While often considered simply a side-project of Stone's, Brad had a sound all their own, due to the wide variety of influences brought to the band by its members. The distinctive vocals of Shawn Smith are a major factor in this sound.
Shawn Smith contributed on the title-track for the Belgian group Arsenal on their album Lotuk. He spent his 2008 summer touring along with the band.
Origin Seattle, Washington, USA
Genre(s) Alternative rock, neo-psychedelia
Years active 1992–present
Label(s) Epic, Redline
Associated acts Malfunkshun, Pearl Jam, Satchel, Pigeonhed
Website www.bradcorporation.com
Members
Stone Gossard
Regan Hagar
Shawn Smith
Jeremy Toback
Mike Berg
* History
Brad formed officially in 1992, although the band members had been playing together for a long time before that. The band's line-up was composed of vocalist Shawn Smith, guitarist Stone Gossard, bassist Jeremy Toback, and drummer Regan Hagar. The band originally wanted to go by the name Shame, however the band found that the name was already taken by a band featuring musician Brad Wilson.[1] Instead, the band took the name Brad and decided to name its debut album Shame. Shame, released on April 27, 1993, was recorded in roughly 20 days, with many tracks taken from in-studio jam sessions. Shame, featuring a raw sound and an eclectic mix of styles, was released to mixed reviews and moderate sales.[2] The track "20th Century" was a minor hit in the UK.
The band's follow-up album, Interiors, released on June 24, 1997, was much more polished. Interiors was met with poor sales, however the band saw its cult audience expand.[2] The single from Interiors, "The Day Brings", features Mike McCready from Pearl Jam on lead guitar. The album was accompanied by a tour in the United States that same year, as well as a small tour in Australia and New Zealand in 1998.
A third album, Welcome to Discovery Park, was released on August 13, 2002. The recording of Welcome to Discovery Park saw contributions from Mike Berg, who had taken over as the touring bassist for Toback.[2] The album mixes the rawness of Shame and the polished, produced sound of Interiors. In July 2005, the band released an album of unreleased and incomplete Brad and Satchel tracks called Brad vs Satchel.
As of January 2006, the band's fourth studio album, tentatively titled Best Friends, had been recorded and was being pared down to a 13-track release.[3] As of September 2007, the album was still awaiting release as the band reunited for a small series of live performances, starting in October 2007, with Kevin Wood (of Malfunkshun) joining the band as an additional guitarist. To date, there has been no indication as to whether this is a permanent personnel move or just a temporary addition. Songs from the forthcoming Best Friends album were played at the 2007 and 2008 performances, but there was no announcement as to when the album would be released.
Shawn Smith unfortunately passed away on April 3rd, 2019.
Current members
* Stone Gossard – guitar
* Regan Hagar – drums
* Shawn Smith – keyboard, vocals
* Jeremy Toback – bass guitar
* Mike Berg – bass guitar (1997–present)
Additional personnel
* James Hall – guitar, keyboard (1997)
* Matt Brown – guitar, keyboard (1997)
* Elizabeth Pupo-Walker – percussion (2001–2002)
* Thaddeus Turner – guitars, bass (2001–2002)
* Kevin Wood – guitar (2007–present)
Studio albums
Year Album details
1993 Shame
* Released: April 27, 1993
* Label: Epic
* Format: CD, cassette (CS)
1997 Interiors
* Released: June 24, 1997
* Label: Epic
* Format: CD, CS
2002 Welcome to Discovery Park
* Released: August 13, 2002
* Label: Redline
* Format: CD
Compilations
Year Album details
2005 Brad vs Satchel
* Released: July 26, 2005
* Label: The Establishment Store
* Format: CD
Singles
Year Single UK peak
chart position
[4] Album
1993 "Screen"/"Buttercup" — Shame
"20th Century" 64
1997 "The Day Brings" — Interiors
"Secret Girl" —
2003 "La, La, La" — Welcome to Discovery Park
"Shinin'" —
"Revolution" —
"—" denotes singles that did not chart.
Notes and references
1. ^ Gumbuoy. "Hang Out In Discovery Park With Brad". fasterlouder.com.au. September 27, 2005.
2. ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas and Torreano, Bradley. "Brad". Allmusic. Retrieved on January 31, 2009.
3. ^ Prato, Greg. "Brad Finishing Up Fourth Album". Billboard. January 18, 2006.
4. ^ "UK Singles & Albums Chart Archive — Brad". http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=6825. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
External links
* Brad's official website
* Brad at MySpace
* Brad at Allmusic
* Brad at Last.fm
Arrakis
Brad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
???? if I started falling anywhere around here
'cause I swear that I saw in the sky, a comet
A star flying high everywhere
If you know me, know me, know you can show me
Yes I know, if you want, move close to the sun
And ohh...
And ohh...
We walk through the field without a care in the world
If you know me, know me, know you can show me
Yes I know, if you want, move close to the sun
And ohh...
And ohh...
And all we are is all we are
And all we are is all we are
The lyrics of Brad's song Arrakis talk about wandering after love and the feeling of falling, represented by the image of a comet or star flying high in the sky. The singer is looking for someone who can show him the way and he believes that by moving close to the sun, he can find what he's looking for. However, he also feels that he is too young for it, and that it's all wrong.
The second half of the lyrics paints a picture of innocence and carefreeness, walking through a field without a care in the world. The singer still seeks guidance and assurance, but he also acknowledges that all they are is all they are. This line implies that they accept their current state, and that they are willing to be content with it.
Overall, the song captures the confusion and uncertainty that comes with love and growing up. It's about searching for direction and meaning, while also embracing the present and accepting the reality of the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just wandering after love
I was aimlessly searching for love
???? if I started falling anywhere around here
Wondering where I would land if I fell in love
'cause I swear that I saw in the sky, a comet
I believe I saw a sign, a comet in the sky
A star flying high everywhere
A celestial body, high up, flying around
If you know me, know me, know you can show me
If you truly understand me, you could guide me
Yes I know, if you want, move close to the sun
I am aware that reaching for the impossible can lead to pain and self-destruction
And ohh...
Expressing admiration or awe
And ohh...
Expressing admiration or awe
I feel that, too young, I know it's all wrong
My instincts are telling me that I'm not yet ready for love and I recognize it might take me in the wrong direction
We walk through the field without a care in the world
We enjoy an innocent, carefree life together
If you know me, know me, know you can show me
If you truly understand me, you could guide me
Yes I know, if you want, move close to the sun
I am aware that reaching for the impossible can lead to pain and self-destruction
And ohh...
Expressing admiration or awe
And ohh...
Expressing admiration or awe
And all we are is all we are
We are what we are, nothing more
And all we are is all we are
We are what we are, nothing more
Lyrics © QUALITY FIRST
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