Brad
The involvement of Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard in this one-off project inevitably and unfairly saw Brad tagged as Gossard's solo outing, when in reality it was a collaboration with two old friends, Pigeonhead/Satchel vocalist and keyboard player Shawn Smith and Satchel drummer Regan Hagar, plus bassist Jeremy Toback. The band was originally called Shame, but Los Angeles musician Brad Wilson held a copyright on the name which he was not prepared to give up, and the band subsequently named themselves Brad in tongue-in-cheek retaliation. They entered the studio with only album opener Buttercup written, and wrote, recorded and mixed SHAME in just 17 days. The result was an enthralling and atmospheric work, blending funk, rock, jazz and soul with a melancholy lyrical air, and the fact that much of the material stemmed from studio jams lent the album a loose, laid-back feel. Gossard produced a largely understated performance which complemented Smith's piano and organ lines, backed by a solid economical groove from the rhythm section, while Smith's smoky, soulful vocals added another dimension to the band, and drew comparisons to Prince and Stevie Wonder amid a heap of deserved critical praise.