Posted on: April 28, 2009 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 0

Standing right in the middle of emo and punk, Bottom Line has shiny smiles as their dynamic allows for some of the smoothest transitions to be recorded onto disc. The intensity of arrangement found like that on “Follow Me” is one of the strongest reason that Bottom Line has provided for people to pick up this, their sophomore album. Bottom Line has really taken up the mantle of intense, yet poppy and open to all groups, regardless of musical tastes or age from bands like SR-71, Weezer, and even New Found Glory. As the tracks spin through, the one thing that comes to light more than any other factor on “Eloquence” is that this album is almost too noisy to really get a proper idea of Bottom Line’s sound. Everything seems to be pushed into the red-line, and as such static really dominates on every song where Dan’s guitar or Greg’s bass could be wowing listeners. However, in spite of this issue with the mixing, tracks like the late-disc “False Alarm” are still able to break the mold and incorporate ska into this emo-punk hybrid that Bottom Line has so successfully brought to prominence.

Bottom Line has the talent to break through the fuzz with so many different styles and arrangements that it is completely conceivable that the band could double the length of each of the tracks on “Eloquence” and still not lose listeners. The band even is able to speed up their delivery and create something in a Bad Religion/Welt vein with “Desperate Measures” without losing the specific factors and forms that make them such a revolutionary band. Including an instrumental in “Mystique”, Bottom Line takes some heavy risks with “Eloquence” that they alone are able to pull off. Having a very radio-friendly and strong song in the clean-up position after “Mystique” in “This Far From A Fire” really strengthens their case. The snotty, almost-Yellowcard vocals on the track really endear Bottom Line to their fans, and set the stage for a strong ending of “Eloquence”. Bottom Line have really set themselves nicely qwith this album, and it would not be surprising in the least to see their name as heavy hitters in the punk, emo, and popular rock scene for the next decade or two. Finishing off “Eloquence” with the very electrified “Autograph”, Bottom Line really exits the disc with the soul and power that they had started it with. Check them out.

Top Tracks: Autograph, Desperate Measures

Rating: 7.9/10

Bottom Line – Eloquence / 2005 Nice Guy Records / 12 Tracks / http://www.bottomlinepunk.com / http://www.niceguyrecords.com / Reviewed 22 March 2005

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