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Harmony Of Passing Light

by Brad Brooks

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1.
Calling Everyone (3:58) Well I’ve been twisted misplayed, pissed and dismayed Ain’t got no white teeth, but bound by a fate Is it slippin away? At the crux of my fear Or will it leave a mark? Or will it cut, it cut, cut me right here Ain’t got a job, the job ain’t got me Got no measured response, i guess i must be free We’re calling everyone, calling everyone Telling everyone, calling everyone, Got me all in a bind, no feel for any kind of place Staking all that I found, But did I find, I find, find it to late Driving in my dreams, grinding off the bits. Famous or in flames, I don’t give a shit We’re calling everyone, calling everyone We’re telling everyone, we’re calling everyone Ain’t got much time put my love to your lips Shake it like a crime I get it hard as I can get Someone gotta finally believe that it don’t matter Who ya love and that ya take your stand You take it like it’s always been free but now my love I’m gonna show how to give it away Everyone, calling everyone Telling everyone, we’re calling everyone Calling everyone yeah yeah yeah Were calling everyone, we’re calling everyone Telling everyone, we’re calling everyone Were calling everyone, calling everyone Were calling everyone, were calling everyone
2.
Steal My Disarray (3:40) I was unconcerned at first when you said there was nothing to it It couldn’t happen to a nicer girl with a wicked psychosis Saw that little jaunt as you walk by That concussion in your step is a wave goodbye Saw the stars when no one grabbed the wheel. Can’t lose tomorrow but ya never could steal My disarray with your shimmering chicanery Fractured facts are often obscured by intentions that are never pure I was taught to be an honest man but that’s not happening in wonderland Steal my disarray with your shimmering chicanery Steal my disarray yeah It meant nothing to me then (ah ah ah a hallelujah) It means everything to me now (ah ah ah a hallelujah) It meant nothing to me then (ah ah ah a hallelujah) It’s like a war that you never feel so far away yet so unreal A wretched soul has left my spirit unclean Can’t expect to believe that ya didn’t mean to Steal my disarray with your shimmering chicanery Steal my disarray yeah Cause you’ve got nothing to say to me I’ve got nothing to sell you’ Here today & gone away Waiting for a catalyst waiting for dramatic pause Waiting for a fatality waiting for a siren scream To steal my disarray with your shimmering chicanery Steal my disarray It meant nothing to me then (ah ah ah a hallelujah) It means everything to me now (ah ah ah a hallelujah) It meant nothing to me then (ah ah ah a hallelujah) To me now, (ah ah ah a hallelujah) to me then, (ah ah ah a hallelujah) To me now
3.
THE SPINNER & THE SPUN GONNA HAVE TO STAND FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE GLASSY EYED REFLECTION DIDN’T GET IT DONE EVERYBODYS GOT SOME AXEL TO GREASE BAD MEANS OF SALVATION YA HAD TO SELL I CAN SEE THAT BABY YOU GOT YOUR HELL ANGELS CAME DOWN AND THEY COULDN’T LEAVE TO MANY PLATES GOT TWIRLING ON A STICK MESSIN UP ON NOT WHAT EVERYONE SEES SCHEMATIC SMILE GONNA GET IN IT ALL UNDONE TOUCHED ALL THE TANGLES ALL IN ONE IT’S A RACE BETWEEN THE SPINNER & THE SPUN OOWW’ HOW BOUT ALL THEY GOT AND THEY GOT TO CONCEDE NO KICKS FOR THE PICKENS I CANT SEEM TO FIND LIKE A FLY YOUR IN NEED YOUR NOT TO YOUNG TO BLEED TIRE FIRE BABY GOT NO SENSE TO LEAVE BACK OFF IT HOME IS WHERE YOU BREATHE IT’S A RACE BETWEEN THE SPINNER & THE SPUN OOW WHOA (SOLO) LIKE HELL, I GOT HELL, I GOT HELL, I GOT HELL, I GOT HELL, I GOT HELL, I GOT OOW’ WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE END COULD BE SOMETHING NEW CLIP WING CONDITIONING THE SKIDS MEPHISTOPHELES I AINT NO SUCKA PLEASE DID YOU BELIEVE EVERY WORD INDIVISABLY HIS EVIL DOESN’T EVEN KNOW THAT IT IS IT’S A RACE BETWEEN THE SPINNER & THE SPUN YEAH IT’S A RACE BETWEEN THE SPINNER & THE SPUN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OOH OOH OOH OOH ANGELS CAME DOWN AND THEY COULDN’T LEAVE…….OOOH ANGELS CAME DOWN AND THEY COULDN’T LEAVE…….OOOH (I GOT HELL) ANGELS CAME DOWN AND THEY COULDN’T LEAVE…….OOOH (I. I GOT HELL) ANGELS CAME DOWN AND THEY COULDN’T LEAVE…….OOOH (I GOT HELL) ANGELS CAME DOWN AND THEY COULDN’T LEAVE…….OOOH (I, I GOT HELL) ANGELS CAME DOWN AND THEY COULDN’T LEAVE…….OOOH
