The Bottom Line
Atlanta-based punk pop band Cartel have had a big year in 2006. They came into the year named as a "Band You Need to Know" by Alternative Press magazine. They were named a "Breaker" artist by AOL Music, and, in March, Yahoo! declared them victors in the "Who's Next" competition. Now, it looks like the group are on the verge of a major pop hit single. "Honestly" is a picture-perfect single...almost a bit too perfect.
Watch "Honestly."
Pros
- Effortless melody
- Classic punk pop lyrics
Cons
- Nothing original here
Description
- Meaty guitars and percussion base
- Emotive lead vocals
- Picture-perfect pop melody
Guide Review - Cartel - Honestly
As groups like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance head into new musical territory and other bands like Simple Plan and Fountains of Wayne are temporarily missing in action, there is room on the radio for new purveyors of melodic punk pop. Enter Cartel. They've followed a well worn path through acclaim from Alternative Press magazine, extensive touring, a spot on 2006's edition of the Warped Tour and inclusion on the latest Madden NFL video game series soundtrack. Pop radio acceptance is the next logical achievement.
"Honestly" fits well on pop radio. It is highly melodic, shows off a set of emotional, but not too emotional, lyrics of young romance, and a lead vocalist who is attractive to the opposite sex. The only somewhat disturbing thing about this entire package is that it is almost too perfect. It all sounds a bit manufactured. That's true of the video as well.
I'm hoping Cartel has a little more variety up their sleeves. If that is the case, and they make good on the promise of being a top-notch punk pop band, then I will happily be singing along to "Honestly." However, I step forward with a bit of wariness.
