I just got it.
My problem with their first album was that most of it sounded like tuneless noise (with a few exceptions; I liked "What You Are" and "Like A Stone"). There was also way too much Tom Morello noodling. I'm sorry, but it sounds like he built his amp out of an Atari 2600. Experimentation's great, but sounding weird for the sake of sounding weird isn't. Out of all Cornell's backup bands (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam on Temple of the Dog, Eleven on Euphoria Morning), this is the one that's supported him the worst. All noise, no texture.
Mind, Cornell dropped the ball too, preferring to spout greasy rock cliches instead of singing anything meaningful and preferring to let out throaty screams rather than really resonate. On the whole, it just sounded bland and very quickly thrown together.
But anyway, Out of Exile has actual melodies and hooks and shit. They sound like a tight band. The rhythm section holds everything together like it should. Morello's playing rhythm too (in addition to his standard noodling, which sounds fine in context). Truly, a good band is greater than the sum of its parts. Cornell's voice also sounds much cleaner and less throaty (although there's plenty of that too, but at least it sounds like an intentional effect rather than an unfortunate limitation now).
But anyway, it's about the songs, and they haven't all grown on me yet except the surprisingly catchy "Be Yourself," "Doesn't Remind Me," and "Dandelion." "Doesn't Remind Me" in particular is wonderful and reminds me of what a remarkable songwriter Cornell is in the first place (and assures me that Morello is quite capable of doing ensemble work and supporting a recording rather than overwhelming it). The verses are as interesting as the choruses, which is a good start. Intriguing lyrics too (finally). "Dandelion" reminds me comfortably of the Stone Temple Pilots' brand of noisy pop (unusually beautiful guitar solo too).
Overall, it's a definite improvement over their horrible debut, and the band has finally justified its own existence. It's still by-the-numbers rock, but it's good by-the-numbers rock if nothing else (maybe even great, depending on whether the other songs grow on me). This is probably the weakest form of praise, but: I can't wait for their third one, when they'll really have their shit together.