4.
Will It Be Enough (4:07) Diamonds and danger triangles with a stranger Shapes glistening in red Grasping for glimmers, disconnected dimmers All had a sparkle once When cries turn into sings and laughter echoes away Count those blessings on your hand If you think you got it made then maybe you’re ok Will it be enough Hammer & sickle, torch & trouble To many times told to stop Cheat on the reaper, got grimmer than your keeper That kept a broken lock on your heart Stalling the rain won’t keep you from the things That nobody wants to touch If all that you propose, gets lost upside your nose Will it ever be enough And have you failed in white Or just acquired some divine insight When you look into the light is it all right Stunted or stolen, rapturous or rolling on Can ya feel its change If what happens didn’t take, and all your friends are fake Remember what ya saw and how ya know So fall against the grain till someone hits that vein Will it ever be enough, will it be enough, will it be
5.
Night Fades 05:09
Night Fades (5:07) Nothing wrong with coming clean Vestiges of happenstance the dirt that’s in between Can hide in the hardest cracks of all Proving that it ain’t no harm Flexing your lucky charm The open eyed smile became for sale You can make it, you told nobody, it’ gets hard When the night fades to light You told no one, you’ll recover When the night fades to light You’re not alone, not alone, not alone, not alone. Can’t ya see Deception takes a lot of work Scattering the evidence and mastering the hurt The pearls dead on the vine became to stale But the harmonies of passing light Brings a sense of ease to the tortures of insight When nowhere is everywhere tonight You can make it, you told nobody, it gets hard When the night fades to light You told no one, you’ll recover When the night fades to light Told not a soul, your gonna make it When the night fades to light You’re not alone, not alone, not alone, not alone Can’t ya see You can make it, you told nobody, it gets hard When the night fades to light You told no one, you’ll recover When the night fades to light Told not a soul, your gonna make it When the night fades to light You’re not alone, not alone, not alone, not alone Can’t ya see can’t ya see Are you dreaming Can’t ya see are you dreaming can’t ya see Are you dreaming Are you falling
6.
Bumbelina 03:16
Bumbelina (3:14) I know your getting over, reckless a little wandering Take a little off the shoulder, and say what you mean Unfazed and never caught, unafraid of anyone you got Everyone’s in earshot and calling your name Bumbelina, bumbelina, bumbelina on the fly Bumbelina, bumbelina, bumbelina makes me cry Your well-earned prophecy came true I know your getting out there protected and unwavering Chains are getting stronger, drugs are taking longer All the things you didn’t wanna stop, tumbling down a mountaintop You don’t ever wanna not talk, ya cried and you came Bumbelina, bumbelina, bumbelina on the fly Bumbelina, bumbelina, bumbelina tell me why Your well earned prophecy, your well worn promises came true As years roll by the lesson’s repaid in goodbye As years roll by your face value runs out of time Bumbelina, bumbelina, bumbelina on the fly Bumbelina, bumbelina, bumbelina tell me why Your well earned prophecy, your well worn promises Your well torn alibi came true Your fine-fueled fantasy came true
7.
Farewell To Folderol (5:59) Let’s quit or jobs and shit Spit out that chomping bit deal it down Sell what we borrowed, Donate what we stole leave this town A trade wind blows hot as my soul I lift you up down as we go And farewell to folderol Get in that car and hand me that jar of fireflies Synapse is snapping, minutia is madness, blow out that sky I squeeze pure carbon, in the palm of my hand So give me one moment, in your hour glass sand And farewell to folderol Well i seen more than i pretend And i want this feeling to never end I may not buy all that you sell But baby don’t you know You can’t un ring that bell Heavens to murgatroyd Pentecost or paranoid, fire up that blade A cerebellum vortex, I’m vexed at the cortex, hit that wave A trade wind blows hot as my soul I’ll lift you up down as we go And farewell to folderol
