Going Back to Dierks Bentley's Breakthrough Album
With so few new albums to listen to, I've been digging through my own collection of old favorites. Today I grabbed Dierks Bentley's self-titled album, released in 2003. (I can't believe it's been that long.) Some of my friends used to go see him play at the honky-tonks on Lower Broadway but I had never heard his music until "What Was I Thinkin'." Cool song, especially that twangy intro. Very distinctive. But today I'm a little bit surprised by how unmistakably country the whole album is. I guess I took it for granted back then, since he had immersed himself in country music history before he landed a record deal. Although I admire his writing on "Bartenders, Etc." and "Distant Shore," one song I never get tired of is Buddy and Julie Miller's "My Love Will Follow You" -- whether it's Dierks' version or Buddy's. And I'm tickled to rediscover "Whiskey Tears," which is about as traditional as you can get. Next time he slips a demo CD to George Strait, he ought to put this one on there, too.
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Twangtown7 says:
Couldn’t agree more. This is a great, great cd.
RRick says:
Craig should try to track down a copy of Dierks’ indie debut album “Don’t Leave Me In Love” which included more bluegrass oriented versions of a couple of the songs that made it onto the big label self-titled debut. Its too bad its so rare as its by far my favorite album from Dierks. There just has to be a copy lying around in a used CD shop in Nashville somewhere….
Dierksfan says:
Thanks, Craig! Dierks’ debut album is very special and I listen to it all the time! You left out one song that even Dierks “wished” had been a single - Wish It Would Break. I swear my truck’s got a haunted radio…cos I hear dierks (you) in every song. That’s my favorite line.
RRick–couldn’t agree more! I have “Don’t Leave Me In Love” and every song is soooooo country–I love it! Dierks sang DLMIL at his fan club party in June–it was a very special moment for us.
~Ronna
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Patty says:
Dierks’ first CD is one of my favorites. I still listen to it a lot! I love all of his music, but that one is still one of my favorite country CD’s to listen to! And it really is country!
Takara says:
Great blog, couldn’t agree more!
Redmaz says:
“With so few new albums to listen to”? You’ll have to explain that. I find it hard to beleive you’re basically caught up on all the new releases.