Customer Reviews

Chroma

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The music featured on Cartel's debut EP "Chroma" is not something I usually find myself listening but I find it difficult not to enjoy it. Each song is filled with memorable hooks, powerful vocals, and inspired instrumentation but the thing that sets this album apart for me is the purity of the music. By this, I bring your attention to a lot of the poppier rock music one may here on radio or TV nowadays where the music is so inaccessible because it is buried beneath layers and layers of production. Other acts also exude this extreme immaturity that simply gets on my nerves.

Cartel is different in that you can tell that they know exactly what they are. The Cartel sound is exactly what Cartel wants out of itself and is not a product of musical immaturity or corporatization. It is undeniable proof that pop music isn't just for kids who don't know how to play their instruments and that pop music can be just as artistic as other genres.

My only dissent to this album is the occasional lyric that comes out as trite or overused. It's a small complaint but I grew tired of lyrics such as "it will never be the same" or "nothing can stop us now" very quickly. Although I mentioned that this album is not inspired by immaturity that is not to say that this band has already grown to its full musical maturity and potential in this their first EP. I think these guys still have a great deal of improvement in them and if they decide to keep writing these types of pop-rock songs I am sure they will continue to greatly improve. This is a band with a lot of promise and "Chroma" is a wonderful start for these guys.

Most notable tracks: Say Anything (Else), Save Us, Luckie St., Q & A

Cartel has been one of the bands I've followed for awhile now, since the release of The Ransom. That EP was vary good, one of the best debut EP's I've ever heard, so i was expecting nothing less then great from these guys...and well, they don't dissapoint. It's about the best poprock you can come across, their lead singer can SING! a rarity these days...one of the main problems with records currently is every song sounds like the next. This is faaaar from the case in Chroma. Save Us, is all piano and it sounds spectacular. The Minstrel's Prayer has these cool weird drum things going the whole way through the song and it's really different and i wasen't expecting this but they did it and it deffinitly works. Then to top it all off, the last song "A" is a 9 minute-and-change epic, and the whole song includes the best parts from a few of the previous songs on the album. The way they mix these song all together is just genius, and the first time i realized this and heard it i was just in awe. It tops my list of favorite non-classic rock epics, and that's saying alot. There are no skippable tracks, every song has it's strong points and basicly no weak points, a must pick up for any music fan


Definitly get this album, if for nothing else do it becasue then you can say "I heard of these guys before they got huge" Because Cartel is heading straight to the top.

First off, this is an amazing cd. Will's voice is amazing. All the songs are so catchy and yet they never get old. Cartel is definatly the cream of the crop of their genre. I bought this the day it came out and have listened to it at least 45 times according to my iTunes. It just doesn't get old. Now that that's over, the reason I wrote this review is because I was disgusted by the stupidity and ignorance of some of the other reviews *cough* Rocker Gal *cough*. Anyways, I'll set her straight on some things.

The last 3 songs (The Minstrel's Prayer, Q and A) are by far the highlight of the whole cd. These 3 songs are perfect, and I don't say that about a lot of songs. It is these 3 songs that elevates them above every other band in their genre. I'm positive that the band would agree with me that these 3 songs are their finest work and best accomplishment. In case you didn't read the other reviews, here is what someone said about The Minstrel's Prayer:
"10. Minstrel's Prayer: Eep. I feel almost like I'm being brainwashed into Christianity when I listen to this song. It's a slow song... still nice vocals, but it's probably my least favorite song. It's also pretty long. 3/10."
Wow, I feel sorry for you. First of all, this song has absolutly nothing to do with Christianity you idiot. Actually you could interperet it that way if you look pretty deep and make some assumptions, but I doubt you have the intellect to do dig that deep and even then it is definately not the main point of the song. By no means are you "brainwahed" into Christianity. The main lyrical theme is about how throughout all of time, "minstrel's" have written songs to win the hearts of a loved one. Musically, it is only behind Q + A. Lyrically, it is once again second to Q + A. They used 80+ drum tracks and 60+ string tracks in the recording of this song making it extremely epic sounding and unforgettable. This song alone warrants the purchase of Chroma, but the best is yet to come.

Q + A are really 2 parts of the same song. Q is the question, and A is the answer. In A, Will puts in lyrics, chord progressions, and different parts of the other songs to make a truely unforgettable song. Here's what one reviewer said:
"11. Q: Ah. I love his voice. I like how he can hit the high pitches without his voice breaking. Kind of weird lyrics, but it's still good. 6/10.

12. A: Holy cow, this is a long song (nearly 10 minutes!!) It's kind of a compilation of the rest of the songs on the album. I would listen to it more often if it just wasnt so freakin long! 8/10."
How both of these songs didn't get 10's still amazes me. I'm shocked by her lack of musical knowledge. On the plus side, she did realize that parts of other songs are mixed into A. There is hope. These lyrics are by no means weird. In one part of A, Will sings "We know there's an answer, we know now but we had to find it by ourselves". This is a reference to the great Brian Wilson and the song I Know There's An Answer off of Pet Sounds. Brian sings "I know there's an answer I know now but I have to find it by myself". The message of these songs are amazing too.

