I’m convinced that Myles Kennedy has an endless loop of brilliant new music always beating throughout his heart and soul. I’ve been looking forward to his third solo album, The Art of Letting Go, and it didn’t disappoint – in fact, it far exceeded my expectations!
Whether it’s with Alter Bridge, Slash and the Conspirators or out on his own, this prolific songwriter, powerhouse vocalist and phenomenal guitar player has been a rock and roll force to be reckoned with for more than two decades.
His 2021 solo release, The Ides of March, was a critically acclaimed effort that’s still in heavy rotation for me, but this album is very different. The Art of Letting Go is more in line with what people would expect from Myles and includes all the sonic hallmarks I wanted to hear – soaring vocals, powerful lyrics and rock riffs at their finest.
Kicking things off is the title track and it showcases the voice that so many fans have come to love and appreciate over the years. This is a great introduction to an album that’s chock full of hard rock goodness.
The first single, “Say What You Will,” is up next. I can’t decide which blew me away more, Myles’ vocals or the ripping guitar solo on this one. Do I have to choose? Just a fantastic song.
With the massive sound exuded on this album, you would assume it’s a four, maybe even a five-piece band. But as merely a three-piece, with the uber talented Zia Uddin on drums and Tim Tournier on bass, there’s nowhere to hide, and it makes The Art of Letting Go even more impressive.
“Behind the Veil” is a beautiful, bluesy, AC/DC-ish song that puts Myles’ unique vocal style and touching songwriting skill on center stage. This one needs to be played live for sure.
For the most part, I’m not a big fan of ballads. “Eternal Lullaby” is an exception. This song could easily replace Jon Bon Jovi’s classic, “Blaze of Glory” on the Young Guns soundtrack. Deep, thoughtful lyrics and a gut-wrenching solo make this track a highlight.
“Nothing More to Gain” is likely the most reminiscent of his work in Alter Bridge, but yet it still has it’s own unique flair. There’s a weird tempo thing going on here, but it works.
The Art of Letting Go wraps up way too quickly with “Dead to Rights” and “How the Story Ends.” The former features a super-slick slide guitar solo. The latter builds from a soft, clean guitar tone to a dirty rock lick. And that vocal…amazing!
I’m sure it’s pretty obvious by now that I think Myles Kennedy is simply brilliant. If you’re a casual Alter Bridge fan or have ever thought, “hey, that guy who sings in Slash’s band is pretty damn good,” do yourself a favor and give this album a spin.
Anointing anyone a generational talent is pretty high praise, but I truly believe Myles needs to be included in that conversation. With an enormous catalog of material that just seems to get better and better with each release, I already can’t wait to hear what’s next!
I’m Music Magazine Writer Steve Pawlowski
