You
know how there are songs that just stick with you, they have a
sound and a meaning all their own and when you take that trip
down memory lane there is always a song that goes with it.
Well Dierks Bentley’s new album Long Trip Alone has
eleven of them.
Upon listening to Bentley’s album I found
myself thinking "Amy, what can you say about such a
talented singer that hasn’t been said already?" I’ll
be honest I have listened to the album four times now, and I
am still speechless. Now if you know me, you will know that
doesn’t happen very often.
Bentley primes your country craving with
"Every Mile a Memory" which starts out with a heart
pounding tempo that sets the pace for the entire album. Going
straight into another fast paced track, "Can’t Live It
Down," I swear he may be singing about himself here
because with albums like Long Trip Alone Bentley may
never live down his reputation especially when he sings
"I might be making me a reputation / of going my own way
/ and I cant live it down"
The title track "Long Trip Alone"
brings the pace down to a smooth mellow sway. If you close
your eyes and take in the lyrics you can almost feel yourself
on a long road trip ‘alone’. Whether it is a trip down
memory lane or a current love in the making, the song has so
much feeling and its enhanced immensely by the soothing vocal
delivery that only Bentley has.
I hope there isn’t a sound ordinance here
where I live because "That Don’t Make It Easy Loving
Me" has got to be played loud so it will rattle your
windows along with your soul. This one is a mean, get your
heart pumpin’, feet movin’, cowboy lovin’ song that will
keep you moving ‘till the cows come home. It doesn’t stop
there though; "Soon As You Can" starts out with a
great beat and moves you physically and emotionally throughout
the entire song. "When you know who you want to spend of
the rest of your life with / you want to start the rest of
your life as soon as you can…" I love how Bentley puts
so much meaning into his songs.
He delivers three more spectacular cuts;
"Trying to Stop Your Leaving," "Hope for Me
Yet" and "The Heaven I’m Headed To". All
three will touch your soul and get you thinking. "Band of
Brothers" is great and cleverly written. Bentley takes a
military outlook on being a country singer "Me and my
band of brothers got you covered on the honky tonk front
lines." Bentley "ain’t no rookie" to country
music that’s for sure. This one is sure to liven’ up any
crowd. Starting out with a pounding drum that will make the
hair on the back of your neck stand at attention, the final
song, "Prodigal Son’s Prayer," is a prayer put to
music like you have never heard before. This song will warm
you from soul to surface.
You come out of this album wanting to clap
and just sing along. With a beat that will move you physically
as much as the lyrics do emotionally. Long Trip Alone is
an all around superb album, but then I wouldn’t expect
anything less from Mr. Bentley.
