According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, 1974 was known as the Year of the Tiger. For rock vocalist Myles Kennedy, 1974 has a much more significant meaning. It was the year he lost his father. Kennedy takes on this very difficult subject musically in his first solo album, “Year of the Tiger.” The new album was seven years in the making and is a very intimate journey of catharsis as Myles deals with the issues of anger and grief before finally coming full circle into acceptance.
Unlike his music with Alter Bridge and with Slash in Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, “Year of the Tiger” is full of blues, country, and Americana styles. With his vocals dominant in the mix, this really is Kennedy at his most vulnerable , raw and full of emotion. Myles of course handles vocals and guitar as well as banjo, lap steel guitar, and even the mandolin with Zia Uddin behind the kit and Tim Tournier on bass. The music is strong and powerful in its simplicity sometimes telling his story through the eyes of his mother which he does in the title track and other times from his own perspective. The song writing is amazing with beautiful strings in the somber and poignant “The Great Beyond” and soaring vocals on “Blind Faith.” “Devi l on the Wall” has a catchy bluesy stomp and “Nothing But a Name” takes on a real country vibe. Vocally Kennedy is one of the best in the business and this album is no exception. Standout tracks include “Mother”and the album closer “One Fine Day” during which Myles can finally let “Let It Go.”
For his first solo outing, Kennedy delivers the album he has needed to make his entire life and does so with a passion that is truly sublime.
