Album Review: Where Did All My People Go

The Prairie Cartel‘s debut album Where Did All My People Go is to electronic music what cheap beer is to a raging house party — necessary. Although the band just released their first album, this quartet has been around for a while. Formed in 2005, The Prairie Cartel is made up of Chicago-based rockers Scott Lucas (Local H), and Blake Smith and Mike Willison (both from Caviar and Fig Dish). Where Did All My People Go is a 78-minute roller coaster of catchy 80s punk music and it’s made especially for garage parties everywhere.

In their debut album, The Prairie Cartel dedicate most of their songs’ lyrics to drugs, sex and homicide, but don’t be fooled, these songs are ridiculously catchy and will keep you coming back for more. Take, Keep Everybody Warm, which pretty much repeats the title over and over again, yet it never gets dull. The drums are working overtime to keep the party going. Although most of the album is dedicated to DJ’s and house parties everywhere, The Prairie Cartel did make room for something edgier. Jump Like Chemicals and Magnetic South are stellar tracks that shine above the rest because they can be listened to without feeling like you have to have a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

Despite the length and repetition of lyrics, Where Did All My People Go is a raw and raging party-provoker. Although the electronica band is heavily influenced by electronic house and funk, they manage to stay original.

Where Did All My People Go was released on October 20, 2009.

Tracklist

1. Keep Everybody Warm
2. Suitcase Pimp
3. Lost All Track of Time
4. Cracktown
5. Beautiful Shadow
6. Homicide
7. Narcotic Insidious
8. Ten Feet of Snow
9. Jump Like Chemicals
10. No Light Escapes Here
11. Cobraskin Briefcase
12. Burning Down the Other Side
13. Magnetic South
14. Fuck Yeah That Wide
15, The Glow is Gone