Artist: Hombre Jones
Title: Back in Exile
Reviewed by Andrew Greenhalgh

Alternative country, or alt country as it’s more affectionately known, is one of those genres of music that’s somewhat difficult to pin down. While it’s not quite country, it’s not quite rock ‘n roll either, finding its niche somewhere nebulous in between. And while the style encompasses artists as diverse as Son Volt, Lucinda Williams, and Mary Gauthier, the sound that East Coast collective Hombre Jones comprise on their latest recording, Back in Exile, is somewhat emblematic of the broad scope of sound.
Hombre Jones finds itself led primarily by singer, songwriter, and bass player Michael Meehan. Meehan’s roots go deep, having co-founded the Last Hombres whose credits boast an album produced by none other than Levon Helm. Meehan then went on to feature in the band Fourteen Feet before coming to rest his own laurels with Hombre Jones. To hear the band describe Back in Exile, the album stands “as a kind of anti-valentine, a collection of alt. country songs of broken love, isolation and acceptance.”
And that’s just what this record brings.

Hombre Jones and Back in Exile are alt country, through and through. From their eclectic mix of sounds and heartfelt yet introspective lyrics, the collective finds some strong footholds musically to stand upon. And while some may not always cotton to Meehan’s vocals as they weave in and out of the soundscape, the music that Hombre Jones puts together is the real deal.

Review by Andrew Greenhalgh
Rating: 3 Stars (out of 5)