Houndog: Houndog

It's not surprising that after nearly 30 years as a band, the members of Los Lobos chose to branch out with side projects, but it's odd that so many are arriving almost simultaneously. Coming within weeks of the release of Cesar Rosas' first solo album, the Los Super Seven project (which features Rosas and David Hidalgo), and the second Latin Playboys record (which includes Hidalgo and Louie Perez) is Houndog, a collaboration between Hidalgo and Canned Heat's Mike Halby. Hidalgo is apparently the busiest Los Lobos member, so he runs the risk of spreading himself too thin; indeed, Houndog isn't nearly as interesting as Los Super Seven or Latin Playboys, nor is it as fun as Rosas' record. But Houndog's self-titled debut, with its casual, jammy lo-fi blues riffs and Bo Diddley beats, sounds much like how you'd expect a side project to sound: pleasant, but far from essential. Part of the problem is that Hidalgo—who has one of the purest and most recognizable tenors in rock—hardly sings, leaving most vocal duties to the gravel-throated Halby. The fact that both men play all the instruments themselves, and that Hidalgo (who often adds some refreshingly scratchy violin solos) recorded the album in Halby's home studio, gives Houndog a loose, gritty vibe, and "No Chance," "I'll Change My Style," and "All Fired Up, All Shook Down" benefit from the home-brewed approach. But too often, Houndog sounds like a collection of demos or session outtakes, even if the songs are outtakes by two talented pros.