The Ides of March is the second solo album by American singer and guitarist Myles Kennedy. It was released on May 14, 2021 via Napalm Records.[4] In an interview with Kylie Olsson, Kennedy stated that he was listening to this record and told himself that he basically just made a "rock" record but only adding elements from his previous solo effort like acoustic guitar and lap steel guitar.[8]
| The Ides of March | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 14, 2021 | |||
| Studio | Studio Barbarosa, Orlando, Florida | |||
| Length | 51:29 | |||
| Label | Napalm | |||
| Producer | Michael "Elvis" Baskette | |||
| Myles Kennedy chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth | 7/10[1] |
| Classic Rock |   [2] |
| Distorted Sound | 7/10[3] |
| Kerrang! |  [4] |
| Metal Hammer | [5] |
| Riff Magazine | 9/10[6] |
| Sonic Perspectives | 8.5/10[7] |
It was chosen by Loudwire as the 29th best rock/metal album of 2021.[9]
Background
editIn an interview with Loudwire, Myles explained the meaning behind every track of the record and its story behind it. For the song "Get Along," it is basically about the 1992 Los Angeles riots and how the lyrics affected 2020. "A Thousand Words" is about his friend's father's mother and how she was standing in an old photograph. The song "In Stride" is about a survivalist preparing for an impending zombie apocalypse. The title song, "The Ides of March," is about warning and a bleak outlook to remind us who we are. "Wake Me When It's Over" is about Myles's alcohol addiction during the pandemic and how he was very bored during lockdown. The song "Love Rain Down" is about a desire for answers and unity in the world. "Tell It Like It Is" is about speaking your mind when you've had enough. The song "Moonshot" is about the eagerness to go back on tour with his bandmates. For the song "Wanderlust Begins," it is about the yearning to set out and start over from the beginning. "Sifting Through the Fire" is basically about getting the wrong information, whether it's from the news or social media. The final song on the album, "Worried Mind," is about the assurance that someone is willing to remain steadfast for something while calling on the need to compromise.[10]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Myles Kennedy
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Get Along" | 4:12 |
| 2. | "A Thousand Words" | 3:41 |
| 3. | "In Stride" | 3:47 |
| 4. | "The Ides of March" | 7:39 |
| 5. | "Wake Me When It's Over" | 4:44 |
| 6. | "Love Rain Down" | 5:00 |
| 7. | "Tell It Like It Is" | 4:16 |
| 8. | "Moonshot" | 4:57 |
| 9. | "Wanderlust Begins" | 4:06 |
| 10. | "Sifting Through the Fire" | 4:26 |
| 11. | "Worried Mind" | 4:41 |
| Total length: | 51:29 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "The Ides of March" (demo) | |
| 13. | "Get Along" (demo) | |
| 14. | "A Thousand Words" (demo) |
Personnel
edit- Myles Kennedy – vocals, guitar, banjo, lap steel, bass guitar, mandolin
- Zia Uddin – drums, percussion
- Tim Tournier – bass guitar
- Michael "Elvis" Baskette – keyboards, producer, mixing
- Jef Moll – engineering, digital editing
- Brad Blackwood - mastering
Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[11] | 8 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] | 106 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[13] | 132 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] | 57 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] | 9 |
| Polish Albums (ZPAV)[16] | 36 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[17] | 5 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] | 11 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[19] | 20 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[20] | 1 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[21] | 1 |
| US Billboard 200[22] | 170 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[23] | 26 |
| US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[24] | 7 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[25] | 33 |
References
edit- ^ Lawson, Dom (May 12, 2021). "CD reviews: The Ides of March – Myles Kennedy". Blabbermouth. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ Flys, Phoebe (May 15, 2021). "The Ides Of March confirms Myles Kennedy as a musical powerhouse". Classic Rock. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ^ Howkins, Jessica (May 13, 2021). "ALBUM REVIEW: The Ides Of March – Myles Kennedy". Distorted Sound. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Beebee, Steve (May 10, 2021). "Album review: Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March". Kerrang!. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ Hill, Stephen (May 10, 2021). "Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March". Metal Hammer. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ DeWal, Mike (May 14, 2021). "ALBUM REVIEW: Myles Kennedy shows his range on bluesy 'The Ides of March'". Riff Magazine. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Jonathan (May 15, 2021). "Myles Kennedy - The Ides of March (Album Review)". Sonic Perspectives. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ "MYLES KENNEDY To Release Sophomore Solo Album, 'The Ides Of March'". Sonic Perspectives. February 17, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ "The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. December 10, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "Myles Kennedy Explains the Meaning of Each Song on His New Album 'The Ides of March'". Loudwire. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ^ "Myles Kennedy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
- ^ "Myles Kennedy Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
- ^ "Myles Kennedy Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
- ^ "Myles Kennedy Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2021.