The Sun Revolutions

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.