If you’ve been in or around the Raleigh area within the past five years you have probably seen or at least heard of Cartel, an Atlanta band with an angelic-voiced frontman and some of the catchiest tunes to hit the airwaves. Standing in the dirt and grime that is The Brewery over three years ago, this reviewer, then a starry-eyed freshman, snatched up their Ransom EP and thought, “Wow, these guys are going to be big.” Years later, with one album and a TV show under their belt, the guys are back with a new self-titled album and some much needed maturity. Horns, choirs, pianos, the occasional violin and even the almighty Wyclef Jean make appearances on this CD, but it’s hard not to feel that Cartel is trying too hard to impress. The same pop-rock you came to love on the Ransom EP and Chroma still makes an appearance, especially on tracks like “Tonight,” “No Subject (Come With Me),” and “The Fortunate.” Noticeably slower jams frequent the album, though, as in the whole second half of the album, up until the ridiculous “Wasted (remix)” which features the aforementioned Wyclef. Leave it to him to throw in an anti-war in Iraq, anti-North Korea, anti-terrorist, anti-Bush rant on the end of an innocent pop-punk album. Like your little brother trying to convince your parents that he really is old enough to stay out past 10:30, Cartel try to sound all grown-up on their new self-titled album and finish with mixed results.