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Non-Prog CD Reviews

The Cavalry

Build Your Own Empire

Review by Gary Hill

With a sound that's based in modern pop, there is a healthy dosage of alternative rock, country and more here. This is a solid set. It's basically five songs with stripped down versions of three of them completing it. The most obvious audience for this would be fans of modern pop rock, but there are some classic elements, too.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2016  Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
JFK Intro

The music here is sort of trippy and rather proggy in a lot of ways. This has soundbites of JFK. It's an intriguing bit of music that makes a great introductory piece.

Don't Mean You're Gone

An alternative rocker, this is classy stuff. It's very modern in nature, but has some definite classic elements. There are hints of things like country music in the mix here.

Wake Up Call ft. Kirstie Lane
The elements that coalesce at the start here create a dramatic mellow sound that again has some hints of prog rock. Overall this lands more in the alternative rock meets pop area of the equation. It's another meaty and yet pop oriented piece of music.
When The Radios Gone
This cut has a bit of a generic modern pop sound to it. It's definitely not the strongest thing here. It does have a nice balance between mellower and more rocking material.
Red, White & Blue Jeans ft. Nolan Neal
More of a rocker, this is not a huge change, but it works well.
Wake Up Call - Stripped
I love the piano on this mellower take on the previous tune. This has more of a country vibe in this format. I think it's also stronger like this.
When The Radios Gone - Stripped
To me this is even less effective in this version. That said, the rocking movement does work pretty well.
Red, White & Blue Jeans - Stripped
There is a lot more of a country vibe to this cut as delivered here. I think this rendition works better. The chorus hooks seem stronger like this.

 

 
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