Myles Kennedy releases his second solo album, The Ides of March Alter Bridge and alongside Slash and The Conspirators, takes the listener on a journey showcasing his vocal prowess and guitar technique in this project.
Like Year of the Tiger , the title hides a meaning with several possible interpretations. In his first solo album, with a predominance of blues and even country in its sound, the year 1974, the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar, marks the death of Kennedy's father, who was only five years old at the time, and also signifies courage, renewal, and strength.
In The Ides of March , the musician takes advantage of the prophetic day of March 15th, known as the Ides of March, marked by the prophecy of the assassination of Julius Caesar in Ancient Rome, immortalized in the work of William Shakespeare . From this premise, Kennedy offers a profound and political reading of contemporary society, with positions on personal and collective relationships, prompting us to reflect on what awaits us tomorrow.
Almost two months late in relation to the historical event that inspired the title, the musician told the Appetite for Distortion that the original intention was to release the project in March , but it wasn't possible to finish it in time. "At least it starts with M," he joked about the choice of the new date.
With songs written at various points in his career, including tracks shelved for a decade and compositions started during the period of social isolation, Kennedy doesn't abandon the influences that marked his solo debut, delivering an album more focused on rock than its predecessor.
As the artist himself detailed in a track-by-track analysis of the album for Loudwire , the songs go through moments of deeper reflection on interpersonal relationships, singing about love, longing and loss, the importance of tranquility in dark times, and move on to macro scenarios with observations about the need for new dynamics between human society, the environment and animals in times of extreme polarization and such an intense flow of news that reality itself is distorted.
In his closing message, Myles Kennedy reinforces the message of so many compositions on Alter Bridge, expressing his hope that everyone can change their individual and collective lives with dedication and sincere commitment.
READ ALSO: Myles Kennedy reflects on the prophecy from the movie 'Rock Star' in his own life.
