The late 90’s through the mid aughts were a five year period that defined pop punk. You had Blink 182’s Enema of the State, Sum 41’s All Killer No Filler, and Green Day’s Dookie that by and large defined the genre, and then the variety of subsequent offshoots which took that formula and tweaked it ever so slightly to bring something new to the genre.
Cartel’s 2005 album Chroma has always occupied a relatively unique place in my heart in that it is one of the best guitar-driven pop punk albums of the decade. Guitarists Joseph Pepper and Nic Hudson absolutely shred throughout the entirety of this album, laying down hooks and uniquely syncopated rhythm sections with aplomb. There are so many excellent guitar moments on this album that feel massive and huge even 20 years later after its release (“Luckie St.” and “Honestly” being two of the best examples). Combined with the excellent vocals of lead singer Will Pugh and the band managed to create an experience that stands today as a sterling example of the best mid 2000’s pop punk had to offer and what makes it so damn compelling and relevant even in the 2020’s as it experiences a bit of a resurgence. Massive hooks, larger than life rhythm sections, and guitars that sounded gritty as hell but mixed with clarity all at once.
It’s an album that I always return to when I’m looking to feel 15 again and never feels like a guilty pleasure.
Standout Songs: “Say Anything (Else)”, “Luckie St.”, “Runaway”, “Honestly”
