Disco de Dierks Bentley: “Long Trip Alone”

Another fine piece of work by one of country's rising stars of today. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing him in concert for the second time this past summer. He puts so much energy and passion into his music and his shows that it's almost mind-boggling. It doesn't look like he plans on slowing down anytime soon, either. I was instantly drawn to each song on this latest effort, even after the first listen. Dierks Bentley has kept up with his traditional style from previous albums. Once again, he mixes in a little honky-tonk with a little bluegrass and traditional country, as well. In addition to the first single, "Every Mile A Memory", other standout tracks include "The Heaven I'm Headed To", "Free and Easy", and "Prodical Son's Prayer". But dont' take my word for it. Listen for yourself.

I have all of Dierks' albums but I think this one is the best of them all, he's really raised the bar with this one. The songs on this album are very, very catchy once you listen to the whole cd you'll have all the songs in your head for days.

This is Dierks Bentley's fourth album ( he had released one in 2001 entitled "Don't Leave me in Love") and once again, it is a pleasure listening to him. Indeed, Dierks has a very special voice, neither too deep nor too high-pitched; a very personal musical style which mixes bluegrass ( in the image of the song "Prodigal Son's Prayer" performed with the Grascals ), country rock with "Trying to Stop your Leaving", beautiful ballads such as "Long Trip Alone", etc... He has a very wide register and he gives a lot of depth of sound to his albums. Impossible to be bored. He's backed up by the best of musicians. Brett Beavers wrote a few songs for this album, but Dierks himself also did. The latter has this rhythm-breaking characteristic we can notice in "That don't Make it Easy Loving Me". There also are some instrumental solos ( steel guitar, banjo or electric guitar). In short, his album is very original and varied. His music falls within a joyful register with bouncy rhythms which will put each of us in good spirits. Dierks continues imposing his trademark, style and no doubt he will become a household name ( if he isn't already). Just let me tell you that a Live DVD should be released in 2007.

FACM ( French Association of Country Music )

What makes up country music? Songs of lovin, livin', leavin', drinkin', and carryin' on. What makes up Dierks Bentley's third album? Pretty much all that, plus a lot of heart. These are songs that you and Bentley can both relate to; he compares losing his love to tossing a penny in the Rio Grande; references country/rock buddies Cross Canadian Ragweed; features bluegrass tourmates The Grascals; declares that Heaven is a place where even "thieves and prostitutes" can enter; and bemoans the life he's found on the road, while honoring his heroes, friends, and family who help support him. There's nothing surprising here, which isn't much of a surprise itself--after all, Bentely has always worn his life out on his sleeve.

Dierks Bentley isn't the most original artist out there; hell, half of his licks and melodies "borrow" their power from old Waylon Jennings tunes. What we like about Bentley is this: his honesty. He makes records that he is living or has lived in the past. LONG TRIP ALONE more-or-less chronicles his life on the road, showing you how hard-touring he really his. This record is just as strong as its predecessors (as Bentley sings: "We ain't no rookies, it's our third tour of duty"), featuring those driving rhythms that, though they don't make him unique, do make him stand out from his contemporaries. LONG TRIP ALONE will please those who have already been captured by Bentley's music, and perhaps wrangle a few more into the herd.

This is Dierks 3rd album and he has decided to go more Country/Rock and he pulls it off nicely!

Included are his big hits Every Mile A Memory,Free And Easy(Down The Road I Go),Trying To Stop Your Leaving and the title track Long Trip Alone-this really is a lovely ballad.

Other standouts are Can't Live It Down(another great uptempo),Soon As You Can(a sweet ballad) and the excellent ballad Prodigal Son's Prayer which features The Grascals and has inmates from Charles Bass Correctional Complex doing background vocals(that's right I said inmates)and it works fantastically well.This song has a real soft Bluegrass feel to it.

Dierks sounds better than ever on this great album.

This is an essential to any country collection.There's a reason why this was nominated for Album Of The Year at the CMA's.