Album Review – Dierks Bentley’s “Riser”
When it comes to mainstream country, there’s not many good guys left. They’ve either been aged out, shuffled along, they sold out to stay hip, or they’ve been otherwise marginalized to where you don’t hear about them anymore. And there doesn’t seem to be very many new good guys in the pipeline to replenish the ones we’ve lost, while the promising ones tend to turn to the dark side more often than not.
And then there’s Dierks Bentley.
Sure, if you sign on as a Dierks Bentley fan, you’re going to have to endure some lumps. He’s going to put out a few radio singles per project that are likely to make you wince, and he’s going to get caught with his baseball cap pulled backwards, rubbing elbows with the new school country crowd at award shows and such. But you’re willing to let that stuff slide because Dierks is one of the very last mainstream country males that consistently offers any type of balance and depth to the country music mainstream format.
And no, Dierks is not one of these artists where you tell yourself he’s good just because he’s not as bad as everyone else. On virtually every project, there’s going to be songs that would pass for offerings of artistic substance even under the nose of the hoity toity Americana crowd. He’s also done projects like 2010’s bluegrass-inspired Up On The Ridge that earned him additional brownie points with discerning music fans, while his off-the-stage persona is one of the few things in country music that a positive consensus can be built around.
Even the radio hit singles he does release aren’t going to be anywhere near the level of the genre’s worst offenses, and he’s never gone in the direction of releasing country rap or heavily-digitized EDM-inspired awfulness for his fans to fight through. Even if you don’t like Dierk’s music, it’s hard to not finger him as one of the few dudes left on country radio country that has been able to hold on to his true self.
Dierks Bentley’s Riser is an inspired, rising effort from stem to stern, with sweeping compositions that generally convey this uplifting, airy and expansive condition, despite a sorrowful and reflective tone beneath the surface. At the risk of sounding cliché, Riser was cut during an emotional time, bookened by the death of Dierks’ father, and the birth of his son, and this type of environment created a work that was somehow both secondary, yet keenly focused. He brought his personal life with him to the studio, and it is reflected even in some of the more commercial material, in a drive to make a project bigger than himself.
Unfortunately though, as you can expect from a Dierks release, a few of the songs didn’t get the memo, namely the silly “Drunk On A Plane” that probably won’t even be well suited for radio, and the very checklist happy “Sounds of Summer”. “Pretty Girls” and “Back Porch” are also somewhat unfortunate, and I can’t be the only one that noticed the similarities between the album’s first single “Bourbon in Kentucky” and Tom Petty’s “Two Gunslingers”. But once you sweep those things aside (I actually think Bourbon in Kentucky is quite strong despite the similarity), you have a pretty accessible and substantive mainstream progressive country project, setting the bar high for his contemporaries.
“Bourbon in Kentucky” with vocal contributions from Kacey Musgraves is an aching, tension-filled, finely-tooled song that successfully conveys its desired sense of heartbreak in a way that is both accessible and smart. “Say You Do,” “I Hold On,” “Here On Earth,” and “Hurt Somebody” are all high quality Riser offerings, all showing an elevated game from Dierks compared to his country male counterparts. “Damn These Dreams” is the album’s lone subdued moment, and the sea change works well in relating a story that comes across as very personal to Dierks. And the title track, though the lyrics are a little gimmicky at moments, is saved by the smart production; something that graces this project throughout.
Is Riser good ol’ country music done the right way? Of course not. This is a country-inspired rock album. But it is a good one nonetheless that is well-made, inspired, heartfelt, and worth a Hamilton or heavy rotation from your streaming service of choice if you know what you’re getting in to.
1 1/2 of 2 guns up.
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February 28, 2014 @ 12:53 pm
I actually think “Drunk on a Plane” is a really smart release on Dierks’ part. Nowadays it’s pretty much a requirement to have a drinking/partying song to be included in the mainstream rotation, and “Drunk…” satisfies that criteria while simultaneously evoking the whole heartbroken, “drowning my sorrows” vibe that is traditional to country music.
It’s almost like he’s tricking radio into thinking it’s a party song.
February 28, 2014 @ 10:34 pm
I like this album.
February 28, 2014 @ 11:22 pm
My favorite song is “feel that fire” <3
March 1, 2014 @ 12:31 am
I saw Dierks open for George Strait in…2003 or 2004. His set stuck in my mind because he introduced his last song as “The greatest country song of all time” and began playing David Allen Coe’s “You Never Even Called Me By My Name”. Dierks got a few bars into that song, then stopped the band and said “No, I think this is greatest country song of all time” and launched into “What Was I thinking”.
Really bold and I dug it. Almost wore out his first CD after that. Enjoyed most of all his other stuff since then, too. Haven’t heard Riser, yet. But, I look forward to it.
March 1, 2014 @ 3:07 am
As an Australian who is NOT from Queensland, access to country music is very limited here and my country music knowledge is therefore nowhere near as refined as that of most of the people who seem to be posting on this site. Now I knew enough and feel I had enough musical taste to spot the difference between say Miranda Lambert and Jasmine Rae but now I want to say “thanks” to Trigger and everyone else on this site. My only education was a 3 hour TV show called “the Range” on a Saturday morning (I have to point out that I have very limited internet download where I am so internet radio hasn’t been an option) and all it played was tripe like Cole Swindle and FGL. You guys have introduced me to some awesome artists!
I have been stalking the site for about a year and finally felt I had to post a comment to say HOW GOOD ARE Cross Canadian Ragweed??? Awesome, and I’ve just heard of them and only from this site! All those years my ears have been deprived, truly an injustice! I’d also like to thank you for Jason Isbell, Chris Knight, John Fullbright and Sarah Jarosz, lovin’ ’em!
