The arrival of a new Silos collection containing live cuts, alternate versions, and should-have-been hits on a French label begs the question: Does the world need such a Silos collection right now? Perhaps they do in France, but when The Silos signed with Watermelon a few years back, the first order of business was getting most of their titles back in print in the States.
Nevertheless, what is contained on Long Green Boat at least deserves a listen. The centerpiece of the disc is a set of four live tracks recorded on a European tour in 1996 with Chuck Prophet on lead guitar. Prophet’s angular solos add a much needed counterpoint to leader Walter Salas-Humara’s smooth delivery. It’s a collaboration that brings out inspired performances from both artists and seems well worth revisiting in the future.
Some of The Silos’ better moments occur when Salas-Humara allows his surrounding players to cut loose, as evidenced by Mary Rowell’s backwards violin solo on “All Falls Away” and Victoria Williams’ completely over-the-top vocal stylings on “Find A Way”.
But the sequencing of the songs is often a considerable distraction here. For example, the lighthearted pop song “Two Voices” is followed immediately by a scorching live version of “Just This Morning” from 1990, which is immediately followed by a seven-minute subdued version of “I’m Over You” from a live show in 1996. Though Long Green Boat illustrates Salas-Humara’s growth as a songwriter — from his early homespun songs to the more domestic themes on 1987’s Cuba to the complex relationship songs he’s written in the ’90s — the sequencing doesn’t follow that progression.
