Customer Reviews

Dierks Bentley

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I hesitated to buy this album. "What Was I Thinkin'" had been overplayed; I was sick of it. "My Last Name" is good, but kinda cheesey near the end.

Why I waited, I will never know.

Because, you see, this CD is country music as it's supposed to be--honky-tonkin' good fun. The first two singles are the only songs on here about the upside of love; everything else, with a couple of exceptions, ponders heartbreak and getting over it--two topics that have been sorely missed in country music.

Let's do a quick overview of the songs, you have a more specific idea of what you're gettin' into. "Bartenders, etc.," "How Am I Doin," and "I Bought the Shoes" are good-time honky-tonkers. "Wish It Would Break" deals with a man who can't get over his lost love; the following track, "Forget About You," is just the opposite--a man doing everything he can to get rid of a girl's memory, even if it means going insane.

"Is Anybody Lovin' You These Days" and "My Love Will Follow You" are pleas for rescue. "Whiskey Tears" is a song of a man drowning in the arms of a new lover who "doesn't have a heart". "Train Travellin" (Featuring the Del McCoury Band) is a bluegrass ode to times past; you don't have to be a fan of bluegrass (I'm not) to enjoy Bentley's haunting lyrics. "Distant Shore", a moder-day "He Stopped Loving Her Today," is a man who's willing to drink and drink away, knowing one day he'll get where even his lost love can't reach him.

Dierks Bentley is an amazing singer. His songwriting talent is pretty credible, too. He carries himself like a pro on this album--a collection of thirteen traditional country songs, sung by a honky-tonker who knows how to write and entertain. Dierks Bentley is going to be around a long, long time; buy his debut CD and discover why.

You've heard "What was I thinkin'" and this CD includes the video for the song, but that's just the tip of the iceberg on this CD. This song includes instant classics like the lyrics in "Forget about you" which includes the lines: I heard that old jones song just the other day/'bout a man who took a broken heart to his grave/ but I'll be damned if a memory's gonna lay me down...
"Bartenders, etc." and "How Am I Doin'" are great honky tonk party songs that derserve a place in every jukebox in America and "I Bought the Shoes" is a shuffle in the great tradition of Ray Price and others. The CD ends with a great colaboration with the Del McCoury Band. Honestly, not a dud on the whole CD. I got this CD last week and have played it AT LEAST once a day since I got it.

Dierks Bentley CD shows his ability to switch up from the novelty of his first hit "What Was I Thinkin'". There are songs about true love ("My Love Will Follow You"), heartache ("I Bought the Shoes") and drinkin' to forget both of the above("Whiskey Tears"). "Forget About You" is an excellent song about what one goes through to try and get over a failed relationship, "Bartenders, Etc." is a toe-tapper about that place where everybody knows your name, and "Train Travelin" is a delightful bluegrass number. There are also awesome ballads like "Distant Shore" and "My Last Name".

Produced by Brett Beavers (from Lee Ann Womack's band and writer of Brooks & Dunn's "My Heart is Lost to You"), this CD will rock you, haunt you, and make you smile - sometimes all at the same time.

Chances are, if you consider yourself a fan of country music, you?ve heard of Dierks Bentley. If you don?t know him by name, then you?ve definitely heard his song ?What Was I Thinkin?? which was a HUGE hit song last summer. If you?re one of the people who wanted to hear more from Dierks before purchasing his CD (as I was), you can stop waiting. Go out and buy the darn thing! Trust me, you won?t regret it.

If you haven?t yet noticed, Dierks has a very unconventional sound compared to a lot of other artists on the radio today. And, trust me, that?s definitely not a bad thing. His unique style of music blends together traditional country, modern country, and some bluegrass. Dierks does a great job keeping it COUNTRY without throwing in any pop, which is a rarity these days among all the Shania?s and Tim?s in the music industry. This CD is very refreshing for anyone who is disappointed in the direction country music is going.

My favorite song on the album has to be ?Train Travelin?? which pairs Dierks with bluegrass greats the Del McCoury Band. It starts off slowly, with bluegrass instruments mimicking the sound of a train, but it speeds up very quickly. Dierks? vocals soar and blend perfectly with those of Del and Ronnie McCoury. His haunting, self-penned lyrics are about how he wishes he could go back to a time where people ?weren?t so dependent on money to be free.?

