Customer Reviews

When The Telephone Rings

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the best Silos release since Cuba. (Has it really been 17 years?) Every Silo release contains essential tracks, but some vary widely in consistancy and occassionly veer into self-righteousness (It's Alright) and over-production (Find A Way)
This release is tight and focused, much more so than Laser Beam Next Door, and it ignores that trip-hop grooves that popped up on Heater. It's nice to hear Mary Rowell front and center again, especially on the rousing The First Move. The Only One crackles with electricity. Whistled A Slow Waltz contains great lyrics. Overall, not a weak track.

There is a lot of gloomy and doomy pronouncements coming from artists these days. I tip my hat to Salas-Humara for creating an album that needs to be heard and one that holds out great hope for the future. We are ready for anything.

Walter Salas-Humara's tenth album as either a solo act or with The Silos is a good one. I no longer distinguish between his albums released under just his name('Lagartija' & 'Radar') or the eight studio efforts as a member of The Silos. This current lineup featuring Drew Glackin and Konrad Meissner was also responsible for the previous 'Laser Beam Next Door', which I found dissappointing.

'When The Telephone Rings' opens with the fantastic "The Only Love" which is probably the most radio friendly/accessible song Walter has done in about a decade. It is classic Silos in the vein of "Find A Way" or "I'm Over You". The second track, "Whistled A Slow Waltz" is the most country or blue-grassish song in his twenty plus years. I never liked the Alt-Country tag the Silos got as only Bob Rupe's(to correct the prior review Rupe left in the very early 90s) voice and I guess the fact they had a violin in the band ever indicated a country sound. However this track, and it's a good one, deserves the tag and it is the only one of its type on the album.

Most of the tracks are very much in the classic Silos vein complete with female supporting voice and violin or keyboard flourishes. There is some experimentation with congas and different voice stylings but that is very limited. The songwriting is not particularly strong but the title track stands out as a poignant tribute to a post 9-11 NYC.

All things considered, I think old timers to The Silos will like this quite a bit and those unfamiliar with them could start their journey here. Walter Salas-Humara is one of the absolute best rock and roll artists of the last quarter century. Yes, he probably peaked in that capacity in the late 80s with the releases of 'Cuba', 'Lagartija' and the production of Vulgar Boatmen's 'You And Your Sister' which are all masterpieces of American Art but Dylan probably peaked in the late 60s and he made some great albums in the 80s and 90s.

I recently discovered the Silos and they rock. I've been listening to rock for thirty years and these guys are good. The cd gets better and better. With all the crap out there this is a must have!

Nearly two decades into their career, and now essentially a vehicle for singer/songwriter/guitarist Walter Salas-Humara (co-founder Bob Rupe having departed before 1998's "Heater"), The Silos continue to weave their early alt.country roots (ala "Cuba") through the basic three-piece (guitar, bass, drums) rock sound they've come to on recent albums. In addition to straight-ahead power pop, guest players help the Silos flesh out mandolin-lined waltzes, acoustic and steel ballads, and synth-string lined soul. It's not particularly revelatory, especially considering the band's been on this wagon for so long, but it's another very solid set that's sure to please fans.