Description
2nd Avenue is the third album by the American arena rock band Idle Cure, released on Frontline Records in 1990. The album was recorded by Bill Baumgart and Dave Jahnsen at Jedi Masters and The Mixing Lab in Garden Grove, California; and was produced by Baumgart assisted by Beth Wisner. Mixed by Jahnsen at The Mixing Lab and Jedi Masters.
Featuring Steve Shannon on lead vocals, Pete Lomakin on keyboards and vocals, Mark Ambrose on guitar and vocals, and Clark Edmond on drums.
Idle Cure’s third album is a solid piece of controlled fury that follows music in the pattern of its breakthrough album, last year’s ‘Tough Love‘. It’s a sound not unlike arena rock, but there’s a grittiness and street-tough attitude that raises the band far above the level of formal music.
A lot of that can be attributed to lead singer Steve Shannon, whose gravelly vocals pack a snappy punch. The rest of the band are no slouches themselves, giving songs such as «Human Solution» a real workout without losing sight of the basic tune. Throughout the album, the band shows that it has a firm grip on the skill of writing tunes with both energy and melody without either being diminshed in favor or the other.
Lyrically the band covers evangelistic and exhortational fields with equal skill. Of particular note is the grace an empathy of «Content For the Faith» which is dedicated to the late Dr. Walter Martin of cult-combating fame. Intense and driving, ‘2nd Avenue’ is potent hard-edged rock ‘n’ roll that moves the heart as it kicks out the jams. [Jerry Wilson, CCM, August 1990]
2nd Avenue 35th Anniversary, Collectors Edition CD, Girder Records 2025
2025 marks the 35th Anniversary of Idle Cure’s Arena-rock album, 2nd Avenue. Look up the word EAR-CANDY in the dictionary and you might see a photo of the band Idle Cure and specifically the album 2nd Avenue. In 1990, when 2nd Avenue was released, Idle Cure had already proven themselves as melodic rock masters, but the album 2nd Avenue shot them into the stratosphere with comparisons to arena-rock bands like Def Leppard, Journey and Night Ranger. The intro keyboard on the song PRAY, sounded very similar to Mr. Crowley from Ozzy but the second the wammy bar entered, your ears you knew that this was going to be one of the great AOR Arena-Rock albums. Even though it didn’t win any official Dove or GMA awards, it earned something far more rare — respect. It became a fan favorite and to this day is one of the most requested albums.
In 2019 we remastered and reissued this album with a 6-panel foldout but it’s been out of print for a while and one of the more requested releases we get. So this time we are going bigger and better. It’s absolutely the definitive 35th Anniversary Collectors Edition CD with limited, premium, collector-grade packaging, a special Collector’s Sleeve, a LTD Collector Card, and — unlike the previous edition — an expanded 12-page booklet packed with lyrics, photos, and archival content. Fully remastered and enhanced with the Girder Treatment, this edition is the ultimate version of 2nd Avenue, crafted for fans and collectors who refuse to settle.
This 35th Anniversary Collectors Edition CD is not just a reprint—it’s the definitive version and includes 2 Bonus Tracks from POWER TO WIN and BREAK THE CHAINS, also released in 1990 as part of the Power Team Soundtrack, honoring the legacy of the album and the fans who never stopped blasting the song Pray! Limited to just 300 Collectors Edition CDs.
By 1990, the Christian rock and melodic hard rock scene was reaching new heights. Bands were leveling up in musicianship, songwriting, and production. But Idle Cure had something unique—an uncanny ability to blend radio-ready choruses with lyrical depth and musical integrity. While other bands went heavy into glam, Idle Cure leaned into high-class melodic rock that felt more like Journey, Night Ranger, Foreigner, Mr. Big, and White Heart.
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/2nd-avenue-remastered/387394066)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Pray” – 4:38
A2. “It’s No Fun Anymore” – 4:01
A3. “Human Solution” – 4:58
A4. “Picture Of Love” – 3:49
A5. “Contend For The Faith” – 4:07
Side Two
B1. “Talk It Out” – 4:28
B2. “Don’t Turn Away” – 4:04
B3. “If You Mean It” – 3:30
B4. “Dead Or Alive” – 3:58
B5. “Ordinary Man” – 4:07
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Frontline Records. Remastered and re-issued on CD by Girder Records in 2019, under license from Frontline Records, as a part of the label’s Legends of Rock Series. (Packaged in a jewel case with 6 panel fold-out featuring lyrics and photos.)
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