• Artist of the Month Page
• Cartel Game with Fame Sweepstakes.
• Cartel on  MSN Music.
• Cartel web site.

Artist of the Month:

Cartel

Not content with simple success, Cartel, the rock fivesome from Atlanta, Georgia, is now on the road to change the face of music. Viewing themselves as 'minstrels of their day', Cartel tries to go further than typical pop songs, striving to bring a real-life feel into all of their songs. On their new album, Chroma, they do just that, dedicating songs to youthful angst, love, frustration, and lessons learned. They started out as a simple pop-punk band, but now they're putting themselves on the map as a band to watch out for.

Cartel: They want to be remembered.

With the release of their EP Ransom, Cartel began touring and turning heads. Touring this summer with the Vans Warped Tour in support of their new album is a whole new opportunity. No longer content to be pigeon-holed as a pop-punk band, they have mined their musical histories, going back to roots in alternative rock, and even as far back as music associated with earlier generations, like the Beach Boys. Songwriter Will Pugh even gives a small tip of the hat to Brian Wilson in the Chroma song Answers.

Pushing not just to write music for masses, or music that will be popular, but music that will matter, Cartel do not lack for ambition. They want to not only entertain, but to inspire. To craft songs that will be as timely in twenty years as they are tomorrow. With such a strong, specific goal, you can't help but agree with the Alternative Press. Cartel certainly looks like a "Band You Should Know."