In the grand tradition of
Bono's the Fly,
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust, and
Garth Brooks' Chris Gaines, painter/musician
Chris Taylor assumed the "anti-hero alter ego" of
Cavalier King on his 2006 release
The Sun Revolutions. It appears as though
the King's debut full-length is a concept album of sorts, but as its press release states, the album "tells of an awakening in a fearful and ever-darkening world, dominated by wrenching loss and worse, crushing tedium." If that weren't confusing enough, it also warns that the tracks on
The Sun Revolutions are "not merely stories, but epic expressions of chivalry, valor and the search for truth." Enough with this heavy-handed insight -- the album is full of alt-pop/rock that at certain points brings to mind a few renowned artists. At various points,
Cavalier King brings to mind
Jeff Buckley (especially
Taylor's vocals on the album opening "Renegade"),
Morrissey ("Angels of Mars"),
Jonathan Richman ("The Finest Hour"), and even
Rufus Wainwright ("Champagne & Cocaine") -- if the latter strummed an electric guitar instead of plunking on a piano. While
The Sun Revolutions may have some deep meaning within its lyrics, fans of crafted rock should be able to enjoy it on a purely musical level. ~ Greg Prato