Album Details

• Artist: The Silos
• Album: Florizona
• Label: http://thesilos.net/
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2011-05-16

It seems like Walter Salas-Humera (and whatever lineup he chooses to represent as Silos) has released hundreds of great and cruelly undervalued records since he began in the mid 80s. Since "Florizona" is self-released, I doubt this will be the release when Sals-Humera is finally given his due, but while we piss in the wind waiting for that coronation, we can enjoy another slice of his singular vision.

A Silos record is always better when the band is configured to rock, and Salsa-Humera's (original member Bob Rupe is also still in the fold) latest is a tight unit that gives muscle to "Coming From the Grave," and gentle colors behind the strings on "Election Day." The band delivers pure power pop behind the anthemic "Getting Trashed" ("We're a bunch of normal people/getting trashed"). "Teenage Prayer" may be rock's only ennobling ode to a kid whose dreams of selling mushrooms and weed seem like a plan for the ages.

Then again, versatility has always been the deal for Salas-Humera, whose writing and melodies are equally at home in the upliftingly ricking and the more somber domestic poem.  "Hold You in My Arms" and "On Our Way Home" are the most recent examples of his epic, Band-like homages to the little things in life that are stand-ins for the eternal if you really pay attention.  

A Silos record is always an occasion to remember that we are all in this together, and that it is as ok to feel alright as it is to get down once in awhile. For those who will listen, and we know from experience that will probably be only a few, "Florizona" is the latest thing you really need.

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