Myles Kennedy finds power in release on The Art Of Letting Go, a reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do is to stop trying to prove ourselves to others and instead focus on our own potential.
Myles Kennedy, the powerhouse vocalist from Alter Bridge and Slash & The Conspirators, is taking us on another deeply personal journey with his third solo album, The Art Of Letting Go. Following the success of 2021’s The Ides Of March, which topped multiple charts and found acclaim for its introspective storytelling, Kennedy returns with an album guided by the raw, riff-heavy honesty that made so many other great players want to work with him.
Back in Florida’s Studio Barbarosa, Kennedy reunited with longtime producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette and bandmates Zia Uddin (drums) and Tim Tournier (bass) to create a record with a singular vision. Unlike his previous solo albums, which leaned heavily on acoustic elements, The Art Of Letting Go packs a punch with heavier riffs and a sound built for the power of a live trio. This shift gives the album an electric energy, stripping down the arrangements to create a sound that’s the kind of raw rock n’ roll made for the stage.
The album kicks off with “Say What You Will,” built on hypnotic guitar hooks and thick, distorted grooves. Kennedy’s signature emotive vocals give the song a gritty introspection, and it’s clear he’s not holding back. On “Nothing More To Gain,” the swinging riffs and crashing drums create a storm of sound echoing the song’s deep lyrics, asking, “When will you learn?” It’s Kennedy’s ability to merge raw emotion with driving rock hooks that keeps listeners hanging on his every word.
“Saving Face” is another standout, with a bluesy lick that transforms into a riff-driven anthem, its chantable chorus soaring on high-register harmonies. It’s a song that perfectly captures Kennedy’s rock and blues influences, showing us his true dual nature, where he’s grounded in emotion but ready to rock at a moment’s notice. “Miss You When You’re Gone” shifts gears, layering clean guitar over a percussive march, as his lyrics remind us of the transience of all things - and how letting go is often a part of love. The finale, “How The Story Ends,” is a fitting end to an album centered on release. With moody orchestration and a soul-stirring solo, the song’s message is one of standing up for yourself, even when it means letting go of what you thought you needed. It’s about catharsis, about knowing when to move on, and Kennedy delivers it with all the weight and sincerity we’ve come to expect from him.
“You’ve got a gift, and use it,” Myles Kennedy declares, and he’s certainly using everything he’s got on The Art Of Letting Go. It’s a rock record but also a personal manifesto, delivered with power, soul, and grace. For fans, it's a chance to embrace their own beautifully messy stories and find solace in the music, and who we are as people.