Idle Cure has always been balancing the finer sounds of keyboard-laced pop music and guitar-driven arena rock. They've hit big with hits like "Breakaway" and "Pray," but haven't laid down 10 consistent tracks on one album (in my book) after their debut. This album, the band's fifth, finds Idle Cure in comeback mode after waiting three years since its last.
Producer Billy Smiley steered the band in a little more of a heartland sound, while still retaining that polished Idle Cure personality typified by Bill Baumgart's production. This album finds the band making the best music of its career.
Aggression runs high in "Burning Gomorrah," which slows down from its raunchy rhythm only for the stacked harmonies of the chorus: "Temples are shouting/ People are turning/ Morals are melting to clay/ Cities on fire/ From rage and desire/ For sin there's a price to be paid/ Burning Gomorrah."
Recorded mostly in Nashville, the album sports an impressive list of guest musicians. Mr. Guitar hero Dann Huff (Giant) adds his fiery fretwork, Jon Knox (White Heart, Adam Again) lays down some drumming, and there's Bob Carlisle, Chris Rodriguez and Billy Smiley on BGV's. You'll hear traces of White Heart influence here, as well as some cool steel guitar additives a la Mr. Mister/Chris Isaaks/Dire Straits. Overall, it's a very clean album that's a good listen. One of the better moments comes in "Bring Me Through The Day," with it's Van Halen-like string plucking rhythm.
Lyrically, Idle Cure doesn't stray too far from the formulas that've been successful for them. Themes like love being a decision and not just a warm 'n' fuzzy feeling ("Two Hearts"), the "I owe God my everything" attitude ("The Only Thing"), and the celebration of the goodness and healing power of God ("Living Water") are edifying to the believer and offer some hope and arguments for the unbeliever to consider the Truth.
While Idle Cure doesn't eclipse their entire musical catalog with this release, they certainly have justified the choice of doing another album. This stuff is worth a listen.