No Justice-2nd Avenue

No Justice is a band that has been around the Texas/Red Dirt scene for a number of years and the Steve Rice-led outfit has delivered a couple of good albums and several successful radio singles during their run. Now, they are back with a new album set to be released on the Carved Records label on July 6 entitled 2nd Avenue . Produced by Dexter Green, who is best known for his work with Collective Soul, 2nd Avenue finds No Justice exploring and expanding on what has become their signature sound to drop the best record of their career. The title track has a chorus that booms with the presence and melody of Bruce Springsteen and an emotional depth to the intro and verses that Rice hasn’t shown to this degree before. Lead single, “Love Song” opens with a bluesy, distorted guitar and builds with echoes of the Arc Angels that finds the protagonist encouraging his girl to live out one more love song.

“Just Get Going” finds Rice sounding a tad like Rob Thomas and is a revamped version of the classic country theme of saying goodbye to a failed relationship. In the hands of Green, the band utilizes an arrangement for the song that belies the lyrical content to become a triumphant break-up song. The type of tune you listen to at the time of a break-up accompanied only by the soundwaves and a cold beer to realize you truly are better off on the other side.

“Coming Up the River” is a soulful delta romp that sounds like the entire population of Muscle Shoals, Alabama will soon be oozing out of the speakers. Standout harmonica and dobro work play with big-voiced female background singers to make your foot tap and your brain picture Tina Turner pumpin’ tane down in New Orleans.

2nd Avenue is a new spin on No Justice’s version of Red Dirt music that finds them expanding their horizons and growing artistically without losing any of what made us all dig them in the first place.