The results are workmanlike but uninspired. The musicianship is solid, polished even, but lacks surprises. The rhythm section in particular plays strictly by the numbers, which works against the band on songs like "Sand" and "Save Me Something." Here the playing would benefit from locking into a groove and adding more muscle to the attack.

That same barebones execution does work on the album's pearl, the POTUSA-like "Happiness," which profits from the band's musicianship and crafty songwriting. Other cuts, like "Umbrella" and "In My Mouth," showcase Huck's darker leanings: Alice in Chains-tinged ballads and Live's knack for stinging melodies. The album closes with a few banal hidden tracks illustrating the band's penchant for glam and power pop. My Boy Joe is an ambitious release that suffers from a lack of stylistic focus and the band's languid performance.

-- Lorne Behrman