Automatic Loveletter played 2008’s Bamboozle, Bamboozle Left, and Vans Warped Tour (They’ll also be on this year’s version), but due to a lack of support from Epic, has only released two EPs.  Now with Sony, their first full length album, Truth or Dare, drops June 22.  Even if you haven’t heard Automatic Loveletter before, chances are you have heard vocalist Juliet Simms since she has been featured on songs like All Time Low’s “Remembering Sunday” and Cartel’s “Lose It” and it’s her husky, passionate voice that sets Automatic Loveletter apart from other rock bands with female vocalists.
 
Truth or Dare is Automatic Loveletter’s first real chance to prove they are a marketable band and they take full advantage.  Opening track “Heart Song” is heavy on sassy attitude, catchy riffs, and fun gang vocals: perfect for a summer anthem and sure to get plenty of radio play.  “Don’t Let Me Down” is less edgy but better shows off Juliet’s gorgeous, throaty voice.  There are nice changes in tempo and it’s virtually impossible not to sing along with the chorus.  The bland, generic lyrics of “Fade Away” get needed punch from Juliet’s emotion-drenched voice, but with the tame guitar work, this is a mostly forgettable song.  The flowing, haunting “Hush” has appeared on both Automatic Loveletter EPs and is very familiar to fans, so including it here, even if it has been tweaked, feels like a cheat. 
 
“Story of My Life” is just that: a heartfelt tale of Juliet’s rise in the music business.  Her vocals get a bit shrill in a couple spots, but this is a fun and empowering song.  “Day that Saved Us” (previously known as “The Day that Saved Us”) builds beautifully from gently strummed acoustic guitar and murmured vocals to a soaring, chorus with crashing guitar and drums.  “To Die For” is a by the numbers track about how hard love is that showcases the worst affectations of Juliet’s vocals. I love that her voice is husky and emotional and imperfect, but here she tries much too hard to change it up and she ends up shrieking.
 
“Let it Ride” is another track I think will have big airplay.  It’s a perfect song for speeding down the highway, top down, singing along at the top of your lungs.  “Eyes on You” is a stunning ballad with minimal instrumentation that showcases the best variations in Juliet’s vocals.  I love the keyboards in “My Goodbye.”  They add a nice depth and gentleness to an otherwise driving rock tune.  “Butterflies” has some of the more interesting lyrics on the disc as Juliet recounts her shame over actions in a bad relationship.  Her voice is extra-scratchy (in a good way) as she mourns “I felt like a goddess/But the truth is I was so f*cking heartless.”  The haunting rock ballad “Back to Life” is a strong album ender.
 
The delay in releasing an album may have helped Automatic Loveletter in the long run because Truth or Dare is surprisingly mature for a debut.  Despite occasionally simplistic or clichéd lyrics, the songs are richer than a lot of what is out there right now and the fraying of Juliet’s lovely, melodic voice adds just enough raw grit to keep anything from being too pretty.  There are some pitch and affectation issues, but the sheer power and gutsy emotion of Juliet’s voice surpasses them. 
 
Tracklist:
1. Heart Song
2.  Don't Let Me Down
3.  Fade Away
4.  Hush
5.  Story of My Life
6. Day They Saved Us
7.  To Die For
8.  Let It Ride
9.  Eyes on You
10. My Goodbye
11. Butterflies
12. Back to Life