Unhappy Without Knowing Why

Many great musicians and/or rock groups out there are looking to find sounds or methods never heard before in hopes of becoming immortalized by a few great albums. It’s not ironic that most music lovers are mining CD stores, amazon.com, and eBay for the same. Thus, when a group like Cavalier King debuts with The Sun Revolutions, they should set themselves apart from their contemporaries for the same reason.This band plays decent guitar rock with emo angst, but not the volume. Chris Taylor has conviction in his vocals and the songs really aren’t bad on the surface. One could listen to this album a couple of times through without complaints. Musically, the only issue is the similar sound to a synthesizer-less Killers. Examining the lyrics will reveal a band covering similar bases of the aforementioned, except the aspirations are shallower.

The band shows some moxie with lyrics like “So it came out one day / That I don’t pray to virgin mothers / And I have no faith / In a supernatural martyr” from the opener, “Renegade.” However, the rebellion is ended when the benign chorus, “Don’t fool around / This is not for children,” is howled by the singer. This aimlessly angry poser dynamic only presents the angst, no reasons or motivation. From that, all the listener receives is a bad attitude tattooed throughout the album, especially in “The Unprotected,” “Cavalier King,” and “Victory.”

Cavalier King is an energetic group with pop sensibility. Though The Sun Revolutions provides an inviting first listen, anything after reveals the hollowed out anger of someone who’s more of a sour puss more than anything else.