Skyscraper

by David Lee Roth

Overview

Even as Skyscraper shot up the charts behind the momentum of its ultra-saccharine lead-off single "Just Like Paradise," it was abundantly clear to anyone paying attention that the wheels were already falling off the David Lee Roth bandwagon. Simply put, the collaborative spirit that had given their manic debut Eat 'Em and Smile such legitimacy as a band project was collapsing under the unbearable strain of its leader's unstoppable ego. With bass wizard Billy Sheehan already gone to form Mr. Big and guitar hero Steve Vai mostly flying on auto-pilot (if spectacularly so), keyboard player Brett Tuggle seems like the most unwelcome presence on an album that squanders much of its free-wheeling potential by trying too hard to achieve an exaggerated pop sheen. The aforementioned "Just Like Paradise" is the obvious main offender, but promising examples of arena rock like "Stand Up" and "Perfect Timing" also lose much of their bite through excessive studio tampering. Likewise, the largely acoustic "Damn Good" and the overlong "Two Fools a Minute" (an unconvincing ode to Roth's lounge lizard persona) go nowhere fast, and what the band was trying to achieve with the bizarre title track is still anyone's guess. And while rockers like "Knucklebones" and "The Bottom Line" don't really impress or offend, "Hina" and "Hot Dog and a Shake" are the album's only two clear standouts. The first's soothing, interweaving guitar harmonies presaged Vai's Joe Satriani-inspired solo work while the latter finally explodes in the over-the-top fashion of the first album, largely thanks to a Vai solo so fast, so hot not even he could keep up, momentarily losing his fingering in the album's only spontaneous moment. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Product Details

Release Date:	08/21/2012
Label:	HI HORSE RECORDS
UPC:	0725543361219

Album Credits

Performance Credits

David Lee Roth   Primary Artist,Vocals
Billy Sheehan   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background),Bass,Fretless Bass
Steve Vai   Guest Artist,Guitar,Horn (Alto)
Gregg Bissonette   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Magic Moreno   Vocals (Background)
Dr. Funk PhD   Bass,Synthesizer Bass
Joe Pizzulo   Vocals (Background)
John Batdorf   Vocals (Background)
Tom Kelly   Vocals (Background)
Brett Tuggle   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Tommy Funderburk   Vocals (Background)
Gary Falcone   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Gregg Bissonette   Composer
Doug Parry   Engineer,Overdub Engineer
Howie Weinberg   Mastering
Matt Bissonette   Composer
Richie Raposa   Programming,Keyboard Programming
Magic Moreno   Mixing,Engineer,Vocal Engineer,Guitar Engineer,Keyboard Engineer
Pete Angelus   Concept,Cover Design
Gary Wagner   Engineer,Second Engineer
Joan Parker   Production Coordination
Galen Rowell   Photography
Marnie Riley   Engineer,Second Engineer
Todd Grace   Programming,Keyboard Programming
Tom Fouce   Assistant Engineer
Gina Vivona   Artwork
Paul Levy   Engineer,Second Engineer
Vigon Seireeni   Artwork
Darryl Krupnick   Second Engineer
Stephen Shelton   Engineer,Second Engineer
Ted Templeman   Producer
Steve Vai   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Guitar Engineer,Overdub Engineer,Horn Arrangements
Bob Cats   Mixing,Second Engineer
Bernie Grundman   Mastering
Garry Rindfuss   Assistant Engineer
Jeff Hendrickson   Engineer
David Lee Roth   Concept,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Cover Design
Peter Doell   Engineer,Second Engineer
Jim Champagne   Second Engineer
Mark Linett   Engineer
Milt Calice   Guitar Engineer,Second Engineer
Brett Tuggle   Composer,Programming
Steve Holroyd   Engineer,Second Engineer