Like its predecessors, Myles Kennedy’s third solo album, ‘The Art of Letting Go‘, marks a pivotal chapter in his ongoing journey of self-reflection and musical exploration. Where his debut, Year of the Tiger, confronted his personal past with raw vulnerability, and The Ides of March captured the collective unease of a world on edge, The Art of Letting Go brings us to a full-circle moment.

Though ‘The Art of Letting Go‘ isn’t a concept album, a sense of cohesion runs through the record, informed by Kennedy’s present outlook on life and the human experience. Musically, the album revolves around its riffs. As Kennedy himself acknowledges, this time around, the guitar takes center stage, with the riffs acting as the welcoming committee, party host, and gentle hand that ushers you out at the end of the night. Yet despite their prominence as the driving force behind the album’s momentum, there’s no sense of overindulgence in the performances. Every riff, each arrangement, feels purposeful yet unforced, crafting a sound that is intimate but never small. Kennedy strikes a delicate balance, offering something undeniably captivating without any sense of posturing.

One of these standout moments can be found in the tongue-in-cheek titled “Mr. Downside,” where Kennedy blends humbling honesty with a playful smile. His relationship with the guitar plays a pivotal role here. As someone who identifies primarily as a guitarist, “Mr. Downside” feels like a homecoming for him. Yet Kennedy skilfully balances his roles as lyricist and vocalist, especially on reflective tracks like “Eternal Lullaby,” an ode to those who inspired him but are no longer with us, and “Miss You When You’re Gone,” which might, at first glance, seem like just another love song but instead offers an unassuming conversation between Kennedy and his muse – his own sense of creativity. He also succeeds in doing this again on the brooding “Behind the Veil.” Stripping things back, Kennedy allows his voice to take the lead, reminding listeners of the songwriter and storyteller at the heart of his work. The restraint in this track amplifies the intimacy of the record, placing his vocals front and center, where they truly belong.

Each record in Myles Kennedy’s solo catalog feels like a companion piece to the others, with ‘The Art of Letting Go‘ offering his most intimate and grounded expression yet. Its unflinching honesty, anchored in a quiet sense of hope, stands as the album’s most striking feature. Rather than surrender, it symbolizes an embrace of release, a bold act of stepping into the unknown. In letting go, Kennedy reminds us that true freedom comes not from holding on, but from the courage to turn toward what’s possible.