Tough Love

Description

Tough Love is the sophomore album by the American arena rock band Idle Cure, released on Frontline Records in 1988, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was engineered by Dave Jahnsen and produced by Bill Baumgart with Tim Heintz co-producing.

Idle Cure’s self-titled debut majored on bold, commercial rock sounds in unimpeachably clean production aimed at kids under the influence of arena rockers like Foreigner and Loverboy, not to mention any number of pop/metal MTV pretty boys. ‘Tough Love’ does not, as one might expect, follow along the shadow of their previous successes, «Take It» and «Breakaway». Although they continue to confront the AOR giant, Baumgart’s production is bigger and punchier, Steve Shannon’s vocals have the practiced emotional quality of Lou Graham or Steve Perry, David Huff’s drums cut through like a hammer on steel, and Shannon, Mark Ambrose and Pete Lomakin’s compositions drip with irresistible hooks. I have a feeling Petra‘s Bob Hartman, Mylon LeFevre and DeGarmo & Key would trade their eye teeth for compositions this hip, current and accessible.

Lyrically Idle Cure is addressing young college and high school kids who face the issues of self esteem and identity as Christians in a secularized society. While sloganeering rather than depth are more characteristic of the genre, I much prefer the idea of kids learning to «Draw The Line», living faith on «The Frontline», learning to «Barter Mercy» and fill their «Hungry Hearts» and «Just Believe It», than any of the usual sludge you hear in what passes for love on the radio. Now, get out of here so I can turn it down and listen to something that doesn’t make me feel old. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, October 1988]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/tough-love-remastered/387383113)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Just Believe It” – 3:49
A2. “Barter Mercy” – 4:18
A3. “Frontline” – 4:06
A4. “So Many Faces” – 3:36
A5. “Hungry Hearts” – 4:02

Side Two
B1. “One For The Money” – 3:30
B2. “How Long” 3:55
B3. “Runnin'” – 4:01
B4. “Draw The Line” – 3:19

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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