Customer Reviews

Modern Day Drifter

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Dierk's Bentley's debut CD was "new"--i.e., it was traditional country without the pop edge radio pretty much demands...and yet, Bentley became a #1 selling artist. Surprising. What's more surprising is that he keeps it going with this album, one of the best released this year.

I won't go song-for-song; let me just say that the spirits of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and George Jones prevail. There are some romantic tunes (most notably Jamie Hartford's "Good Things Happen"); there are some heartbreakers; there are good-time drinkin' tributes ("Domestic, Light and Cold," as if you couldn't guess); kiss-offs; personal anthems (the title track, surprisingly one of the few tunes not cowritten by Bentley, though he fits the bill perfectly); and a ton of humor.

The album kicks off with the chargin' "Lot of Leavin' Left To Do", and ends on the gut-wrenching "Gonna Get There Someday." In between, you'll find songs that describe your life and beliefs...that is, if you like traditional country music. Dierks Bentley's MODERN DAY DRIFTER is a great TRADITIONAL country album. No sophomore blues in sight...the only blues here are the ones you can drink to (and sing about).

I didn't buy Dierks' first CD, although I love all his songs that've been played on the radio. I decided to take the plunge and buy his newest CD and absolutely love it. This cute boy with the blonde curls can truly SING and is a pleasure to listen to. In addition, there is some great fiddling on this album. Although there ain't a song I don't like here, my favorites are "Come a Little Closer" and "So So Long." But the whole album is great--bravo to Mr. Bentley!

Dierks Bentley's self-titled debut in 2003 yielded hits in "What Was I Thinkin'" and "How Am I Doin'." Now, his sophomore effort with "Modern Day Drifter" on Capitol has already created quite a buzz, and the opening cut "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do" has really taken off. A driving and rolling 5-string banjo in the mix gives this song a bit of a bluegrass flavoring, and it sets the stage for a savory and delightful presentation that also includes one cut ("Good Man Like Me") with The Del McCoury Band. The rockin' "Cab of my Truck" is a boogying song with energy and velocity, along with some hot fiddle and dobro licks between the drivin' electric guitars and drums. A reflective "Settle for a Slowdown" gives Bentley's emotionally-charged vocals a chance to take center stage. "Domestic, Light and Cold" is, well you guessed it, a drinkin' song with a cute hook. Hey, that's country! (Joe Ross)

By: Maxine Macpherson

Dierks Bentley has proven one thing with his new CD, Modern Day Drifter - he is not a one-hit or one-CD wonder! The new CD shows he's growing stronger with each song he records.
Deciding not to mess with success, Bentley wrote or co-wrote many of the songs, again teaming with producer Brett Beaver, who produced his first CD. In many ways, Drifter is a continuation of the first album, sharing the same mix of drinking, driving and loving themes. In fact, "Cab of My Truck" seems to add more to the saga started in Bentley's hit "What Was I Thinkin'," including a reference to a little white tank top and the line, "Learning everything I'll have to know about life and love in the cab of my truck."

"Come A Little Closer" is bound to be an instant favorite. It is soft and sexy and Bentley's voice comes through:

"There ain't nothin' that love can't fix
Girl its' right here at our fingertips
So come a little closer baby
I feel like layin' you down."

Bentley has again attracted the help of bluegrass great The Del McCoury Band as well as award-winning Alison Krauss on background vocals. The two blend well in "Good Things Happen."

The title song, "Modern Day Drifter" and "Lotta Leavin' Left to Do" are upbeat anthems to the open road and keeping your options open. The final song, "Gonna Get There Someday," is about a son at his mother's grave. Unlike many country songs that lament what should have been said before it was too late, Bentley's lyrics go in a more positive direction:

"Glad I told you all I meant to
While I had the chance
`Cause every moment I had with you
Made me who I am."

Bentley's first CD, Dierks Bentley, brought together his own unique mix of blue-grass and pop country that attracted fans across country - Modern Day Drifter will keep them coming back for more.

