Silkworm - Firewater | 90s Album Review

Silkworm - Firewater | 90s Album Review

Author: Dig Me Out March 10, 2026 Duration: 51:45
Earnest without sliding into overwrought emo, Silkworm struck a balance between raw and refined on their fourth album, 1996's Firewater. Like most of their releases, the band turned to Steve Albini to engineer, capturing the live sound of the band crisp and clearly across the nearly hour running time. The band rarely overindulge, leaving those spare moments to the guitarist Andy Cohen, who channels the overdriven chaos of J. Mascis and Neil Young on tracks like "Wet Firecracker" and "Drag the River." The rhythm section, though never flashy, are tight and locked-in, with the bass taking melodic turns to support the sing-speak vocals that waver between understated and explosive. Though the band called Seattle home for the early part of the 1990s, the band eschews any grunge influence for post-punk and indie rock influences that helped separate the band from their homebase peers.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Nerves 19:28 - Quicksand 21:28 - Drag the River 29:06 - Cannibal Cannibal 31:07 - The Lure of Beauty Outro - Don't Make Plans This Friday   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Remember that band you loved in 1997 whose CD got buried in a moving box, or the one-hit-wonder that vanished from the radio? Dig Me Out: 90s & 00s Rock is for anyone who believes that era’s alternative and rock scene still has stories left to tell. This isn't just a nostalgia trip; it's a dedicated excavation. Each week, the hosts go deep, pulling one specific album from the shelves for a track-by-track discussion that feels like friends debating in a record store. They explore what made that record work, why it might have faded from view, and where it stands today. The conversation often expands into roundtable discussions about genres, trends, and the cultural shifts that defined the decades, sometimes even featuring conversations with the artists who were there. Listening to this podcast feels like rediscovering a part of your musical history you’d almost forgotten, presented with a genuine enthusiasm that’s contagious. You’ll hear more than just the big hits from the era; you’ll get the deep cuts, the missed opportunities, and the albums that deserved a second chance. If your music collection was built on college radio, mixtapes from friends, and liner notes, this podcast provides the thoughtful commentary and deep knowledge that those albums always warranted. Tune in to reconnect with the sounds that shaped a generation and maybe find your next favorite album from a band you never knew you missed.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Dig Me Out: 90s & 00s Rock
Podcast Episodes
The Lee Harvey Oswald Band -  Blastronaut | 90s Album Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:58
A fusion of punk, garage, and noise rock, the 1996 album Blastronaut by The Lee Harvey Oswald Band is a bombastic, high energy record drawing upon 70s David Bowie, classic rock, and the Stooges. Confrontational and darkl…
Social Distortion - Social Distortion | 90s Album Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:13
The 1990 self-titled album by Social Distortion marked a significant turning point for the band, showcasing a more refined and mature sound compared to their hardcore roots. Frontman Mike Ness emerged from a turbulent pe…
Front Line Assembly - Hard Wired | 90s Album Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:32
Canadian electro-industrial band Front Line Assembly, led by Bill Leeb with longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber, released their eighth album Hard Wired in 1995. The album blends harsh electronic beats, cinematic synth text…
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted | 90s Album Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:23
Pavement's 1992 debut album Slanted and Enchanted is a landmark in 1990s alternative music. Featuring cryptic lyrics, jagged guitar riffs, and a laid-back, DIY aesthetic that defined the band's early sound and the emerge…
Squarepusher - Hard Normal Daddy | 90s Album Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:47
A groundbreaking fusion of drum and bass, jazz, and experimental electronic music, the 1997 album Hard Normal Daddy by Squarepusher showcases Tom Jenkinson’s virtuosic bass playing and intricate programming. Blending fre…
Chevelle - Point #1 | 90s Album Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:57
​"Point #1," Chevelle's 1999 debut album, showcases the Chicago-based Loeffler brothers' fusion of alternative metal and indie rock. Produced by Steve Albini, known for his work with Nirvana and PJ Harvey, the album deli…
Thelonious Monster - Beautiful Mess | 90s Album Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:02
Upon its release in 1992, Beautiful Mess by Thelonious Monster received plenty of critical acclaim yet not the sales or media exposure to launch the band into the new alternative explosion. Lead singer Bob Forrest’s deep…
Billy Squier - Surviving The 90s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:36
In our second installment of Surviving the 90s, we're revisiting one of the hitmakers from the first half of the 80s - Billy Squier. Responsible for such hits as The Stroke, Lonely Is The Night, Everybody Wants You, My K…