ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 12. 1988
By Steve Newton
Old Diamond Dave had his hands full surpassing his 1986 LP Eat ‘Em and Smile, but with this new one, Skyscraper, he’s certainly done just that. In his first endeavour as producer Roth has come up with a brilliantly played and varied hard-rock album that should turn out to be one of the year’s very best.
As he did on his previous album with “Yankee Rose”, Dave starts things off at 100 mph with the super-charged rocker “Knucklebones”. Just in case you weren’t aware, Roth’s band is the best one going nowadays. Guitarist Steve Vai, bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Gregg Bissonette pull out all the stops on the opening track, and are in fine form throughout.
After “Knucklebones” comes “Just Like Paradise”, a more commercial-sounding piece (along the lines of “Goin’ Crazy”) that sports Roth’s typically insightful lyrics. “Rockin’ steady in her daddy’s car/She got the stereo with the big guitars/And that’s all right (all right).” Not exactly Dylan, but it sounds right comin’ from Roth.
“The Bottom Line” is a speedy scorcher reminiscent of the last record’s “Shyboy”, featuring a mind-boggling bass solo by Sheehan. “Skyscraper” is a bit of a departure for Dave, with funky underpinnings and a lot of echoey vocal effects. Vai, who played the devil’s guitarist in the blues movie Crossroads, sounds as possessed as ever on this one.
Side one ends off with “Damn Good”, another switch for Roth, who appears to have reached some sort of creative peak (although a lot of credit must go to Vai, who co-wrote this track, and five others, together with Roth). “Damn Good” is a lazy acoustic guitar showcase that calls to mind the Doobie Brothers during their “Black Water” period.
The second side of Skyscraper continues with more of the superb sounds heard on the first. “Hot Dog and a Shake” is another rabid rocker, lit white-hot by Vai’s tasty flash effects and knock-Eddie-on-his-ass Valen Halen licks. “Stand Up” is a thumping funk-rocker featuring more of Vai’s incendiary stringwork; it’s like a cross between the Brothers Johnson and Scorpions, if you can imagine that. “Hina” and “Perfect Timing” are my least favourite tracks on the record, but that’s only because I like the other ones so much.
The closing tune, “Two Fools a Minute”, is jazzed up by a Steve Vai horn arrangement, and includes some more incredible bass-diddling from Sheehan. It’s a bit of a nod to the swinging big-band sound that brought Dave to solo fame with his reworking of “Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody”.
To hear the 26-minute audio of my interview with David Lee Roth from 1994 subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can also eavesdrop on my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, 1984
Jeff Healey, 1988
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1996
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Edgar Winter, 2005
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Randy Hansen, 2001
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, 1991
Joe Satriani, 1990
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
John Doe, 1990
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
…with hundreds more to come