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Rating: THE REVIEW
The Brad is a pleasant discovery that should be absorbed slowly to be fully understood.
Shame, the first album of their discography (followed by Interiors and Welcome To The Discovery Park), has velvety and scratchy sounds that slowly penetrate the cerebral mazes of the listener, leaving behind indelible traces.
The album opens with "Buttercup," a track where the piano and Shawn Smith's voice (singer of Satchel) come together to form a dense melancholic atmosphere, with Gossard’s guitar (guitarist of Pearl Jam) interposing with sharp strums; "My Fingers" and "Nadine" follow, and the atmosphere almost returns to being sunny.
Then comes "Screen," track number 4: the start is like a boulder of emotions that, concentrated into 5.12 minutes, hurl the listener into the deepest of abysses, cerebral and emotional at the same time. Melancholy returns in Smith's voice, which Gossard slowly transforms into anger; everything flows smoothly, and the bass, quiet, follows the discourse, peeking almost coyly between the bars, insistent and pleasant.
It will be with the next track (20th Century) that "the 4 strings" will steal the scene by playing harmonies that are both simple and enveloping.
Shame is a complete album and is also demonstrated by the funky sound of the ironic "Bad For The Soul." An album that is certainly not straightforward and not easy to assimilate, but when geniuses like Gossard play, nothing can be understood immediately...
A must-have.
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Summary by Bot
Brad's debut album Shame offers a deeply emotional and complex listening experience. With melancholic vocal tones by Shawn Smith and distinctive guitar by Stone Gossard, the album slowly unfolds its rich textures. Tracks like 'Buttercup' and 'Screen' highlight the cerebral and emotional layers of the work. Although not immediately accessible, the album rewards patient listeners and stands as a must-have for fans of alternative rock.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Brad
Brad is an American rock band from Seattle formed in 1992 by Stone Gossard, Shawn Smith, Regan Hagar and Jeremy Toback. Known for a soulful, melodic approach distinct from the heavier grunge sound, the group released albums including Shame (1993), Interiors (1997), Welcome to Discovery Park (2002), Best Friends? (2010), United We Stand (2012) and In The Moment That You’re Born (2023). Singer Shawn Smith died in 2019.05 Reviews
Other reviews
By vulgarbaro83
The album shines with musicality and holy desperation in the dark atmospheres of 'Buttercup.'
'Shame' is definitely indispensable in the record collection of those who have loved with their heart and not just 'with a fashionable approach' the last true rock revolution of our era.
