovered realm above and beyond “great”…

…and that goes for Joel R.L. Phelps as well. He wrote and sung this early Silkworm hair-raiser:

“Raised by Tigers”

I used to say my favorite Silkworm album was Firewater, but now it’s between a few titles. To clarify, no one ever asked me what my favorite was….until recently. A highlight from Firewater:

“Don’t Make Plans This Friday”

Blueblood is my least favorite Silkworm record, but the first track is a fucking killer. Hear for yourself:

“Eff”

Well, now that I think about it, the best Silkworm record is clearly Libertine, the last one with J. R. L. Phelps in the fold. Get learned with these highlights:

“There is a party in warsaw tonight”

“Grotto of Miracles”

“A Tunnel”

My girlfriend loves this song:

“Contempt”

Not so long ago, I tried to covertly turn her onto Silkworm. I understand that. Silkworm is a man’s band, and I mean that in the best possible way…towards women and Silkworm. I think my girlfriend was secretly pissed when I told her “Contempt” was by Silkworm.

At the risk of losing you, dear reader, to the most cliched bullshit I’ve ever entered into this WordPress application, this is music that has truly gotten me through some shit, if you will. 

I could listen to the following songs over and over without ever growing tired of them.

“The Ram”

“A Cockfight of Feelings”

“Severance Pay”

“Couldn’t You Wait?”

I don’t know what “Couldn’t You Wait?” is about, but back in 1996, right after this version was released, I know that I used the term “an emotional holocaust” to describe it during conversation with a girl who never spoke with me again.

Their amazing Shellac cover:

“Prayer To God”

Shellac original version is the tits, too.

A message to those unfamiliar with Silkworm: If you didn’t recognize at least a shred of what makes each of those songs special, we have nothing to talk about. Ever. Enjoy your awful life.

Conversely, if you are on the level, even slightly, go to iTunes and buy all of this. Give the surviving members of this band a reason to look forward to the mail.

Lastly, if you are a label person or band member and you object to this post, please contact me and I’ll remove it asap. It was never my intention to complicate anyone’s life.

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