Disc of the day
Heaven 17 - Penthouse And Pavement
From Sheffield, synth pop and funk to stick it to Thatcher. Currently being played live!
Features Disc of the day
Brad
Shame
(Epic, 1993)
Pearl Jam man Stone Gossard gets the funk out. But in a good way...
"We've found the groove. Have a good time. Make sure your seatbelts are fastened," says vocalist Shawn Smith by way of introduction to 20th Century, the fifth track on Brad's debut album. As if to emphasise Smith's opening gambit, Brad lock into an unfeasibly funky groove centred around Stone Gossard's percussive guitar pattern, underpinned by Jeremy Toback's fluid bass line and drummer Regan Hagar's backbeat. It sounds effortless and fun. Which was probably the point.
Formed in late 1992 by Gossard following a gruelling two-year stint on the road promoting Pearl Jam's Ten debut, Brad came together when the guitarist got back to Seattle and decided to call up his former Mother Love Bone bandmate Hagar to jam. Hagar turned up with ex-Bliss singer Shawn Smith in tow and when Gossard ran into LA-based bassist Jeremy Toback around the same time, Brad was born. A week's rehearsal followed, then some off-the-cuff recording at Avast! Studios with producer Brendan O'Brien.
Despite its casual origins, Shame is a startling debut, straddling the funk/rock divide whilst entertaining none the excruciating clichés associated with, say, Dan Reed Network. Lithe, one-take opener Buttercup showcases Smith's soulful vocals; the blues-peppered Screen and the Zep-vibes of Down crank the quality. The result: a delicious, well-kept secret of an album that's retained its charm long after the grunge gold rush subsided.
Now read an exclusive Pearl Jam interview in this month's issue of MOJO magazine where Stone Gossard, Eddie Vedder and co. re-live the days of Ten - the album that nearly destroyed them!
Phil Alexander
Posted by Ross_Bennett at 6:00 AM GMT 27/03/2009
Further Listening
Pigeonhed - Pigeonhed (Sub Pop, 1993)
Satchel –– Family (Epic, 1996)
Shawn Smith - Let It All Begin (Sound Vs Silence, 1999)
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Heaven 17 - Penthouse And Pavement
From Sheffield, synth pop and funk to stick it to Thatcher. Currently being played live!
6:00 AM GMT 18/03/2010
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Comments
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Great to see this album remains appreciated. I fell in love with it upon first listen and Buttercup remains high on my list of "Side One, Track One" classics.
It also introduced me to Shawn Smith who rmains one of my favourite singers to this day.
To my mind any music fan's collection would be enhanced by the addition of this record and follow-up "Interiors".
I reckon I'll stick both on when I get home tonight...
Posted by Psodal at 1:59 PM GMT 27/03/2009 Report Abuse
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