Artist: Myles Kennedy
Title: Year Of The Tiger
Label: Napalm

Myles Kennedy is best known as the front man of Alter Bridge, and Slash Ft Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, so many may find his solo album Year Of The Tiger, quite a departure. But, Kennedy who is never shy to tackle thought provoking and personal subject matter though his songs still delivers on this album with intensity and power, just in a more stripped back environment.

The album is intensely personal for Myles, with the subject theme throughout the album, being the death of his Father, and Myles’ struggle to come to terms with his fathers choices that lead to his death. The songs come from the standpoint of what Myles’ mother went through and his own feelings. Myles family was involved in Christian Science, and it was their belief, that medical treatment shouldn’t be sought for illness. Myles’ Father passed away after a short time, his son was only 4 at the time.

The title track starts of the album and offers up basically a forward to a book. Bringing the listener up to speed with what his mother faced at the time. While its not the heavy and crunchy guitars fans are used to, its still got a driving sound which gets you in from the first bars.

“The Great Beyond” follows up and right from the powerful yet eclectic introduction, you are taken on a journey. The rage that must have been felt at the time comes out through your speakers and its hard to ignore that pain.

“Blind Faith’s” Southern Rock flavours and soaring vocals make it a standout, but it quickly comes back down as it gets followed up by the stormy and dark “Devil On The Wall.”

My favourite track on the album is “Ghost Of Shangri La”, it has a very eastern vibe, mixed with Bluesy elements. It marks a turning point, where the family know they cannot stay and need to move on, to escape the past. This signifies where Myles mother decided to leave Boston and move to Washington. This leads into “Turning Stones”, a song about discovery and hope.

Many of the songs on the album have the underlying subject matter of questioning faith. Surely, this would have been a constant running through the head of Kennedy as he grew up. “Haunted By Design” touches on this, and has some great bluesy playing.

“Mother” is Myles tribute, to of course his mother, who had to be so resilient in this time, and is a testament to her protective and loving nature, and the desire to lead herself and her children to happiness through such a painful process. “Nothing But A Name” personally made me want to keep following my dreams and when all is said and done leave a legacy.

The final 3 songs “Love Can Only Heal”, “Songbird” and “One Fine Day” instills that you can make your way through the darkness of loss, if you want to, and the world is there in front of you to make your own, and loving yourself first will help with this.

I cannot recommend this album enough. The rawness of it all, the fact you feel every word sung, every note played through your body. Myles is a master of the melody, and this album just showcases him beyond anything I expected. Well done Myles!

Website: www.MylesKennedy.com
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Myles Kennedy on tour:

10.03.18 ZA – Pretoria / Sun Avenue
13.03.18 NL – Amsterdam / Melkweg
15.03.18 BE – Vosselaar / Biebob Club
17.03.18 UK – Birmingham / O² Institute2
18.03.18 UK – Nottingham / The Rescue Rooms
20.03.18 UK – Glasgow / The Garage
21.03.18 UK – Manchester / Gorilla
23.03.18 UK – London / Islington Assembly Hall (*2nd show added!)
24.03.18 UK – Bristol / Thekla
26.03.18 UK – London / Islington Assembly Hall
28.03.18 DE – Hamburg / Markthalle
29.03.18 DE – Cologne / Stollwerk
31.03.18 DE – Berlin / Kesselhaus
01.04.18 AT – Vienna / Arena
03.04.18 CH – Zurich / Dynamo
04.04.18 IT – Milan / Maggazini Generali
02.05.18 US – Spokane, WA / Bing Crosby Theater
03.05.18 US – Seattle, WA / The Crocodile
05.05.18 US – San Francisco, CA / Slim’s
06.05.18 US – West Hollywood, CA / Troubadour
09.05.18 US – Dallas, TX / Cambridge Room (HOB)
10.05.18 US – Houston, TX / Bronze Peacock (HOB)
12.05.18 US – Nashville, TN / Topgolf
14.05.18 US – Atlanta, GA / City Winery
16.05.18 US – Baltimore, MD / Baltimore Soundstage
17.05.18 US – Asbury Park, NJ / House Of Independents
19.05.18 US – Lancaster, PA / Chameleon Club
21.05.18 US – Boston, MA / City Winery
22.05.18 US – New York, NY / Highline Ballroom
24.05.18 US – Pontiac, MI / The Crofoot Ballroom
25.05.18 US – Dundee, IL / Rochaus