8.
Exemplary Girl (4:19) Daddy knew, momma should have What about you might you could have Caught confused make up tearing away No more different than you The pretty things not afraid of you Girl he’s a girl he’s a girl An exemplary girl (2x) Stood it good androgynous apple wood Don’t tell and play Boys who discover matches say “what are you?” Caught between what’s kept and true High heeled not running away Not for the fear of god to say Girl he’s a girl he’s a girl An exemplary girl (4x) Oow, oow, oow, aah Oow, oow, oow, aah Girl he’s a girl he’s a girl An exemplary girl (4x) Oow, oow, oow, aah Oow, oow, oow, aah Another and me got married away Daddy left us in the park and drove away
9.
Hope Is That I Got You (5:18) It trips like a fall it moves like nothing at all It means all that you’ll ever know Don’t look at me and go The world has gotten to deep and I can’t fall asleep My hope is that I’ve got you And all that I harbor is some faith that’s true My hope is that I’ve got you When all of my love was taken There’s no deceptionist no cain or abel in a fatal kiss What you thought was unfettered Doesn’t wanna go away What matters didn’t matter at all If the brutality in war is fair Then someone’s got to show you love’s there Is it there? My hope is that I’ve got you And all that I harbor is some faith that’s true My hope is that I’ve got you When all of my love was taken Maybe its deep rooted fear I just gotta face Tell me that you wanna be here Cause baby we just can’t be faking it Hope is that I got you And all that I harbor is some faith that’s true My hope is that I’ve got you When all of my love was taken (3) My hope is that I’ve got you All of my love was taken My hope is that i got you Oh oh oh yeah……….
10.
Knowin What The Moment Is (4:14) Down at the lake superior i want to say Your eyes were not really blue Had to escape from the things we ought not to say Still said them to you There are no devils tonight No scarlet ransom in sight No hollow ground trampled blue in the light No shadow in iris’ hid Knowin what the moment is Oh i suppose our noses do grow Protect us endeavors we did But maybe it’s time to display yourself on the line Cannon your culprits to bed There are no devils tonight No scarlet ransom in sight No hallow ground trampled blue in the light No shadow in iris’ hid Knowin what the moment is Knowin what the moment is Well i’m not a coward and your not a saint Flipped on the bed at no hindered restraint Kiss or kill is no longer a game No longer a game, no longer a game that you do Down at the lake superior i want to say Your eyes are not really blue There are no devils tonight No scarlet ransom in sight No hallow ground trampled blue in the light No shadow in iris’ hid Knowin what the moment is…. Ooh Knowin what the moment is…. Ooh Knowin what the moment is…ooh
11.
Grand Manner 03:43
Grand Manner (3:43) What do you dream about when you’re drifting away The way that it is or you want it to be Close your eyes and you count to ten I hear the older you get it gets harder my friends Decisions were made in the cradle of the past What you can’t justify you burn into ash Seedlings release in a redwood grove And heaven shines a new light and you let it grow And when it comes, comes so fast And the angels decide and it comes to pass And you try, try, try, try to find a way There’s got to be some water in the well But i can’t tell if it’s just rain Or some kind of truth that I can tell When all the things that I hold dear I held in you You wake up in the morning put on your clothes Round and round till your heart just goes The grandest manner i ever knew Was when i looked in your eyes and you knew it too I don’t understand how you came to me When all the world was yours to see Leading the life or the life leads you I guess we don’t understand till it’s almost through But we fill our lungs with golden air And we’re holding on to all the faith that’s there And you try, you try, you try, you try to find a way There’s got to be some water in the well But i can’t tell if it’s just rain Or some kind of truth that I can tell When all the things that I hold dear I held in you The hardest thing to wait for is Knowing that in some other life That we will meet in the memories of our souls

