The
Cavalry - Build Your Own Empire
Build
Your Own Empire is the first release from one-man Nashville Rock outfit The
Cavalry. Tristan Jackson, the songwriting vision behind the project, proves
himself to be a wildly talented figure with this offering. He’s already
established a reputation as a quality first-tier supporting actor, but Build
Your Own Empire distinguishes him as a gifted vocalist and nuanced songwriting
with a mastery over his chosen idiom. Jackson conjures up universal images
through the prism of his own experience and creates eminently relatable tracks
that will please a broad-based swath of the listening public. The EP’s five
tracks follow a general similarity of plot, but there are important variations
from song to song that help set them apart from each other. The collaborators
he brings into the mix are another important factor in the music’s success.
Jackson works with, among others, the songwriters of the group Love & Theft
to craft a singular listening experience.
“Don’t
Mean You’re Gone” is a resounding song with a light touch that brings together
pleasing strains of melody with tone-setting drumming. Jackson carefully weaves
the song’s various elements together in such a way that no one particular
strain assumes prominence over the others and balances his vocal, as well, with
expected attentiveness. None of the album’s songs risk over-indulgence and
never run longer than four minutes. “Wake Up Call” is the album’s single ballad
and, accompanied by guest vocalist Kristie Lane, soars high on its orchestrated
texture and superb vocal performances from both singers. Like some of the EP’s
other songs, “Wake Up Call” has an impressive amount of sound but never achieves
such density that it slows up the track in a negative way. It comes at a great
place in the running order because it gives listeners an entertaining one-two
punch in tandem with the EP’s fourth song, “When the Radio’s Gone”. The
commercial leanings of this song are much stronger than the earlier numbers and
its mood, deliberate yet wonderfully organic, agrees wonderfully with the
preceding song. Jackson excels with the big chorus and this is probably the
best example yet of Jackson’s skill with this facet of songwriting. His vocal,
likewise, underscores the strength of this part of his game.
“Red,
White, & Blue Jeans” has a much more cluttered vibe than the earlier songs,
but there’s still much of the melodic strength and southern rock attitude
fueling this track that made the earlier numbers so memorable. Guest vocalist
Nolan Neal brings a lot to the song without ever competing with Jackson for
attention. It ends Build Your Own Empire on a rousing note that will pick up
even the most jaded of music fans. Tristan Jackson has a rambunctious vocal
edge that emerges on this album, but he has also has an impressive fluency that
allows him to convincingly inhabit any style. The five songs on this EP have
something to offer any listener of this style and should touch a wide audience
of potential fans.
9
out of 10 stars
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