Cartel (Cartel album)

Prior to the release of their debut album, Cartel were attracting major label attention.[2] In September 2005, Chroma was released through independent label The Militia Group.[3] Within a year, the group signed to major label Epic,[4] and their debut album had sold over 100,000 copies.[5] Sometime in 2006, Mediaedge:cia and True Entertainment contacted Dr Pepper with the concept of placing a band inside a bubble to record an album.[6] In January 2007, Dr Pepper approached the band asking if they would like to participate.[7]

Around this time, a radio campaign was set up for potential second single "Say Anything (Else)". The group's label, however, said "We gotta do this (the bubble)." They went on further to explain, "If we take this momentum now and then dump a new record on top of it, we could probably blow it out." Vocalist/guitarist Will Pugh pondered "the timing [with a second single] wasn't going to work out with the bubble. ... But they screwed the pooch with that record. Like, how could we not work more than one single? This is insane."[8]

On May 24, 2007, Cartel entered a giant glass bubble at Hudson River Park in New York.[9] The bubble featured a modern recording studio, as well as a living area.[10] On June 12, the group left the bubble and performed a 45-minute set outside it.[6] This event, dubbed Band in a Bubble,[9] lasted for 20 days and was filmed in its entirety.[6] The band's progress was viewable via a four-episode series that aired on MTV, also called Band in a Bubble.[10] The event was live streamed[9] through a website via the use of 23 webcams.[10] At the time, Pugh called the experience "the best thing to ever happen to us. A platform this big can show the world that real bands still exist. There's no outside producer, no hidden magic, just us writing and recording. It beats the heck out of being in college."[10] However, he later admitted that the event was a marketing stunt.[9]

On June 12, 2007, "Lose It" was released as a single.[11] The group performed several gigs in July and August 2007, before going on tour with Nightmare of You and Weatherbox from August to October.[12] Prior to it, Nightmare of You had to drop off the tour due to a medical emergency and were replaced by The Honorary Title.[13] A music video was released for "Lose It" on August 9.[14] Cartel was initially planned for release on July 24,[10] before being released on August 21 through Epic.[12] It was made available for streaming via PureVolume two days later.[15] The Best Buy edition included three live-in-the-studio versions of "No Subject (Come with Me)", "This Is Who We Are" and "The Fortunate",[7] while the iTunes version included "Get Away" as a bonus track.[16]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[17]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[1]
Melodic	[18]
Punknews.org	[19]

The album received mixed reviews by critics.

Prior to the album's release, Epic Records' digital media marketing Vice President Doug McVehil said the label "absolutely benefited from Dr Pepper's commitment to market our band alongside their soda".[10] Following its release, the album debuted at number 20 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 28,000 copies in its first week.[20] By October 2009 the album had sold less than 100,000 copies since its release.[21] idobi Radio included the album on their best of 2007 list.[22]

All lyrics written by Will Pugh, all music written by Cartel.[7]

Personnel per booklet.[7]

Production

• Zack Odom, Kenneth Mount – producer, recording, mixing
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Mack Woodward, Nuwan Piyasena, Kevin Porter – assistant engineers
• Wes Duvall, Jason Gnewikow – art direction, design
• Frank W. Ockenfells III – photography
• Wyclef Jean, Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis – producer ("Wasted" remix)
• Serge "Sergical" Tsai, Zack Odom, Kenneth Mount – recording ("Wasted" remix)
• Mike "Nyte DeSalvo, Elvis Aponte – assistant engineers ("Wasted" remix)

• Cartel at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
• Cartel on Band in a Bubble at MTV