The Art of Letting Go
Myles Kennedy's voice gets most of the attention, which is understandable. On The Art of Letting Go, his guitar playing gives it some proper competition. This third solo album moves towards heavier rock, with riffs and vocal melodies that seem equally important to the songs.
The title track opens confidently. The guitar gives it weight and movement, while Kennedy's voice provides a clear emotional direction. The combination will feel familiar to Alter Bridge listeners, though the more focused setting gives him room to shape both sides himself.
Mr. Downside continues that stronger rock approach, and Saving Face is one of the album's clearest highlights. The vocal rises above a substantial guitar part without making the instruments feel secondary. Kennedy can make a chorus large while keeping the detail around it interesting.
Say What You Will adds more tension. The playing has enough force to match the defiant feeling in the words, and the arrangement gives the song a clear sense of release. It's a good example of the guitar and voice making the same point through different means.
The quieter songs are just as important. Miss You When You're Gone deals with absence in a way that leaves room for different kinds of loss, while Eternal Lullaby gives the album one of its most thoughtful melodies. Kennedy's control makes those moments feel considered rather than simply smaller versions of the louder songs.
The resemblance to his other work is sometimes close. This is less of a stylistic departure than his earlier solo records, and a few songs could comfortably sit alongside Alter Bridge material. That also makes the album easy to enter for listeners who already like his heavier writing.
How the Story Ends closes with a darker atmosphere, giving the record a more reflective destination. The strongest songs have plenty of guitar character, but they also show a writer interested in finding some calm inside the noise. The Art of Letting Go is a very good reminder that Kennedy brings much more to a rock record than an impressive set of high notes.
