Rick Derringer's 1978 album
If I Weren't So Romantic, I'd Shoot You is full of weak songs that barely get up the energy to rock, ballads that suffer from lame lyrics and thin vocals, and a general feeling of going through the motions. Only a few of the 11 songs show any signs of life: "EZ Action" is an
Aerosmith knockoff that almost kicks into gear but is derailed by the silly lyrics, "Rocka Rolla" rides some jumpy riffing and a
Bay City Rollers-style hook, and
Derringer's cover of
Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns and Money" is faithful and features some fine guitar playing. These few stabs at something good can't overcome truly awful songs like the novelty rocker "Monomania," the pathetic title track, and the surprisingly tuneless and boring Chapman/Chinn-penned track "It Ain't Funny." About the only thing the record has going for it are the guitar breaks, as
Derringer could still rip off a nasty solo from time to time. His next album, the
Todd Rundgren-produced Guitars and Women, was a surprisingly good album with lots of memorable tunes and solid performances. It makes this record sound like the work of a tired and uninspired lifer playing out the string. ~ Tim Sendra