Make A Sound

Autopilot Off: Chris Johnson (vocals, guitar); Chris Hughes (guitar); Rob Kucharek (bass); Phil Robinson (drums).
Producers: Greig Nori, Chris Johnson, John Naclerio.
Recorded at Ocean, Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, California; Metal Works, Ontario, Canada; Nada, Windsor, New York; Larrabee East, Hollywood, California.
On the group's first major-label full-length album, Autopilot Off delivers the same vital mix of hard-edged emo-core and So-Cal pop-punk as on its self-titled EP and indie-label debut, but ups the ante with extra doses of craft and fuller production values. Unlike many of its Orange Country contemporaries, Autopilot Off forgoes the snotty teenage attitude in favor of unusually well-written, heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics brimming with passion and urgency. In addition, the band isn't afraid to push the genre's well-defined boundaries a little, often inserting bits of punky art-rock (on the Pixies/Archers of Loaf-esque "Blind Truth") and speed-metal-like machine-gun guitar blasts (during the bridge of "I Know You're Waiting"). An accomplished first volley by a thoughtful and technically accomplished group of musicians, MAKE A SOUND casts the pop-punk/emo field in a more serious and welcome light.