Draw the Line (1977)
1.Draw the Line
2.I Wanna Know Why
3.Critical Mass
4.Get it Up
5.Bright Light Fright
6.Kings and Queens
7.The Hand That Feeds
8.Sight for Sore Eyes
9.Milk Cow Blues
When revisiting this era of Aerosmith’s storied discography, it becomes evident that the band was experiencing not just a musical plateau, but a deeper creative malaise. The record, while solid in its execution of hard rock fundamentals, lacks the innovative edge and vitality that defined their earlier works. This creative stagnation, by the band's own admission, coincided with escalating substance abuse and internal discord—factors that permeate the record in both tone and texture.
From a sonic perspective, the album delivers a straightforward rock experience, stripped of nuance and largely devoid of the adventurous spirit that once propelled the band to the forefront of American rock. The production feels uniform, with most tracks blending into one another without clear thematic or stylistic separation. Even the cover of Milk Cow Blues, which might have served as a distinguishing point, succumbs to this homogeneity.
Yet, within the grayness, there is a flicker of distinction. Kings and Queens, which opens the second side, stands apart—moody and mysterious, imbued with a depth and atmosphere the rest of the record fails to reach. It’s a rare moment of clarity in an otherwise clouded offering, a song that hints at the band's latent potential amidst the fog of distraction.
In retrospect, this album is perhaps best understood not as a statement of purpose, but as a document of transition—an audible chronicle of a band caught between the heights of its past and the uncertainty of its future. As a party record, it functions adequately, but as a work of artistry, it reflects a group in retreat from its own brilliance.