Silkworm
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
Silkworms official debut Lajre followed in 1992, spotlighting the bands evolving, dissonant sound, anchored in Midgetts propulsive bass work. After the following years His Absence Is a Blessing EP, the quartet signed to the C/Z label for 1994s In the West, recorded by fellow Montana native Steve Albini (who continued to oversee the majority of the groups work). After 1994s strong Libertine, Phelps left the band, resurfacing in 1996 under the name Joel R.L. Phelps with the solo effort Warm Springs Night. As a trio, Silkworm signed to Matador and in 1996 issued Firewater, a sprawling yet finely honed set which ranked as their finest record to date. Developer followed in 1997, and a year later the group jumped to Touch & Go to issue Blueblood. Around this time, the band finalized their re-location to Chicago. Lifestyle was released in mid-2000, and they toured into the following year to support the release. Italian Platinum followed two years later and featured vocals from Kelly Hogan and keyboard work from the New Years Matt Kadane. 2004s Itll Be Cool would be their last album. In July of 2005, Dahlquist and two fellow Chicago-based musicians were killed when the car they were occupying was struck by a car driven by a woman intent on ending her life.