about

Packed with one great song after another, “Harmony Of Passing Light” is a deeply moving, highly entertaining record. Brooks has sacrificed none of the melodic brilliance and inventiveness of his previous work, but here presents a streamlined, completely accessible suite of songs, with lyrics that pack a punch on first listen and stay with you. It's reminiscent of Skylarking-era XTC and Summerteeth-era Wilco in its melodic, broad interpretation of what a rock album can and should sound like while still feeling intimate and personal, and a hybrid of the best instincts of Elvis Costello, Brian Wilson, and the orchestral sophistication of Queen.

Brooks' gift for melody and his soaring vocals remain the most immediately impressive traits of his music. Brooks' voice can wail like a blue-eyed soul singer, whisper plaintively, croon with just a touch of twang, or soar through the most demanding melodic acrobatics, and he pulls off all of these different guises on “Harmony” without the record sounding disjointed. Rather, it's an album with multiple textures that still feels unified.

Produced by Paul Hoaglin (Mother Hips) & Shay Scott (Klickitat Band Camp), along with David Simon Baker (Mother Hips, Jackie Greene, ALO) it also features former Cake drummer Todd Roper

Highlights are plentiful-- the psychedelic-meets-Motown bounce of leadoff track "Calling Everyone" to the plaintive "Will It Be Enough," the driving rock of "Spinner And The Spun" to the soaring balladry of "Night Fades" and "Grand Manner," as well as "Bumbelina," (which you'll be involuntarily singing for weeks) this album reveals a brilliant vocalist and songwriter at the top of his game.
The album's emotional center is "Farewell To Folderol." Perhaps the track most similar to Brooks' previous work, it shows his growth as a songwriter. Brooks chooses his colors carefully throughout the epic, 6 minute track, and the result is a song that builds to a delirious height and is a perfect metaphor for Brooks' growth as an artist. As the song says, Brooks has decided to "Sell what we borrowed / donate what we stole / leave this town."

Brooks has found the essence of his own unique voice, and been one of the Bay Area's best-kept secrets for years. This album should change all that

credits

released April 15, 2020

Produced by Paul Hoaglin (Mother Hips) & Shay Scott (Klickitat Band Camp), along with David Simon Baker (Mother Hips, Jackie Greene, ALO) it also features Cake drummer Todd Roper.

1) CALLING EVERYONE
Written by Brad Brooks, Paul Hoaglin
Horn Arrangement: Paul Hoaglin
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Produced by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Vocal comp: Jeremy Sherrer
Mixed by David Simon Baker @ Mission Bells & Laughing Tiger

Brad Brooks: Vocals, Stylophone
Paul Hoaglin: Guitars, Bass, Electric Sitar, Backing Vocals, Conga
Todd Roper: Drums. Percussion, Backing Vocals
Shay Scott: Piano, Backing Vocals
Matt Cunitz: Celeste, Hammond Spinet
Cory Wright: All Horns

2) STEAL MY DISARRAY
Written by Brad Brooks, Paul Hoaglin
Arrangement: Paul Hoaglin
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Produced by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Mixed by David Simon Baker @ Mission Bells & Laughing Tiger

Brad Brooks: Vocals
Paul Hoaglin: Guitars, Bass, Backing Vocals
Todd Roper: Drums. Percussion
Shay Scott: Wurlitzer, Backing Vocals
Matt Cunitz: Celeste
Patty Espeseth: Cello

3) WILL IT BE ENOUGH
Written by Brad Brooks
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Produced by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Mixed by Paul Hoaglin @ Klickitat Band Camp

Brad Brooks: Vocals
Paul Hoaglin: Guitars, Bass, Background Vocals
Shay Scott: Piano, Hammond Spinet
Todd Roper: Drums & Percussion

4) SPINNER & THE SPUN
Written by Brad Brooks
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Produced by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Mixed by David Simon Baker @ Mission Bells & Laughing Tiger

Brad Brooks:Vocals
Paul Hoaglin: Guitars, Bass
Todd Roper: Drums & Percussion
Shay Scott: Moog & Piano
Tahoe Jackson: Backing Vocals
Debra Luck: Backing Vocals
Lauren Carter: Backing Vocals



5) NIGHT FADES
Written by Brad Brooks, Paul Hoaglin
Arrangement & String Arrangement: Paul Hoaglin
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Produced by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Mixed by David Simon Baker @ Mission Bells & Laughing Tiger

Brad Brooks: Vocals
Paul Hoaglin: Banjo Guitar, Electric Sitar, Bass, Moog, Backing Vocals
Todd Roper: Drums & Percussion
Patty Espeseth: Cello
Matt Cunitz: Celeste, Pump Organ, Claviola.

