Who They Are: Cartel is a pop-rock outfit hailing from Georgia. By now, you've probably heard either "Honestly" or "Say Anything (Else)" from their debut album Chroma, but give that album a proper listen, and you'll understand how big this band could have been, had it not been for the "Debacle in the Bubble" fiasco that was their self-titled sophomore album. Nevertheless, the band have pressed onward after flirting with fame, and in 2009, they put together one of the great pop-rock albums in the last five years.
Why They're BotW: Pop-rock melodies are a dime a dozen, but vocalist/guitarist Will Pugh and the gang have found their niche to be catchy without being over-produced, and that's a rarity these days. You may list bands like All Time Low, Every Avenue, or Mayday Parade as your favorite band, but chances are, all three of those bands (and about a bazillion more) have taken a page or two from Cartel's book. The living legends of pop-rock have survived the one-hit wonder syndrome, and are set to release new music this year. You can catch them on tour with Set Your Goals, Hit the Lights, Fireworks, and Mixtapes this Spring, and tour dates can be found here.
What You Need to Hear: I'd put one of the two monster singles on here, but that would defeat the purpose of exposing just how good Cartel really is. Instead, I'll leave you with an absolute gem from the criminally underrated Cycles, "27 Steps":
This will be the first of hopefully a long line of bands you need to pay attention to. Cartel's been around for a while now, but they seem to have fallen by the wayside for a bunch of people, and that needs to change. Take a listen to Cycles today, and let's get Cartel back to where they belong: on the throne of the pop-rock scene.
-Donald.
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