Shy Dog

BoDeans leader Kurt Neumann's solo disc, named after his dearly departed canine companion, was produced during a bumpy period both personally and professionally (a divorce and the BoDeans being dropped from their major label). Nevertheless, rather than dwell in latitudes of despair, this is the kind of rootsy pop/rock you've come to expect from Neumann based on his work with the BoDeans. There are a few surprising electronic sonic touches — "Happiness" and "And Then This" are downright booty-shaking, in fact — but the flourishes aren't jarring or anachronistic, merely cream in the coffee. Nevertheless, Neumann is at his best with straight-up, hook-ridden pop ock, evidenced by tracks such as "Like I Do." Neumann wrote, produced, and entirely performed this sturdy effort.