Stelle Group – At Home In Exile

If you’ve ever felt out-of-place in your hometown, the Stelle Group would like to commiserate with you. On their debut, they use the Stones and Big Star as jumping-off points for songs that explore getting out from a romance, a locale, or just a particular situation.

The title reference to a sort of localized alienation is an undercurrent throughout the disc. “Virginia” takes a languid riff reminiscent of John Fogerty, adds the pedal steel of guest musician Rodney Lanier (Jolene), and builds into a classic relationship crescendo as guitarist and songwriter Chuck Mims sings, “You’re so high in your belief, you can cut my rope if you want me to leave.”

“Four On The Floor” shows what this band can do in its best moments. An inspiring solo from Scott Taylor frames a countrified lament delivered in Mims’ raspy drawl: “We were four on the floor and we were driving to win and you pushed me, just a little to far/It was a fifth that we had under the seats and we drank it, George Jones style.”

If the Stelle Group can sound like this when they’re feeling unwelcome, here’s hoping their neighbors keep it up.