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\rock, evidenced by tracks such as "Like I Do."
Neumann wrote, produced, and entirely performed this sturdy effort. ~ Erik Hage