By 1988, David Lee Roth and his former band Van Halen were neck and neck releasing albums. Van Halen was releasing their craptastic OU812 album, and DLR released his sophomore solo album, Skyscraper. At this point, it wasn’t so much a fanbase divided as much as it was a “the more, the merrier” kind thing. Fans could see Van Halen and hear Sammy Hagar songs and hear Hagar singing the “classics” and they could also see David Lee Roth not do crappy Hagar songs and do his awesome solo stuff in addition to Van Halen classics.
I’m not going to lie. At the time of its release, I didn’t hate Van Halen’s OU812 album. While I pretty much hated Hagar’s Van Halen debut 5150, OU812 didn’t completely insult me. I saw them on this particular tour, and I’ll admit that it was a fun show. I also saw Roth on the Skyscraper, and that show made Van Halen look like a bunch of amateurs.
In 1988 when I first bought and listened to this album, I knew I heard something different. I didn’t know how to process it into words, but 32 years after it’s release, I feel that Skyscraper was a bold album. While Van Halen played it safe, Roth took shit over the top with Skyscraper. It’s been a while since I jammed this one from start to finish, so I figured it would be fun to break it down song by song. Here we go…
Knucklebones
What a way to open an album up. That Steve Vai riff kills me. It would have been really easy for Roth to duplicate what he had done in Van Halen, but he chose to create his own imprint. Roth experimented with layered vocals, panning, and other studio tricks. Obviously, he was having an absolute blast on this song, and it’s got one of my favorite bridges in a hard rock song.
Just Like Paradise
This was the one huge hit off of Skyscraper. I love this song. It’s corny, cheesy, fun, and still better than anything Van Halen was trying to “seriously” churn out. What I find interesting is that this song actually sticks out like a sore thumb. Many times in the ‘80s, the hit single was the best song on the album. On Skyscraper, this song is by far the weakest track of them all. I still enjoy listening to this one, and it works for where it is on the album, but I would also be just fine for the album to not have this one.
The Bottom Line
This is where shit just went to a whole other level. “The Bottom Line” is so fucking good that I am struggling to put it to words. This song is pure, nasty, bad attitude set to music. This is the kind of shit that Motley Crue tried so hard to do and failed miserably. Roth is nothing but attitude on this one. Everything about this song is just killer, from the snotty sounding background vocals to the double bass/bass guitar combo. There is a part right before the solo where Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan (bass), and Greg Bisonette (drums) lock in with each other note for note, and it’s mindblowing to hear. Roth used this song as the show opener for the Skyscraper tour. “Give ‘em hell tonight,” he sings. Well, he did, and this song still does.
Skyscraper
Ok, now this is where shit gets over the top weird. In my opinion, this is where Roth starts to really cut loose and get experimental. Not only is this a great song, but I love that he went completely out of the box for this tune. The melodic guitar, coupled with the synthesizer, makes for a foundation for Roth’s unique vocal delivery. Musically the song is the perfect match for the lyrics as it creates a journey of sorts, which I absolutely love. The layered vocals, the lyrics, and the effects used on his vocals set this song aside from everything else on the album. Without a doubt my favorite song on this album and in my top 5 Roth songs ever.
Damn Good
Also, in my Top 5 Roth songs, “Damn Good” is undoubtedly one of the greatest nostalgia songs of all time. Stripped down to a tasteful 12-string acoustic, Steve Vai proves he is more than a mindbending electric shredder. When given a chance, he can pull out some great acoustic playing, and it is something to really hear. This song always makes me smile because it’s hard not to feel my own nostalgia level hearing these lyrics. Roth sounds so sincere, and it’s cool to listen to him let his guard and be real. The older I get, the more I find myself relating to this song. It’s absolutely timeless.
Hot Dog & A Shake
I love this song. Coming after two pretty serious pieces, it was cool to hear some more “fun.” In particular, this song reminds me of his debut solo album “Eat ‘Em and Smile.” This song could have easily been on that album. It’s just a fun song, over the top Roth at the top of his game. There really isn’t much else to say about this song other than it’s just a fucking fun ass song. Period.
Stand Up
If I’m not mistaken, “Stand Up” was a single off of this album, and it sounds like it was written solely to be a single. Ok, so THIS one stands out as the weakest song on the album by far, and honestly, this one could have been left off, and it would be perfect. The Roth band didn’t even play this one live on this tour. It’s got some of the dumbest lyrics compared to what Van Hagar was writing; this song sounds like fucking poetry. Not a horrible song but definitely one to get up and take a piss during.
Hina
I love how this song kicks off, sounding like it could be a Van Halen, but then once the chorus kicks in, it’s in a whole other realm. This definitely couldn’t have been a “hit” song, but it’s so melodic and once again shows Roth’s ability and desire to spread his wings and step out of the box. This is a song that I never really pay much attention to, but I absolutely love this one. There are so many cool and unexpected musical transitions throughout the song that it makes it an unpredictably killer track. I definitely need to give this one more love than I do.
Perfect Timing
Another powerful, in your face Steve Vai opening riff gives the illusion that this song will take off running, but once the rhythm section kicks in, the song morphs into a rock shuffle. It’s not one of my favorite songs off this album, but it is enjoyable to listen to. Being that it’s buried so deep at the second to last track, it kind of feels like it was ill-placed and that it wasn’t a song that Roth himself was crazy about. It’s a pretty forgettable song, and I feel like it would’ve been better suited somewhere in the middle where it wasn’t so close to closing the album out.
Two Fools a Minute
I love this song. It is such a weird song, but it reminds me of something that very well could have been on Van Halen’s Women and Children First. The only element that keeps this from being a full-on Van Halen song is the synth/horns that put this in another court. It really could’ve gone the way of replicating Roth’s classic Van Halen’s side, but it maintains it’s own identity. At first, I thought it wasn’t a great album closer, but I actually love it. It’s a light-hearted, fun way to close out an album that is all over the map musically and lyrically.
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Skyscraper is a fantastic album and an album that I still enjoy as much today, if not more than when it came out. It’s a bold album. Roth took chances and almost didn’t seem to give a fuck. While Van Halen was writing pop ditties with juvenile lyrics, Roth took his own path and showed what a powerful asset Van Halen lost. If someone were to ask me what Roth album to listen to, I would send them running to this album.
Skyscraper definitely doesn’t deserve all of the hate that it has received over the years. Even Billy Sheehan has talked about how much he hates this album. Well, this is coming from a dude who went on to play in Mr. Big and write one of the single worst ballads of all time, so whatever. Some critics didn’t know what to make of the album’s bi-polar like material, while others called it experimental and off the cuff. Me? I call it a fucking fantastic record that deserves to be in your listening collection, so get to it.
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