Never Pet A Burning Dog

Album Review

No one ever accused Alan Merrill of being a poet. This compilation of the singer/songwriter's late-'70s/early-'80s work is filled with some of the most generic lyrics ever thrust upon the buying public. The odd part is that this does not really hinder the album; there are some lyrics that are pretty cringe worthy, but this style of poppy guitar rock was never a place where lyrical geniuses flocked to. Tracks like "She Rocks Me" and "Hard Hearted Woman" are simple, catchy songs that bring to mind the work that Eddie Money was doing around the same time. Merrill is a dead ringer for Money at times, singing in that same Springsteen-meets-Journey style that was so popular in the '70s. The only real problem with this material is that there is nothing really exceptional about it, making it hard to want a second or third listen. And though the lyrics do not usually get distracting, the goofy "Love Express" is very, very hard to stomach. That may have something to do with Rick Derringer's involvement, as he did co-write and perform on it. This is a problem because it is the opening track, and it can easy discourage someone from listening to the rest of the album. But about halfway through, things suddenly turn around for the better. "Cold Cold September" may be the best song here, a Bob Seger-style ballad that benefits from Merrill's unpretentious voice. "N.Y. City," "Rain Chasing Dreams," and "Freewheeler" sound like they were taken from the same sessions, because they are three of the best songs and wipe away the goofy keyboards and background vocals that drag down the first half. "Always Another Train" is a decent all-star jam that features Steve Winwood and Mick Taylor, among others, although the end result suffers from muddy production that blends the synth and guitars together. Unfortunately, the album ends with a reprise of the awful "Love Express," reminding the listener about how bad the first half of the album is. "Rock on You" is the forgettable bonus track tagged on to the CD release, and it really has no bearing on any of the rest of the album. So this is an uneven collection of Merrill's work, but it is a strangely charming and catchy collection. Fans of pop/rock from this time period should give this a listen, as Merrill was always underrated, even if he was never truly great. Just be warned that the first half is pretty generic compared to the second half.