Shelter from the Night

It's astonishing to think that Shelter From the Night came at the end of what would prove a downward arc in Exile's history. About half of this album, including the title track (briefly a number one hit), is comprised of country-rock ballads of tremendous beauty, power, and impact, mixing haunting melodies and solid electric guitar sound. From the opening number, "Just One Kiss," the band luxuriates in lush melodies and high-wattage, like England Dan & John Ford Coley with a major voltage boost, and the effect is most compelling. The whole album isn't up to the standard of the best half of the music, but it is all eminently listenable. Actually, much of Shelter From the Night (and this is not meant as an insult) should have rated a place as film music; J.P. Pennington hits the bull's-eye often as a songwriter here and it's all executed so smoothly and memorably, except music this good wouldn't be lucky enough to be used in a movie of equal quality.