CD Review: Dierks Bentley, “Modern Day Drifter” (Capitol)
Dierk’s Bentley’s sophomore effort finds him revisiting a lot of the stylistic ground that he covered on his debut, yet he manages to prove that this particular well isn’t dry yet.
Bentley spent much of 2004 on the road with George Strait and Kenney Chesney, and plenty of ”Modern Day Drifter” feels crafted with live performance in front of those same types of audiences in mind. This is warm-weather music written with country music’s two strongest constituencies in mind: the party crowd and the heartstrings crowd.
On the party side, “Cab of My Truck” gallops out of the gate like a sequel to Bentley’s big-splash debut, “What Was I Thinkin’.” “Truck” and “Lot of Leaving” bring a Garth-like kinetic energy to the proceedings.
Anyone that’s seen Bentley in concert can attest to the chameleon-like quality of his voice as he traverses a catalog that, at least early on, was well-populated by covers of songs written by country music’s greats. That Bentley can tap into a Garth Brooks place or a George Strait, Alan Jackson or Brad Paisley place, as he does at various points on this album, is not the negative that purists might imagine anymore than it is when Brooks or Paisley do it on their own recordings.
“Modern Day Drifter’s” strongest moments lean to the upbeat side of the tracks, though Bentley connects with the romantic ballads “Come a Little Closer” and “Good Things Happen,” and the melancholy “Gonna Get There,” a sentimental love note to a mother who’s passed on. The song could careen into maudlin territory in the wrong hands, but Bentley and band apply just the right light touch to get it across.
While Brett Beavers’ production work on the collection feels more polished than it needs to be, Bentley’s songwriting (he had a hand in composing eight of the CD’s eleven tracks, according to press materials) and performances don’t veer far from his strengths, and as a result, don’t feel forced or fabricated.
Bentley’s own emerging trademark is a remarkably versatile voice that dips into borderline baritone range to solid effect, combined with impeccable phrasing that can deliver across a wide range of song styles. And like Paisley, he pulls it off with an amiable lack of pretense.
Highlights include the swing-rocker “So So Long,” the playful bluegrass workout “Good Man Like Me” (backed by the Del McCoury Band), “Lot of Leavin’,” and the best-realized ballad on the collection, “Good Things Happen,” which features guest vocalist Alison Krauss.
Links:
Modern Day Drifter at the Soundspike Store.
Dierks Bentley official site.
Dierksfan.com (fan site).