Shame by Brad - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Released a couple of months before Pearl Jam's Vs. broke sales records, Shame is one of the sharper side-project efforts out there, largely because it doesn't seek to clone the parent group. Instead of Gossard, the focus falls on vocalist Shawn Smith, the sweetly voiced, soul-inspired frontman who also achieved notice later for his own group, Satchel, as well as his project with production legend Steve Fisk, Pigeonhed. On his first major effort, Smith shows excellent control, avoiding the dubious theatricality of the likes of Michael Bolton. His astonishing falsettos have won him Prince comparisons, but he's no slavish imitator, with a rich tone and sense of hurt. He handles keyboards for the group as well, and his piano and organ parts quite fine and his performance sense generally spot on. His composition "Screen," especially when it gets to a lovely vocal/piano/bass break towards the end, is a good all-around showcase for his work. As a band, Brad works in traditional but quite effective ways, about as close as the group gets to Pearl Jam in any sense. If anything, in "My Fingers" the group actually has a better anthem than most of what's on Ten, Smith's heavily flanged vocals mixed with a stirring Gossard guitar build and rhythms crunch. The group mostly works in two modes -- uplifting, heavier rockers along the lines of "My Fingers," also including the quietly funky "20th Century" and the great album-finisher "We," and slower, quieter late-night groovers like "Buttercup" and "Good News." If not groundbreakers per se, the four always do a fine job, guaranteeing a pleasant listen through and through. Bassist Jeremy Toback's own vocal turn on the melancholic "Down" isn't bad either, while the squelchy-voiced "Rockstar" is an amusing little one-off, not to mention the weird rant in the album's final seconds. ~ Ned Raggett

1. Buttercup

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Stone Gossard
Jeremy Toback
Shawn Smith
Regan Hagar; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

2. My Fingers

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Stone Gossard
Jeremy Toback
Shawn Smith
Regan Hagar; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

3. Nadine

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Stone Gossard
Shawn Smith; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

4. Screen

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Shawn Smith; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

5. 20th Century

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Stone Gossard
Jeremy Toback
Shawn Smith
Regan Hagar; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

6. Good News

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Shawn Smith; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

7. Raise Love

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Stone Gossard
Jeremy Toback
Shawn Smith
Regan Hagar; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

8. Bad for the Soul

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Stone Gossard
Jeremy Toback
Shawn Smith
Regan Hagar; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

9. Down

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Jeremy Toback; Composer
Lyricist: Jeremy Toback; Composer

10. Rockstar

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Stone Gossard
Jeremy Toback
Shawn Smith
Regan Hagar; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

11. We

Primary Artist: Brad; Main Performer
Composer: Stone Gossard
Jeremy Toback
Shawn Smith
Regan Hagar; Composer
Lyricist: Shawn Smith; Composer

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

11 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

42 minutes and 43 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 3000x3000 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

2/11 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Alternative, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Rock, Funk Rock, Grunge

Label

Sister Spirit Lifter

Music Distribution Service

Distrokid

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Apr 26, 1993

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

194759035021