Other favorites of mine include the emotional ?Wish it Would Break?, the laid-back "I Can Only Think of One", the catchy ?How Am I Doin??, and the brilliant ?Whiskey Tears.?

Every single song on this album is wonderful. It?s one of the few I can listen to from beginning to end without skipping through songs I don?t like. And it definitely doesn?t hurt that Dierks wrote or co-wrote 11 out of the 13 tracks on this CD. I?m expecting great things from Dierks Bentley in the future and I wish him all the success in the world. He deserves it!

***

If you want to hear more from Dierks, check out his first, independently released album entitled "Don't Leave Me in Love." You can buy it from his official website (www.dierks.com) under the music section. It includes the original recordings of "Whiskey Tears" and "Bartenders, Etc..." The album itself has a more hardcore country sound and more of a low-key production, but it?s still awesome!

I've been to 3 Dierks Bentley concerts and had the chance to meet him once. He is the most amazing, down to earth, and not to mention HOTTEST, country singer there is. His shows are awesome and always enjoyable. This cd is definately a must to have because every one of the songs are a hit! Also you better hurry and get this one if you haven't already because his next one will be out in May!

Normally when a new act breaks into the country scene, I'm skeptical about how much of an impact they can have. The same went for Dierks when "What Was I Thinkin'" came out in the summer of '03. However, when the song took off, then his other singles followed suit, I knew he was the real deal. His debut is a gem; every song is worth listening to from start to finish.

I had the chance to see him in concert Labor Day weekend last year at a small Nebraska town holding their county fair. He did not disappoint the crowd, comprised mainly of cowboys, farmers and ranchers. The best part of the night, however, was when I met him in person afterwards. He took the time to sign autographs and take pictures with the eagerly waiting fans. I, myself, had to wait about 45 minutes, but when I finally walked up to him, he was as down-to-earth as anybody. He shook my hand, chatted for a minute, and signed the sleeve of the CD I brought along. The fact that the setting was small and not a huge colosium likely helped. But, his awareness of the fans around him gained my respect. I can't wait for his new release later this year.

Dierks Bentley's debut CD is beyond compare of most other debuts.
I am a huge fan of such new artists as Joe Nichols, Jimmy Wayne,
Steve Azar, and others. But this CD is by far just as good, and maybe better, than all 3 of the others. He has a really cool and different voice that gives his songs a new style. "Wish It Would Break" is an awesome song from the CD where his voice is perfection. "How Am I Doin'" and "I Bought The Shoes" are both catchy tunes that will excite all country fans. He is a true country artist, and unlike most debuts, or even CDs at all, for that matter, this CD is one of those I can put in and listen to all the way through without skipping a single track. I reccommend
this CD to anyone who is willing to give this new star a chance. Believe me, you will NOT be disappointed.

Dierks is a newcomer, but he does not end up short on talent. His mysterious, resonant voice is beyond comprehension. This album captures his gift of music, buy it!

I'll be the first to say that I am biassed towards any "new" country music; 99% of it lacks any soul and is completely disposable and plastic. I made the mistake of figuring Dierks Bentley was nothing more than the usual crap coming out of Nashville. Folks, this guy has got it; and if he keeps towards the true country sound, he will be around for decades. There are very few dim spots on this album, and there are some real flashes of brilliance here. There are three real stand-out tracks on this album: "I Can Only Think of One", "Wish it Would Break" and "I Bought the Shoes". In fact, "I Bought the Shoes" harkens back to the sounds of Faron Young and the golden age of country music. I give the album 4 stars; it's a debut album.

There's a reason Dierks Bentley won the ACM Award for Best New Artist. His hit single "What Was I Thinkin'?" just tops off a CD of great "drinkin' and cheatin' songs"-- the way country music is supposed to be. "Bartenders, etc." is a good ol' honky tonkin' song. "Forget About You" can speak to just about any broken heart. What is also impressive is that Bentley wrote 11 of the 13 tracks on the CD himself. Dierks Bentley has earned every bit of fame and deserves even more. This is one of the best country music CDs you could ever buy.