A supergroup of sorts, Brad—featuring Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard on guitar, Pigeonhed and Satchel's Shawn Smith on piano and vocals, Satchel and Malfunkshun's Regan Hagar on drums, and new member Keith Lowe on bass—hardly resembles a "side project." The fully realized sound on United We Stand illustrates a keen ear for detail and establishes Smith as a formidable lead singer. Where Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder uses a heightened sense of terror to bring tunes home, Smith takes a subtler route that goes down smoothly, like well-aged whiskey. "A Reason To Be in My Skin" merges somber hard rock with a melody that recalls mid-'70s country-rock. The elastic guitars of "Diamond Blues" snap back with resolve. The piano-guitar mix of "Bound in Time" creates a haunting modern-day AOR that's deep and reflective. "Needle and Thread" flows with an ease that earns these guys a reputation as masterful veterans. The deluxe version features the iTunes exclusive "Thomas Jefferson Son" and four videos.