Dierks Bentley - Feel That Fire

Dierks Bentley takes most of the common themes in country music – outlaws, drinking, love lost and love found – and puts his own unique twist on the subject.  His newest album, “Feel That Fire” is a terrific example. 

The first single and title song of the new album has climbed the country charts and is catchy and great, but not one of my favorites. I like the sexy “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes,” with slow beat and great lyrics: 

“You can make me work for it girl if you want to
Just leave a trail for me to follow you into the bedroom
And if you need a little bit of help from me
Babe there’s not a button that I can’t reach
Let’s see where it leads.”

Easy to imagine the video on that one.  There are also several songs which suggest Bentley’s not opposed to looking inward – including “Better Believer,” and “Pray” or the less dark, “Beautiful World” which features Patty Griffin on vocals:

“There’s tears and there’s fears and there are losses and crosses to bear
And sometimes the best we can do is just to whisper a prayer
Then press on because
There’s so much to live for and so much to love
In this beautiful world
Say what you will but I still believe

It’s a beautiful world.”

The just released second single, “Sideways” is a good old drinking song and continues Bentley’s obsession with little white tank tops. Most of the songs have a darker tone then his previous music – lots more recovering from a broken heart. “Sideways” seems to lighten it up some.

Not that long ago, I saw Bentley, just after his first album, do a 20 minute opening set for Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban – and more recently saw him headline his own tour with Jack Ingram. His musical growth from album to album is reflected in a full out performance on stage – and is why he’s a rising country star with staying power.