I bought this album blindly. What I mean is I bought it because I'd heard one or two songs on the radio from it that I liked. I do that sometimes-if an artist has two or three songs I like, I usually buy that album because I know the rest of the songs will most likely be just as good. This album is the same. I'd heard "A Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do" and "Come A Little Closer" on the radio and liked them. Then came "Settle For A Slowdown," which became an instant hit for me. I had to try this album, and I'm glad I did. It's a very good album with an equal amount of upbeat songs to ballads. Not to mention the very funny monologues in a few of the songs. Also, another gem on the album that was not released as a single (yet) is the title track, "Modern Day Drifter." It could very possibly be the best song on the album. Buy it, you'll love it.

I rarely give anything 5 stars. I bought this thinking this artist was another "pretty boy" of new-country.
How wrong I was.
For certain, there are your drinking songs and your party songs, but
what sets this record apart from contemporary offerings of other artists is the sincere homage to "real country", while presenting it in modern terms.
There is not a bad song on the record, and "Gonna Get There Someday" is as sincere and powerful as any recording I have heard. Buy this.

Country music is in a sad state. You either have to sing pop songs with a southern accent (Carrie Underwood, Rascall Flatts) or with southern instruments (Keith Urban) or have some sappy Hallmark ballad(everyone else). While all this is going on some of the best country music is being made without a splash on country radio or CMT (Hank III, Wayne The Train). But thankfully Dierks Bentley is getting played. Finally someone is making true country music about true country things. He's about the only person in the mainstream who don't make me dry heave. If you don't think this is as country as it gets, go listen to some Cowboy Troy and reevaluate your life.

A fine mix of new and old style country music from an fantastically talented young man with a big future. There are some reminders of Merle Haggard and George Jones with some songs and also some of Dierks' own style.
My favorite songs are: Cab of my Truck, Domestic light and cold, Modern Day Drifter and Settle for a Slowdown.
This album is a must for any country fan.

I am telling you right now, this dierks album is amazing. Not only because of the great music on it but because he did this album in no more than 10 days! He toured for 300 days last year, that is way above everybody in the music buisness and then still made a steller album. This guy is not only country music he is what music is about and suppost to be. Hell this guy doesnt even own a house he is on the road so much! AMAZING!

I was at Kenny Chesney's "Guitars, Tiki Bars, and a Whole Lotta Love" tour last year, and was lucky enough to not only see Kenny, but Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley. At the time, I admit I wasn't that big of a Dierks fan. He had just come on the scene and I was waiting for him to prove himself as country music material. While "Little White Tank Top" was one of his first hits, it takes more than just a couple of songs to make me a believer. Once they started playing "Lot Of Leaving Left To Do" from this album on the radio, I was instantly hooked, so I anxiously awaited the release of his new cd. The morning of his release I heard him on the local radio station here and he was so down to earth and humble. He admits that he determines the single that are released by how his fans react when he plays them live at a concert. Imagine that, someone who actually listens to the fans and gives them what they want. I think he's onto something. They played, "Come A Little Closer" and I knew I would be buying his cd that day. That song is so heartfelt and pure that it make me melt. It is definitely my favorite song on the entire cd, because it's more than just a love song, it's about opening your entire self up to another person. "Gonna Get There Someday" is another song that really makes you think. The basic feel is that he is trying to live up to everything that both he and his mother know that he could be, all the while confessing it at her grave. The album isn't without it's fun upbeat tunes like "Domestic, Light, and Cold," "Cab Of My Truck" and "Good Man Like Me" Overall this album is full of songs that have number 1 potential. It's obvious that Dierks learned a thing or two while touring with both Keith and Kenny. If you're a fan of their music, then you'll love this cd. It's not often that I buy a cd and can honestly say that I like every song on it, but this is an exception. Dierks has talent and staying power, all it took was this cd to prove it.