Idle Cure: The Songs You Need to Hear
Shortly after Mylon LeFevre died, we posted an article highlighting some of his best songs. While it’s been some time since we published that article, it sparked an idea. We want to do the same sort of thing for other artists and bands throughout the history of CCM. We’ve been remiss in not following up on this idea sooner, but better late than never, as they say.
Today, we shine the light on one of the stalwart bands of the late 1980’s and early 90’s. Idle Cure (primarily comprised of Steve Shannon, Mark Ambrose, and Pete Lomakin) released their self-titled debut album in 1986. They went on to release a total of 5 albums, with their final album, Eclipse, coming out in 1994. While they lacked originality, borrowing heavily from the big hitters of the arena rock world like Def Leppard, they made up for it with passion, skill, and a go-for-broke attitude. As far as we’re concerned, we would take that trade off any day. Give us “guts and glory” music over the recycled pablum that saturates the Christian radio airwaves these days.
We’ve organized this group of songs as a playlist, which you can find at the end of this article. One thing will immediately stand out: Idle Cure was a hard rock band, with little interest in subtlety. Yes, there is an element of cheesiness to this music now, and maybe even back then, but that is far outweighed by the passion and the intensity they brought to every song. For the most part, they stuck with their tried-and-true formula, though they did branch out a bit on their final album. If loud, in-your-face, top of their lungs rock and roll is not your thing, your free to bail on this article now.
Here are the essential Idle Cure songs you absolutely need to hear.
Frontline (1988)
From their sophomore release, “Frontline” is a perfect introduction to what Idle Cure brought to the table. It’s big and bold and full of bravado. And it rocks. They don’t make music like this anymore, not just the style or the sound, but the swagger. Idle Cure was filled to the brim with swagger. We need more swagger in our music.
Pray (1990)
“Pray” is the opening track off the band’s third album, Second Avenue. The album as a whole ups the ante on what the band had done before. It’s louder, grittier, and even more in your face. This was a massive hit for the band, charting as the number 1 rock song for most of the year on Christian radio.
Who Cries For Me (1991)
From their fourth album, “Who Cries For Me” is a perfect example of the directness of Idle Cure. While some could look at their lyrics as being preachy, their straightforward approach left no doubt where they stood on issues. Whether it was pride, lust, pornography, abortion, or any other hot-button topics, they sang with conviction and clarity. Plus, the bridge of this song is one of the coolest things to come out of this style of music.
Picture of Love (1990)
Idle Cure didn’t just live in the hard rock world. They had room in their repertoire for ballads and even some pop rock numbers. “Picture of Love”, from their third album, 2nd Avenue, is the perfect example of how fun and beautiful their music could be when they turned things down just a bit.
Holy Mountain (1991)
This was about as close to a worship song as Idle Cure would put out. And they nailed it. It’s poetic and inspiring.
Take It (1986)
The first ballad on our list and it’s a good one. Idle Cure meets Peter Cetera and Chicago. Vocalist Steve Shannon brings it on this one and really shows off his vocal skills. This song went number one across the country.
Just Believe It (1988)
This is Idle Cure’s best song, top to bottom. From the opening drums to the building tension, it has everything a late 80’s rock song needs. Any 80’s rock playlist would be lucky to have this song on it.
Pour Out My Soul (1994)
The first track on our list from their final album. It’s always been disappointing that the band hung it up after this album. The music world, particularly the rock landscape, had shifted dramatically around this time. That left bands like Idle Cure either trying to reinvent themselves completely or try to find a middle ground. They opted for an evolution but still did a wonderful job of retaining their best attributes. This song is a great representation of that change.
Breakaway (1996)
From their debut album, “Breakaway” is more of what fans loved about their music. The song struts. It just does. It was also an immediate breakout hit for the band.
It’s No Fun Anymore (1990)
This one will punch you in the face. Rock bands not being afraid to rock out. Novel idea there. Wonder what happened to it…
The Higher We Climb (1991)
From the opening notes of this one, they reach for the skies. They downshift a bit for the verses and then crank things up to 11 again on the chorus. And as was their habit, they add an absolute banger of a bridge to seal the deal.
How Long (1988)
One of their breakout ballads, “How Long” includes all the elements of late 80’s rock ballads. They weren’t breaking any ground, but they sure were checking all the boxes with absolute precision.
The Only Thing (1994)
One of the last songs on their final album, “The Only Thing” is one of the best things the band ever produced. It’s mature, more sonically complex than usual, and overflowing with heart. It’s the prayer from a band who only tried to point people to Jesus. The guitar work is especially noteworthy.
Final Thoughts
This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but we do think it’s a good representation of their sound. Idle Cure was a band who gave their fans exactly what they wanted: Bold and vibrant rock and roll. While they didn’t have the longevity of some of their contemporaries, (Petra, Whiteheart, DeGarmo and Key), they delivered five solid albums that left their mark on the world of Chrisitan music. Let’s not forget the role bands like Idle Cure played in establishing Christian Rock as a viable and relevant art form.
- Stop Whining and Choose Gratitude - May 16, 2025
- Idle Cure: The Songs You Need to Hear - April 25, 2025
- “The Great American Midrange” by The Elms (Rambling Ever On Revisits) - April 4, 2025
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