Up on the Ridge

Dierks Bentley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol Nashville
• ASIN: B003DU50RW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,112 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Conventional wisdom says that in the music business, once you achieve a certain threshold of success, caution should be your guide. You've come this far, you're told by everyone around you. Don't surprise your audience too much. But trepidation will not be part of Dierks Bentley's legacy. At every turn in his career, he's done his own thing, whether that meant touring with jam bands, playing rock venues or recording with bluegrass all-stars on platinum country albums. Now Dierks steps forward with his most artistically daring project yet - the all-acoustic Up On The Ridge - a powerful, beautiful album steeped in the bluegrass and roots music that moved Dierks Bentley to be a country musician in the first place.

"I fell in love with this kind of music the first time I walked into the Station Inn with a fake I.D. at 19 years old...these guys, who were my age, were playing their instruments so hard it knocked your head back," explains Bentley. "Without the whole bluegrass community taking me in, I would have had no place to start from. It is my foundation."

Dozens of talents have contributed in some way to this project. Besides the five co-written by Dierks himself, the songs come from such varied sources as Bob Dylan, Buddy and Julie Miller, U2 and Kris Kristofferson. Kristofferson participated on the project as a guest vocalist as well, along with a slate of today's best traditional country singers, including: Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Sonya Isaacs and Chris Stapleton of the Steeldrivers. Players on the project include: Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers, the Del McCoury Band, the legendary Sam Bush, dobro player Rob Ickes, guitarist Bryan Sutton, fiddler Stuart Duncan, and mandolinist Ronnie McCoury.

"This record's not a departure for me at all," says Dierks. "It's really just going back and reclaiming something I feel like I do have some ownership of, which is the acoustic music scene in Nashville."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars About damn time..., June 11, 2010

By 

DanD - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Up on the Ridge (Audio CD)

I eagerly bought and listened to Dierks Bentley's first three albums. They were different than everything else on the radio; true, he was pretty much following the formula set down by Waylon Jennings (and even lifted a few of Waylon's rhythms), but it was still a nice change from the regular mainstream pace. And then Bentley kind of petered out; MODERN DAY DRIFTER and LONG TRIP ALONE just weren't as good as his debut, even if they featured a handful of amazing songs.

That's why I didn't really pay attention when Bentley released a new album (I completely ignored his last couple). Yet, when I began listening to the tracks and discovered that it was a bluegrass album, I bought it. I'm all for mainstream singers cutting loose Nashville's chains and doing what they want (I'm waiting for the day Toby Keith decides to give radio the finger...still waiting...I should probably give up...). UP ON THE RIDGE is, at its heart, a bluegrass concept album, filled with minor-key songs about love and life. Some have decidedly upbeat lyrics ("Fiddlin' Around"), and some use up-tempo melodies to convey not-so-happy lyrics ("You're Dead to Me" and "Bad Angel"). Yet this is not a feel-good album; it's an album by a man not quite happy with his musical surroundings (Bentley hasn't had a genuine hit in a few years, I don't think), who has decided to play outside radio. RIDGE won't have much radio success; in this day and age of hick anthems, blindly patriotic lyrics, and bubblegum pop sensibilities, country music has turned its bearded cheek to bluegrass. So be it; quite a few of us don't even bother turning the radio on anymore (God bless satellite radio, though).

Bentley is joined by a few compatriots, notably from outside mainstream country: Del McCoury, Chris Thile, the Punch Brothers, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill, and producer/songwriter Jon Randall. Some of the material here is top notch: Bentley shines on Kristofferson's darkly humorous "From the Battle to the Bottom," even if he doesn't capture the original's whimsy (and Kristofferson, unfortunately, is not in top form voice-wise, though he's still a welcome addition); "Down in the Mine" is a hauntingly beautiful tune; "Bad Angel" features engaging performances by Lambert and Johnson, two of the few reasons to actually listen to contemporary country music. Some other songs are solid, if not among Bentley's best, and while Bob Dylan's "Senor" is a wonderful skeptic's tune, it doesn't quite fit Bentley or the album (it's more Chris Thile's territory, which is probably why he sings on it).

Overall, UP ON THE RIDGE is a solid album from a man who's finally doing what he wants (again; I still say his debut album was a fine example of classic-style country music). It won't sell as well as his previous records, and it won't overwhelm radio with any hits, and casual fans who expect the usual mainstream affair will be turned off. But those of us who appreciate high-caliber music with genuine soul, music that comes from an old, deep place that is never mined out, will rejoice at the album. It's not a classic, and it has its weak spots, but it's still a fine return to form for Dierks Bentley, who's still one of the more promising country artists out there.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh new / old Country Bluegrass blend, July 1, 2010

By 

Pirate Fan (Santa Clarita, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Up on the Ridge (Audio CD)

This is a great album and the most listen-able work the Punch Brothers have done so far.

Why mention the Punch Brothers?

Well, Dierks Bently is a smart, smooth, singer songwriter who has brains, humor and a balanced taste that shows he appreciates good song writing and fine musicians. He gathered together some great music here.

But in my mind, the most amazing feat he accomplished was to show that the Punch Brothers are at their best when they are eased back in musical music. Too bad they don't find this kind of musical ease on their own. They make one top-notch backup band -- like hiring the Eagles in 1973. How do you pull off that kind of a coup? I guess brilliance recognizes brilliance.

As with the work of those greats, this album is far greater than the sum of its parts.

You will buy no better set of songs for many years.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is as good as it gets, June 8, 2010

By 

Terry Mathews (a small town in east Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Up on the Ridge (Audio CD)

Got my hands on a copy of the CD this morning.

My goodness ... this is good.

Takes a lot of courage to step away from "them that brung ya" to the dance, but by taking a break from his pop-infused country and making friends with some blazing bluegrass, Bentley proves he's more than just a pretty face. He co-wrote 5 of the tunes, including the title cut and my favorite, "Draw Me A Map." He also covers Dyan and Kristofferson, with a little Verlon Thompson thrown in for good measure.

Alison Krauss, Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson and Miranda Lambert also make guest appearances.

This one will be in rotation on my CD and iPod for a long time to come. Look for "Up on the Ridge" to clean up at awards time.

Enjoy!