6) BUMBELINA
Written by Brad Brooks
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Produced by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Mixed by David Simon Baker @ Mission Bells & Laughing Tiger

Brad Brooks: Vocals
Paul Hoaglin: Pedal Steel, Guitars, Bass, Backing Vocals
Shay Scott: Wurlitzer & Piano
Todd Roper: Drums & Percussion
Matt Cunitz: Pump Organ & Rhodes

7) FAREWELL TO FOLDEROL
Written by Brad Brooks, Paul Hoaglin, Todd Roper
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Produced by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Mixed by Paul Hoaglin @ Klickitat Band Camp

Brad Brooks: Vocals
Paul Hoaglin: Guitars, Bass, Bass Pedals, Backing Vocals, Oberheim, Hammond
Shay Scott: Wurlitzer, Backing Vocals
Todd Roper: Drums & Percussion
Ross McLeron: Saw

8) EXEMPLARY GIRL
Written by Brad Brooks
Arrangement by Paul Hoaglin, Brad Brooks
Produced by Paul Hoaglin, Shay Scott, David Simon Baker
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp & Mission Bells
Vocals, Piano, Guitars, recorded by David Simon Baker @ Mission Bells
Mixed by David Simon Baker @ Mission Bells & Laughing Tiger

Brad Brooks: Vocals, Acoustic guitar
Paul Hoaglin: Bass, Dilruba, Sounds of Light
Todd Roper: Drums, Percussion, Steel Pipes
James Deprado: Guitars
Patty Espeseth: Cello
Adam Rossi: Piano, B-3
Matt Cunitz: Rhodes FX
Kyle Caprista & Jeff Campbell: Backing Vocals


9) HOPE IS THAT I’VE GOT YOU
Written by Brad Brooks
Arrangement by Paul Hoaglin
Produced by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Mixed by Paul Hoaglin @ Klickitat Band Camp

Brad Brooks: Vocals, Harmonica
Paul Hoaglin: All Guitars, Bass, Backing Vocals, Thomas Organ, Secrets
Todd Roper: Drums, percussion, loop
Shay Scott: Piano

10) KNOWING WHAT THE MOMENT IS
Written by Brad Brooks
Produced by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Mixed by Paul Hoaglin @ Klickitat Band Camp

Brad Brooks: Vocals, Acoustic guitar
Paul Hoaglin: Guitars, Bass, Backing Vocals
Todd Roper: Drums & Percussion
Shay Scott: Baldwin Harpsichord & Hammond Spinet, Piano, Backing Vocals
Patty Espeseth: Cello
Elisa Randazzo: Violin
Jeni Wroblewski: Backing Vocals

11) GRAND MANNER
Written by Brad Brooks & Shay Scott
Produced & by Paul Hoaglin & Shay Scott
Arrangement & String Arrangement by Paul Hoaglin
Recorded @ Klickitat Band Camp
Mixed by David Simon Baker @ Laughing Tiger & Mission Bells

Brad Brooks: Vocals
Shay Scott: Piano, French Horn
Paul Hoaglin: Flute, Oboe, Trombone
Patty Espeseth: Cello
Pie Fiorentino: Violin

All photos by Mark Kitaoka.
CD graphic design by Tracy Martin

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Brad Brooks Oakland, California

Brad Brooks is that rare quadruple threat of writer, player, singer, and performer.
His songs combine the melodic sensibility of Elvis Costello, the best instincts of Wilco and Brian Wilson, the orchestral sophistication of Queen, along w/the Stonesy/Bowie gritty edges of rock/soul.
"If you're anything like me, you need some good news. Brad Brooks' music is that good news”……….Wayne Kramer
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