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Albums

Skyscraper - David Lee Roth

Skyscraper - David Lee Roth

I originally purchased this album as a result of a discussion about Steve Vai. I have often come across people who think he is a top notch guitarist and as I hadn't really heard much of him, I asked someone to recommend an album on which he was at his best, and this one came up, rather handily it happened to be in an HMV sale at the time. David Lee Roth is probably better known as the front man of Van Halen, and on this album Vai plays the guitar parts.

The album itself is reasonably passable eighties rock, in the tradition of such groups as Whitesnake and I presume Van Halen as well. It isn't bad, some good tracks, some pretty poor ones and a Beach Boys cover as the opening song. I didn't really get the point of that, I suppose Roth just felt like singing a Beach Boys song. There is nothing spectacular, Roth doesn't seem to be the greatest vocalist in the world, but he isn't offensively bad, the artists who recorded with him seem to know their jobs.

Which brings us back to the original question, Steve Vai. I am not convinced I understand why people get so excited about him, but he is pretty good. Steady riff work, reasonably solos, a very good widdler, although on the basis of this album it may be his only trick. Reasonable, but not special. A bit like the album.

Recommended to:
-eighties rock fans
-David Lee Roth fans (probably)
-Steve Vai fanatics

Not recommended to:
-anyone with limited resources
-people who are offensive about Whitesnake and their peers
-those looking to escape averageness

Laser Squad Nemesis

So, the clans are analysed and that just leaves my final table predictions. This may not entirely tie up with my discussion of the clans, as clearly that was written over a protraced period and results are flooding in now (in division two at any rate). So:

Division One:
the Faceless Consortium
The Dragons Rising
Anaraknaphobia
99ers
8-bit Fanatics
Grunts On The Edge
Rogue Element
Invincible Crazy Fists
---
Crimson Scales
The Worms That Turned
Alice's Mighty Dischord

Division Two:
Doomed
Aftershock Reloaded
Bouncing Krauts
---
Rock N Roll Suicides
Phoenix Rising
Brigantes
Alone It The Dark
Disciples of Grammer
A.B.C. Warriors
Cursed Clowns
Hippo Squirrels

Other People's Mistakes

Eating cold food when you have a bad tooth.