Wildoats,
I get where you're coming from, and you might be right, but I'm not sure that your conclusion is fair.
The last Splinter Group album (that I'm aware of, anyway) is Reaching The Cold 100. If memory serves, I'd have to agree that the music isn't earth-shaking, but IMHO there's plenty of fine playing on the record. The problem for me is that it's hard to tell when Green is the guy with the pick, because three guitarists are credited and, while all 3 may be soloing at one time or another, all of the solos sound pretty "Green-esque" to me. The takes on old FM material are a bit different (and could be fairly labelled "less compelling than the originals"), but IMHO they're plenty skilled.
I wouldn't say that the guitar playing on that recording is particularly inspired or innovative, but I also wouldn't conclude that Green can't play very well anymore on the basis of that recording. It's certainly possible that you're right (if the more skilled bits were contributed by someone else), but I'd have a hard time making that statement with confidence.
Maybe more to your point, I don't think he's recorded anything in over a decade, which doesn't bode well for him. I hope he proves me wrong and gives us some more smokin' guitar down the road, but I'm sure not gonna hold my breath waiting for it..
Just MHO.