Anyways, sorry for being kind of mean, but musically ignorance and a lack of appreciation for great music really bugs me. Even though I focused on the last 3 songs, the rest of the cd is amazing too. I also highly recommend seeing them live because they put on a great show and Will sounds just as good, maybe even better live.

i plan on checking em out next month in concert, but I think they deserve more than one star...i really enjoyed the whole cd

This record shreds. The folks out there that enjoy pop-punk-rock won't be able to help themselves. Barnstormer tune: "Burn This City" - every kid out there dying to grow up and out of high school will be killing themselves to the youth-crew chorus at the end. Moments of the record remind me of the emo power of poper man-rock such as the early Hot Water Music records (but just sorta, barely).

For the most part the record is pretty straight ahead. Very little schtick. Cartel is quite refreshing in a genre full of terrible bands that can't sing, can't play, and insist on doing guitar acrobatics/backflips at shows.

What could be better:
There are a few suspect moment in regard to production - the 2 ballads are way overblown, and the final track goes techno al la Jimmy Eat World and features Cher on guest vocals.

FUN FACT: Cartel hail from Conyers, GA - home of school shootings and syphilis outbreaks (see PBS Frontline investigation).

Good lyrics, catchy guitar riffs, and a good singer. Very emo but you probably knew that already. If you're looking for a pop punk emo sound, a very good choice. Has somewhat of the generic pop punk band feel with an above average singer and great lyrics which makes them anything but generic.

I'm not a teeny bopper, let's just clarify that first before you read on. I am constantly told that I have sophisticated taste in all that is pop culture: music, movies, etc.... So now that's settled, I'll have you know that ever since hearing Honestly on my local radio station, I've been a big fan of Cartel. They're not the cliche of Fall Out Boy and Green Day. They have a fresh sound that's rather addicting! My favorite songs are:
1. Honestly- It's pop-ish but catchy!!!
2. Save Us- beautiful inspirational song, gets me motivated about life
3. If I Fail- rockerish, puts me in the mood to play my Fender
4. Mistrel's Prayer- I'm not really into most of the whole Christian rock scene (with the exception of Relient K) but I do like this song
So tell me I'm dumb, tell me I'm a TBUI (teeny bopper under influence), but don't tell me to listen to Hilary Duff or the Cheetah Girls. They're a sad attempt at music.

I really did not like this band the first time I heard them. but I finally stoped being a loser and decided to hear the whole thing all the way through. I was honestly blown away by will pughs voice and could not believe how well that kid sings. The entire cd is awesome and fun to listen to you. They grab you and u just cant stop listening. I saw them live 2 weeks ago in atlanta at the masquerade and they were perfect. amazing vocals and great music. Im going to keep my eye on this band because they have something special. If I fail, settle down, and matter of time are the best songs on the cd... honestly their first single is awesome, but I just focus all the other songs more because thats important. everybody go get this cd and have an open mind when you hear it. Cartel is a great band, I dont care what you say

"One of the 100 bands to watch in 2005" - Alternative Press

This album is amazing! The guitars are tight and the drums are solid. Don't forget Will Pugh's vocals (which are phenomenal!) This cd is a must buy for anyone who has hope in the pop-punk/pop-rock genre.

What I like about cartel is the fact that most of the songs aren't whining about someone who 'stole their heart'. They are singing about life and growing up.

Keep it up fellas!

BUY IT!

Last year two of my friends went to see Cartel in concert with The Receiving End of Sirens and said, "Wow, you've got to hear these guys." Then I listened to the song "Say Anything Else" and absolutely hated it. However, I took the CD anyways and copied it into my iTunes. A few weeks later I was going through my iTunes folder and found these guys and decided to just give them a try. I have to say, this was very impressive. The instrumentals are very solid, and their vocalist has a good voice, although it is a little high pitched. One can say this is not rock, it's pop rockers. No, that is Greenday, Blink-182 and Sum 41. Fortuanetly, Cartel has not been sucked into the the downward spiral of pop music that always sounds the same. The songs are mostly about failed relationships and good times with friends, but there is something indescribable about this music. While the songs are similar to Greenday, this band is much, much better. They have raw, fresh talent (but sound mature and professional) that blows all of the other poprock bands out of the water. Very enjoyable, this whole CD is well written, played and produced. If you think you are going to hate this you are probably wrong. Some of my favorite bands are Slayer, Metallica, Fear Factory and Cannibal Corpse, and for some odd reason I really liked this a lot.
Good Songs Are: All of them except the Minstrel's Payer, which isn't that bad anyways.