Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley hits his stride on Long Trip Alone, not only as a country singer, but as a songwriter (he co-wrote all 11 tunes here) and musician. The narrative alone on the honky-tonkin' "That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me" is hit worthy. As he unravels confessions of his rock star life (enjoying everything from groupies to the "fruit" of outlaw horticulture with Willie Nelson in his tour bus), you get the sense that Bentley isn't going to be living the suburban khaki slacks-and-minivan-life any time soon. "Soon As You Can" is living proof that a love song can rock (dig that outro jam).

A thirty-year-old Phoenix native with a posh suburban tenor, Bentley can liken himself, as
he does here on the rolling "Hope for Me Yet," to "a worn-out pair of boots." Why? Because
his music sustains one rugged country sound, a real down-home mix of honky-tonk
directness and fluid Nashville virtuosity. Aside from the gorgeous gospel of "The Heaven I'm
Headed To," these road songs lack the rascally attitude of Bentley's knockout 20... More >