Myles Kennedy - The Art of Letting Go (Album Review)
Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Written by Simon Ramsay
Photo: Chuck Brueckmann
During a recent interview on Justin Hawkins’ YouTube series, Myles Kennedy was heralded as “the pre-eminent rock vocalist of our time” by someone who should know. But although that claim is merited, the Alter Bridge man’s hard-rocking third solo album once again showcases an artist who’s got more to offer than a recognisable voice. ‘The Art of Letting Go’ showcases his potent all-round game, from instinctive compositional smarts and sublime guitar playing to pensive lyricism and dynamic craftsmanship.
Where previous solo efforts sailed into very different stylistic waters, with 2018’s ‘Year of the Tiger’ delivering folk-rock excellence and ‘The Ides of March’ a winning smorgasbord of electro-acoustic Americana, everything about Kennedy’s return to rock ‘n’ roll on this appropriately named record was influenced by a self-professed worrier gaining mastery over his inner critic.
With his focus on staying present, rolling with the punches, taking chances and becoming less reactive, Kennedy ditched past concerns about making a riff-driven solo record, for fear of replicating other projects and boxing himself into a corner, to sculpt a full blooded rock album full of complexities and positive resolution.
Both Mr Downside’s tumbling Pearl Jam rhythms and Nothing More to Gain, which somehow melds Dream Theater, Queens of the Stone Age and Muse without sounding like any of them, are inspirational, while Miss You When You’re Gone’s melancholic shimmer underpins a gorgeous ode to deep appreciation.
How The Story Ends, based on Danish horror film Speak No Evil, warns us not to be pushed around over spooky chords that recall something from Queensrÿche’s seminal ‘Operation Mindcrime’.
Helping to distinguish this from Alter Bridge’s heavier approach, different eras and styles of rock music have been skillfully worked into a thunderous collision of vintage and contemporary by Kennedy, drummer Zia Udin and bassist Tim Tournier.
Say What You Will binds fuzzed up Mark Knopfler licks with pummelling post-grunge riffage, the title track offers a fist pumping battle cry and Dead to Rights tips its hat to Big Wreck with a thrillingly raucous slide solo.
Throughout, it’s crystal clear why Mark Tremonti and Slash have both described Myles as being the best guitarist in their respective bands. Starting with jazz-inflected arpeggios in the Led Zeppelin vein, before a super cool Billy Gibbons riff and atmospheric solo that recalls Joe Bonamassa, Behind the Veil finds his six-string touch exquisitely tasteful, never showy and always in service to the song.
Not one to play the rock ‘n’ roll star, every element of Kennedy’s skillset flows from his new age sense of introspection, empathy, humility, relatable insecurities and desire to come to terms with life’s ‘raging rivers. And with that voice unleashing a consistently uplifting barrage of huge choruses, it’s impossible to emerge from this record without feeling empowered to stare down trouble in all its forms.
Myles Kennedy Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon November 25 2024 - GLASGOW Galvanizers Yard SWG3
Wed November 27 2024 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy 1
Fri November 29 2024 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Sat November 30 2024 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Mon December 02 2024 - CARDIFF Great Hall - Cardiff University
Tue December 03 2024 - LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
Thu December 05 2024 - DUBLIN Academy
Fri December 06 2024 - BELFAST Limelight
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