As threatened, Bentley goes bluegrass
Monday, March 8, 2010 – Dierks Bentley is following through on his threat to go bluegrass. The country singer will release "Up On The Ridge " this summer.
Bentley will work with the Del McCoury Band and Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers on the release. The disc also features vocal and instrumental contributions ranging from Alison Krauss and Miranda Lambert to Tim O'Brien and Sam Bush.
Bentley previously has been involved in recording bluegrass music. On "Feel the Fire," the final track is Last Call, a Ronnie McCoury song.
"This album won't come as a surprise to my hard core fans," said Bentley. "They've asked me: 'when are you going to make a bluegrass record?' And I was just waiting for the right time."
With touring behind him, Bentley felt the time was right. And for his career home, Capitol Nashville, "Up On The Ridge" represents the chance for an artist to follow his muse. "I didn't want this to be 'Dierks Bentley and friends' or a 'Dierks does bluegrass' kind of album. I wanted each song to have something special about it, and in the end I think each song really does have its own thing going on."
Bentley wrong songs for the album, although he also covers an unannounced Bob Dylan song. Bentley worked with singer/songwriter/producer Jon Randall Stewart and recording engineer Gary Paczosa. "It's my version of bluegrass music," he said. "It's not just banjos cranked up to 11. It throws out a big net."
More news for Dierks Bentley
CD reviews for Dierks Bentley
Up on the Ridge
Dierks Bentley takes a left, turn, sort of, on his fifth studio disc. Bentley has built a solid reputation as a country artist with a slew of hits and catchy songs with edge. But here, Bentley goes bluegrass or at least 12 songs steeped in that sound. This is nothing new for Bentley, who previously has recorded bluegrass songs.
Much to his credit, Bentley does not come off as a dilettante, but, instead, someone who feels comfortable with the music from the lead-off title track to the closing sad »»» |
Feel That Fire
Like it or not, music is a business. And when an artist as vital to the country world (so-called commercial country and beyond) as Dierks Bentley releases a new record, you can be sure that somewhere, someone in a suit is looking at graphs. So, in that unholy spirit, let's look at "Feel That Fire" in those terms. If it were a pie chart, it'd be dominated by two equally big old slices, one labeled Rockers and one labeled Ballads. The songs making up the former never fail to work »»» |
Greatest Hits: Every Mile A Memory 2003-2008
The idea of letting your fans pick the front and back cover photos and title of your greatest hits package could strike the casual observer either as gimmickry or a thank you to the hardcore. Not to mention having thousands of your fans fork over a few bucks to be listed as executive producers, albeit for charity. Fortunately, for Bentley, this effort does not come off as calculated.
He accumulated a slew of excellent songs in a career continuing on the upward trajectory. »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Cherryholmes comes together –
For a bluegrass band like Cherryholmes, the setting - the courtyard of one of the grandest museums in the entire U.S. was atypical. So without a "typical" audience there to lend support, one could argue that the sextet was up against it. No matter, though, because the family band showed why it is one of the best out there.... »»»
Concert Review: Ray LaMontagne demands attention –
Ray LaMontagne should have had a lot to celebrate, but you certainly could not tell from his demeanor on this tour with British singer David Gray.
Interestingly enough, the first of two shows before full houses also marked the same day that both artists released new discs. LaMontagne is going in a different direction with "God Willin' & The... »»»
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