Michael Knott decides to go for a darker sound and changes the name of his band from Lifesavers to Lifesavers Underground (L.S.U.). This is THE classic Knott album. Michael has gone on to bigger and better things since this, but this is the place where he stepped out of the constraints of CCM music and began doing what he wanted to. Shaded Pain is dark, honest and realistic about the struggles that Christians face in life. This type of brutal reality was unheard of in Christian music at the time it came out. Shaded Pain changed all of that as it influenced countless bands to be real with thier lives – not just give cookie-cutter ansswers for all of life’s problems.The music was also a huge leap forward for Michael, as Shaded Pain found him going loud and intense, as well as modern and current. Classic album, although still fairly obscure.
“Lonely Boy” is a song about bass player Brian Doidge, and Knott even painted him in the re-issue artwork paintings.
Other information:
Re-released in 1993 on Metro One Records with a slightly different cover and extra artwork.
Ojo Taylor recently told a story about how the distinct background vocals in the intro to “Bye Bye Colour” are actually Terry Scott Taylor. While recording the album, Doug Doyle found a digital sample of vocals that Knott liked and wanted to use in the song. They debated how to use and credit a digital sample, so they just used it without telling anyone. Until 2024, Terry had no idea that they had used it.
Label: | Frontline Records |
Format: | Vinyl, Cassette |
Released: | 1987 |
Genre: | Gothic / Alternative Rock |
Producer: | Chris Brigandi |
Re-Issue: | CD, Cassette; 1993 Metro One Records |
Michael Knott: | Vocals and 3 keyboard parts; cover art and all paintings |
Brian Doidge: | Less Paul gold top, Ibanez 12 string acoustic, Yamaha 6 string acoustic, and a black bass |
Kevin Lee: | Drums and cymbals |
Bridgett Knott: | Vocals on “Jordan River” & “Lonely Boy” |
Terry Scott Taylor: | Digitally Sampled Vocals on “Bye Bye Colour” |
01) | Jordan River | 3:55 | Knott | |
02) | Bye Bye Colour | 4:02 | Knott | |
03) | Die Baby Die | 2:25 | Knott | |
04) | Lonely Boy | 3:49 | Knott, Doidge | |
05) | Our Time has Come | 3:37 | Knott | |
06) | Tether to Tassel | 3:36 | Knott | |
07) | I’m Torn | 3:52 | Knott | |
08) | Plague of Flies | 1:27 | Knott, Doidge, Lee | |
09) | More to Life | 3:39 | Knott, Doidge | |
10) | Shaded Pain | 4:10 | Knott | Re-recorded as “A Shade of Pain” on PTSD |
This album rocks!!
This is my favorite Lifesavors/Lifesavers/LSU album. At the time it came out it was light years ahead of anything Christian bands were doing. This is a “must have” for any Michael Knott/Lifesavers fan.
What a great record. “More to Life” is the perfect song, but there’s so many great tracks. So good.