Now all I know of Dierks Bentley is 5-1-5-0 and Tip It On Back but despite that I’m going to take the risk and checkout Riser based on this review …. you Haven’t let me down yet so fingers crossed
March 1, 2014 @ 10:10 am
Glad you found the site and thanks for reading!
March 31, 2014 @ 2:02 am
HELL YA! To Ragweed! What an injustice that those guys were not bigger. I don’t like Cody Canada’s new (now defunct) band, The Departed, quite as much, but they are still top notch and, if you haven’t already, you should check their albums out as well.
March 1, 2014 @ 9:02 am
Been a huge fan since 2004 when I saw him in a small club and afterward he introduced his dog to me and my buddy. Been lucky enough to speak with him many times at shows, always treats people with real respect. He has the rare combination of regular-guy attitude and a lot of talent.
It will be hard if not impossible, from the trajectory of his industry, for him to top his self-titled album (Train Travellin and Wish it Would Break are perfect songs IMHO), but all of his albums have had excellent material on them. Riser is no exception.
I understand the short-shrift Trigger gave to “Sounds of Summer”, but I would not be so swift to dismiss it. It’s the way those summer songs SHOULD be done, focusing more on nostalgia (as a few reviews have put it) through well-crafted description, than on stream of consciousness drunk-girls-bonfire-wastedness. “Five” was not mentioned above, but it’s another quality song that still finds its way into a mold that could get it on today’s radio and dampen the Swindell-Florida-Georgia-Line effect.
Lastly, check out the musicians in the liner notes. These guys don’t play on anybody’s record.
March 3, 2014 @ 10:21 am
I really like I Hold On. 🙂
March 4, 2014 @ 9:07 am
Solid review Trigger! I watched the Dierks documentary on the making of this album and several interviews with him discussing the album. He mentioned that the “feel good” songs (drunk on a plane, pretty girls, etc) were added later to the album. I would have loved to hear the album before he added those songs. Personally, I thought the “feel good” songs threw the tone of the album, they felt inconsistent and inserted. I would have preferred the whole album to keep that darker tone that I think Dierks originally wanted. However, there was probably some label pressure pushing for songs that fit the current country radio landscape. With that said, for the most part I enjoyed the album sonically and lyrically!
March 5, 2014 @ 9:34 am
I really think it is a testament to this guy that he didn’t get sucked into the pop country world abyss. He’s a guy the ladies love, he’s young/hip, etc… you know labels were begging him to “just do what we tell you and we all make money.” But he hasn’t been a push over or sellout.
I didn’t read every post but I didn’t see anyone mention “Lot Of Leavin’ Left To Do”? That was his debut I believe and when I first heard it I was hooked. I thought, this is something Waylon would have cut.
Dierks does walk on that edge of horseshit pop country, but never quite crosses it. IMO “Sideways” is his worst song and most “popped” up song and I was worried he went to the dark side for good, but he didn’t. He does award shows and chimes in on a song or two with the pop crowd, but I don’t think you’ll see him touring with
FGL. He’ll spend his quality time with Cody Canada instead.
March 5, 2014 @ 9:40 am
“Tip it on back” ???? Damn good, underrated song.
Also, I think a big appeal to Dierks, at least form a guy perspective, is he doesn’t try to be some badass or sing about being a badass or god’s gift. Even his party songs geared towards girls, are in a way to get them out on the dance floor not so much songs about “look at me, look at me…I’m singing about being so tough.”
March 5, 2014 @ 12:46 pm
RISER is an outstanding album and the title track is the one I like most!
March 7, 2014 @ 6:24 pm
Personally, I am a newly fan of Dierks Bentley. I saw his music video for “I Hold On” and instantly fell in love. That song is so passionate and romantic in every way when Dierks describes his love for his dad, guitar, and wife. I knew from that moment on that I wanted to be a fan. His music does not describe him partying constantly, drinking beer, etc like the “average” country music song but his role as family man reflects his songs and makes me love him even more. I truly am a Dierks fan.
March 7, 2014 @ 10:19 pm
Well, I’d never really given Dierks Bentley much of a shot before, but with this album out, I figured I might as well. And what do you know, this is pretty good! For a mainstream release it’s definitely good. Heck, even “Drunk on a Plane” isn’t too bad once you get into the deeper story and realise it’s not just a “hey, yeah, let’s get drunk and party” song.
March 9, 2014 @ 9:56 pm
I’ve been a fan since his first album. I was going through a divorce and each song seemed to hit the right spot and the right time. So I’ll place his major label debut as my favorite. He does make some mainstream singles, but I think that’s penance to the label for allowing “Up On the Ridge” to happen.
As far as choosing a song, can’t do it. “Bartenders, Etc.” is a fun song though. Same with “Lot of Leavin’ Left To Do”.
March 14, 2014 @ 8:13 pm
“What Was I Thinkin’ “
June 17, 2014 @ 4:44 pm
I’ve always like Dierks Bentley. Cody Canada named one of his children after Dierks, and Cody Canada is a solid guy. I think Dierks is a good man, a man who loves real music, but is beholden to the big record labels. Once Music Row cast him aside, and he signs with an independent label we will probably here some damn good music.
February 19, 2015 @ 1:41 pm
I like that Bentley has a mixed bag, some fun songs and some heart felt. He shows that he can truly write and then also have something for the younger fans. B- overall!
August 27, 2015 @ 7:29 am
to my best friend dierks Bentley igot something for you its a riser cma awardeagle holding a m erican flag an slive gold meltes an winner star just for an more awardsan poster awards an 3 ceritfi cates for you happy 40th birthday too you dierks isee you nov1st fan club party you are a beautiful riser too me allways AN MORE