Music review: Dierks Bentley – 鈥楾he Mountain鈥�
On his ninth album, Dierks Bentley hopes to take his music and career to a higher level.
Recorded in Colorado, 鈥淭he Mountain鈥� is an earthy combination of bluegrass, rock and mainstream country.
Unlike Justin Timberlake蘑菇视频 鈥淢an of the Woods,鈥� Bentley reconnects with nature and the things around him that are many times taken for granted.
When Bentley sings about navigating the everyday ups and downs of life with a renewed appreciation, the message hits home with a comforting familiarity that we all have experienced in one way or another.
On the album opener, TJ and John Osborne of Brothers Osborne join Bentley on the guitar-driven 鈥淏urning Man,鈥� describing the complexity of understanding who we are and what role we play in this world.
The title track follows with welcoming guitar riffs that are reminiscent of Tom Petty蘑菇视频 鈥淢ary Jane蘑菇视频 Last Dance.鈥�
Bentley addresses the desire to push forward no matter the circumstances as he sings, 鈥淲ell you better know the bottom if you wanna be a climber/鈥機ause there蘑菇视频 always another one a little bit higher/Just when I think I鈥檓 finally done, I鈥檓 staring at another one/So I reach down deep and I lace them up tighter.鈥�
The album蘑菇视频 first single, 鈥淲oman, Amen,鈥� is a love song about being blessed with a woman who gives faith, grace, hope, strength and love unconditionally.
Once again, we are reminded that love is indeed the answer as Bentley declares, 鈥淚鈥檇 lose my way and I鈥檇 lose my mind/If I faced one day on my own/I know I was saved/The night that she gave this drifter蘑菇视频 heart a home.鈥�
鈥淭ravelin鈥� Light鈥� features a guest appearance by Brandi Carlile and possesses a heartwarming bluegrass tone as Bentley and Carlile sing about shedding the hefty weight of past hurts, regrets and mistakes for a little bit of faith and peace of mind by singing, 鈥淚鈥檓 cutting the ties/I鈥檓 dropping the weight/I got a one-way ticket towards those better days.鈥�
鈥淗ow I鈥檓 Going Out鈥� finds the 42-year-old Arizona native closing the set in a reflective manner as he ponders a graceful exit from the music stage by offering up one final song and then gently laying his guitar down and walking away.
Hopefully, Bentley puts aside any thoughts of retiring anytime soon and continues his climb to the top by making more albums like his latest effort.
Clint Rhodes is the 蘑菇视频 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.